Norman Alexander

Sir Norman Alexander (7 October 1907 – 26 March 1997) was a physicist instrumental in the establishment of many of the modern Commonwealth universities, including Ahmadu Bello University in Nigeria, and the Universities of the West Indies, the South Pacific and Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland.

Life

Norman Stanley Alexander was born in Mangapiko, Te Awamutu New Zealand. He married to a fellow PhD student and noted meteorologist Elizabeth Caldwell.

Education

Hamilton High School Auckland University Trinity College, Cambridge Studied at Cavendish Laboratory under Lord Rutherford

Qualifications

BSc MSc PhD Canterbury Hon DSc Hon LLD Hon DLit

Career

Physics lecturer at Auckland University College 1930 - won the Commonwealth scholarship to Trinity College, Cambridge. 1936-41 Professor of Physics, Raffles College' Singapore. 1945-49 Dean of Science, University of Malaya 1949-52 Professor of Physics and Vice-president, University College, Ibadan,Nigeria 1952-60 Professor of Engineering Physics, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey 1961-66 Vice Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria 1966 University of the West Indies 1966-68 Vice Chancellor University of the South Pacific, Laucala Bay, Fiji 1970 - advisor: UK Ministry of Overseas Development, Inter-University Council for Higher Education Overseas, London University School of Oriental and African Studies

Service

He was imprisoned in Changi Prison in 1942, and word had made its way to New Zealand that he had died, only later to be told that he was actually still alive. Using his academic knowledge, Alexander helped to build a salt evaporation plant at Changi and a small industrial plant that fermented surgical spirit and other products for prison hospital. Upon release, he eventually headed a New Zealand commission of investigation into abuses at Sime Road Internment Camp.