Robert Jack (physicist)
Encyclopedia
Robert Jack was a Scottish-born physicist, professor and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science, University of Otago, and pioneer of radio broadcasting, New Zealand.
, Lanarkshire, Scotland, on the 4 November 1877 and was educated at Hamilton Academy
and the University of Glasgow
, graduating MA
with Honours in mathematics and natural philosophy. Thereafter he attended the University of Paris
and the University of Gottingen for postgraduate study and as a result of this research, including that into the effect of magnetic fields on atoms (the Zeeman effect
), Jack was awarded a DSc
from Glasgow.
, Dunedin, New Zealand. During his subsequent 33 years there he was to become Chairman of the university’s professorial board, a member of the university Council and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science. In 1920 Robert Jack was joined on the university's faculty by another former pupil of Hamilton Academy
, Scotland, and near contemporary, Robert Bell
who had also graduated M.A.
with Honours in mathematics and natural philosophy from Glasgow and who had arrived at Otago to take up the appointment as Professor of Pure and Applied Mathematics. Robert Jack and Robert Bell were to serve out the rest of their careers at the University of Otago which had been built by another former pupil of Hamilton Academy, Robert Forrest of McGill and Forrest, contractors, Dunedin.
. 1920–21 saw Jack back in the United Kingdom where he researched developments in naval radio communications and equipment with his brother, Hugh Jack, a respected electrical engineer. He returned to New Zealand with equipment that was to form the basis of his radio broadcasting apparatus and on 21 May 1921 was able to transmit voice and music across the university laboratory. This led to the broadcasting on Saturday 17 November 1921 (from the university’s physics department) of New Zealand’s first radio programme. Further transmissions were made two nights a week, programmes consisting announcements and live and pre-recorded music; Isabella Finlay Manson (the Scottish-born matron of Knox College, University of Otago
who was to become Robert Jack’s wife on 22 May 1922) contributing musical content.
In April 1922, an attempt was made to transmit a special broadcast specifically directed to the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, Christchurch. Atmospheric conditions rendered this broadcast only partially successful, but in August of that year a concert was successfully transmitted from the Allen Hall at the University of Otago.
On 11 November 1921 the Otago Radio Association had been formed by a group of enthusiasts, with Robert Jack elected Association patron. From 15 November 1922 the Association began making regular broadcasts and through the changes in ‘call signs’ and ownership over the succeeding decades the station, now known as Radio Dunedin
, is the oldest outside North America and the fifth oldest in the world.
From 1924 Robert Jack had experimented with television transmission and in 1928, using equipment similar to that developed by John Logie Baird
, he successfully transmitted a picture across his laboratory. It was though to be another 30 years before the first non-experimental television broadcasts in New Zealand.
Following research for the government into infra-red radiation during World War II
, Robert Jack retired in 1947. His wife having predeceased him in 1941, he died at Dunedin on 1 May 1957.
Early life and education
Robert Jack was born in the village of Quarter, near HamiltonHamilton, South Lanarkshire
Hamilton is a town in South Lanarkshire, in the west-central Lowlands of Scotland. It serves as the main administrative centre of the South Lanarkshire council area. It is the fifth-biggest town in Scotland after Paisley, East Kilbride, Livingston and Cumbernauld...
, Lanarkshire, Scotland, on the 4 November 1877 and was educated at Hamilton Academy
Hamilton Academy
Hamilton Academy was a school situated in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.Described as "one of the finest schools in Scotland" in the Cambridge University Press County Biography of 1910, Hamilton Academy featured in the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association Magazine article series on...
and the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
, graduating MA
Master of Arts (Scotland)
A Master of Arts in Scotland can refer to an undergraduate academic degree in humanities and social sciences awarded by the ancient universities of Scotland – the University of St Andrews, the University of Glasgow, the University of Aberdeen and the University of Edinburgh, while the University of...
with Honours in mathematics and natural philosophy. Thereafter he attended the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
and the University of Gottingen for postgraduate study and as a result of this research, including that into the effect of magnetic fields on atoms (the Zeeman effect
Zeeman effect
The Zeeman effect is the splitting of a spectral line into several components in the presence of a static magnetic field. It is analogous to the Stark effect, the splitting of a spectral line into several components in the presence of an electric field...
), Jack was awarded a DSc
DSC
-in academia:* D.Sc., Doctor of Science* Doctor of Surgical Chiropody, superseded in the 1960s by Doctor of Podiatric Medicine* Dalton State College, Georgia* Daytona State College, Florida* Deep Springs College, California* Dixie State College of Utah...
from Glasgow.
University career
Following fours years as a lecturer in physics at Queen’s University, Belfast, in 1914 Robert Jack took up the post of professor of physics at the University of OtagoUniversity of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
, Dunedin, New Zealand. During his subsequent 33 years there he was to become Chairman of the university’s professorial board, a member of the university Council and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science. In 1920 Robert Jack was joined on the university's faculty by another former pupil of Hamilton Academy
Hamilton Academy
Hamilton Academy was a school situated in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.Described as "one of the finest schools in Scotland" in the Cambridge University Press County Biography of 1910, Hamilton Academy featured in the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association Magazine article series on...
, Scotland, and near contemporary, Robert Bell
Robert J. T. Bell
Robert J. T. Bell RSE was a Scottish mathematician. He held the positions of Professor of Pure and Applied Mathematics and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science, at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand....
who had also graduated M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
with Honours in mathematics and natural philosophy from Glasgow and who had arrived at Otago to take up the appointment as Professor of Pure and Applied Mathematics. Robert Jack and Robert Bell were to serve out the rest of their careers at the University of Otago which had been built by another former pupil of Hamilton Academy, Robert Forrest of McGill and Forrest, contractors, Dunedin.
Pioneer of radio broadcasting, New Zealand
From his arrival at Otago University, and assisted by his technician, Jack Sutherland, and other staff from the university’s physics department, Robert Jack undertook research and experiments in wireless radio transmissionWireless
Wireless telecommunications is the transfer of information between two or more points that are not physically connected. Distances can be short, such as a few meters for television remote control, or as far as thousands or even millions of kilometers for deep-space radio communications...
. 1920–21 saw Jack back in the United Kingdom where he researched developments in naval radio communications and equipment with his brother, Hugh Jack, a respected electrical engineer. He returned to New Zealand with equipment that was to form the basis of his radio broadcasting apparatus and on 21 May 1921 was able to transmit voice and music across the university laboratory. This led to the broadcasting on Saturday 17 November 1921 (from the university’s physics department) of New Zealand’s first radio programme. Further transmissions were made two nights a week, programmes consisting announcements and live and pre-recorded music; Isabella Finlay Manson (the Scottish-born matron of Knox College, University of Otago
Knox College, Otago
Knox College is a privately run residential college affiliated to the University of Otago in New Zealand, providing accommodation for primarily first and second year students, with a smaller number of postgraduates. The college is set in an landscaped site in Opoho on the opposite side of the...
who was to become Robert Jack’s wife on 22 May 1922) contributing musical content.
In April 1922, an attempt was made to transmit a special broadcast specifically directed to the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, Christchurch. Atmospheric conditions rendered this broadcast only partially successful, but in August of that year a concert was successfully transmitted from the Allen Hall at the University of Otago.
On 11 November 1921 the Otago Radio Association had been formed by a group of enthusiasts, with Robert Jack elected Association patron. From 15 November 1922 the Association began making regular broadcasts and through the changes in ‘call signs’ and ownership over the succeeding decades the station, now known as Radio Dunedin
Radio Dunedin
Radio Dunedin is a radio station, broadcasting from Dunedin on 1305 AM and 99.8 FM. It is rated number 1 for 'Share of Commercial Radio Listening in Dunedin' in the Radio Audience Measurement Survey....
, is the oldest outside North America and the fifth oldest in the world.
From 1924 Robert Jack had experimented with television transmission and in 1928, using equipment similar to that developed by John Logie Baird
John Logie Baird
John Logie Baird FRSE was a Scottish engineer and inventor of the world's first practical, publicly demonstrated television system, and also the world's first fully electronic colour television tube...
, he successfully transmitted a picture across his laboratory. It was though to be another 30 years before the first non-experimental television broadcasts in New Zealand.
Following research for the government into infra-red radiation during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Robert Jack retired in 1947. His wife having predeceased him in 1941, he died at Dunedin on 1 May 1957.