Brian Martin (professor)
Encyclopedia
Brian Martin teaches in the interdisciplinary area of Science, technology, and society at the University of Wollongong
in Australia
, where he became a professor in 2007. He was president of Whistleblowers Australia
from 1996 to 1999 and remains their International Director.
Martin received his PhD (in theoretical physics
) from the University of Sydney
in 1976. He subsequently worked at the Australian National University
as an applied mathematician before moving to the University of Wollongong in 1986 as a social scientist.
The central theme in Martin's research is the dynamics of power
, with special attention to strategies for challenging repression and exploitation. He has explored power dynamics through an interplay of theory and case studies, including nonviolent action, dissent
and scientific controversies. Martin states that his earlier scientific work was in stratospheric modelling and numerical methods; astrophysics
; and wind power
and electricity grids.
Martin's website states that he is the author of 12 books and over 200 major papers and chapters. In wider public life, he has spoken at a British Science Association Festival of Science, broadcast on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
and testified at the Australian Senate
's Inquiry into Academic Freedom.
University of Wollongong
The University of Wollongong is a public university located in the coastal city of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, approximately 80 kilometres south of Sydney...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, where he became a professor in 2007. He was president of Whistleblowers Australia
Whistleblowers Australia
Whistleblowers Australia Inc. is an association for those who have exposed corruption or any form of malpractice, especially if they were then hindered or abused, and for those who are thinking of exposing it or who wish to support those who are doing so. The organisation began as Whistleblowers...
from 1996 to 1999 and remains their International Director.
Martin received his PhD (in theoretical physics
Theoretical physics
Theoretical physics is a branch of physics which employs mathematical models and abstractions of physics to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena...
) from the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
in 1976. He subsequently worked at the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
as an applied mathematician before moving to the University of Wollongong in 1986 as a social scientist.
The central theme in Martin's research is the dynamics of power
Power (sociology)
Power is a measurement of an entity's ability to control its environment, including the behavior of other entities. The term authority is often used for power perceived as legitimate by the social structure. Power can be seen as evil or unjust, but the exercise of power is accepted as endemic to...
, with special attention to strategies for challenging repression and exploitation. He has explored power dynamics through an interplay of theory and case studies, including nonviolent action, dissent
Dissent
Dissent is a sentiment or philosophy of non-agreement or opposition to a prevailing idea or an entity...
and scientific controversies. Martin states that his earlier scientific work was in stratospheric modelling and numerical methods; astrophysics
Astrophysics
Astrophysics is the branch of astronomy that deals with the physics of the universe, including the physical properties of celestial objects, as well as their interactions and behavior...
; and wind power
Wind power
Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electricity, windmills for mechanical power, windpumps for water pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships....
and electricity grids.
Martin's website states that he is the author of 12 books and over 200 major papers and chapters. In wider public life, he has spoken at a British Science Association Festival of Science, broadcast on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
and testified at the Australian Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
's Inquiry into Academic Freedom.
Books
- Justice Ignited: The Dynamics of Backfire, (Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2007).
- (with Wendy Varney). Nonviolence Speaks: Communicating against Repression, (Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press, 2003).
- Nonviolence versus capitalism (London: War Resisters' International, 2001).
- Technology for Nonviolent Struggle, (London: War Resisters' International, 2001).
- (with Lyn Carson). Random Selection in Politics, (Westport, CT: Praeger, 1999).
- The Whistleblower's Handbook: How to Be an Effective Resister, (Charlbury, UK: Jon Carpenter; Sydney: Envirobook, 1999).
- Information Liberation, (London: Freedom Press, 1998).
- Suppression Stories, (Wollongong: Fund for Intellectual Dissent, 1997).
- Strip the Experts (London: Freedom Press, 1991).
- Uprooting war (London: Freedom Press, 1984).
- The Bias of Science (Society for Social Responsibility in Science, 1979) ISBN 0909509131
Journal articles in the physical sciences
His most cited papers are:- The 2001 superoutburst of WZ Sagittae by Author(s): Patterson J, Masi G, Richmond MW, Martin B, Beshore E, Skillman DR, Kemp J, Vanmunster T, Rea R, Allen W, Davis S, Davis T, Henden AA, Starkey D, Foote J, Oksanen A, Cook LM, Fried RE, Husar D, Novak R, Campbell T, Robertson J, Krajci T, Pavlenko E, Mirabal N, Niarchos PG, Brettman O, Walker S, Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. 114 : 797, 721-747 (2002) Times Cited: 80
- Wickramasinghe, DT; Martin, B : Magnetic DA White Dwarfs Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society , 188 (1): 165-180 (1979), cited 54 times
- Martin B, Wickramasinghe DT. Solutions for Radiative Transfer in Magnetic Atmospheres Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 189 Issue: 3 Pages: 883-895 : 1979 Times Cited: 27
External links
- Brian Martin, University of Wollongong
- Publications with Brian Martin's topic pages Dissent, Nuclear Suppression, Schweik Action Wollongong
- Audio File of Brian Martin's "Democracy Without Elections"
- Whistleblowers Australia