Axford, William Ian Biography 1991

AXFORD, (William) Ian
Scientist; Director, Max-Planck-Institut für Aeronomie, Federal Republic of Germany;
Born Dannevirke, 2 January 1933, son of John Edgar Axford and May Victoria (née Thoresen); Married Catherine Joy Lowry, daughter of James Joseph and Catherine Lowry, 1955; two sons two daughters.
Education: Nelson Park School, Napier; Napier Intermediate; Napier Boys High School; Canterbury University, Bachelor of Science 1955 (Senior Scholar), Bachelor of Engineering (Mech) 1955 (Todd Motors Scholar), ME Master of Science 1959; Manchester University, Cambridge University, PhD 1960. NZ Defence Science Corps (Flight Lieutenant, RNZAF), study in UK 1957-1960, seconded to Defence Research Board, Ottawa 1960-1962; Royal NZ Air Force HQ, Wellington, 1962-1963; Associate Professor of Astronomy 1963-1966, Professor Astronomy 1966-1967, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York; Professor of Physics, Professor of Applied Physics, University of California, San Diego, 1967-1974; Director, Max-Plank-Institut fur Aeronomie, 1974,-; Hon professor, University of Geottingen, 1978; Vice-Chancellor, Victoria University, Wellington, 1982-1985; Appleton Memorial Lecturer, URSI, 1969; John Adam Fleming Medal, American Geophysical Union, 1972; Space Science Award, American Institute Aeronautics and Astronautica 1971; Tsiolkovsky Medal, Kosmonautical Fed, USSR, 1987; Fellow, American Geophysical Union, 1970; Centennial Fellow, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, 1976; ARAS 1981; Foreign Association, US National Academy of Sciences, 1983; FRS 1986; Member, International Academy of Astronautics, 1985; Member, Academiae Europaeae, 1988; President Commission 49 of International Astronomical Union 1974-1976; VP, SCOSTEP, 1986-1990; President, COSPAR (Committee on Space Research of ICSU), 1986 -; President, Copernicus Society, 1988 -; President, European Geophysical  Society, 1990 – ; Chairman, Section 1, IAA, 1989 -; member numerous planning committees, US National Academy and NASA (Grand Tour, Voyager, Pioneer Venus, Dynamics Explorer, Galileo, Comet Rendezvous) and European Space Agency (Ulysses, Giotto); Director, Decocorp Holdings Ltd.
Publications: more than 200 articles on various aspects of astrophysics and space physics, especially in connection with the interstellar medium, cosmic rays, inter-planetary medium, planetary ionospheres and magnetospheres and comets; Editor, Journal of Geophysical Research (Space Physics), 1969-1973; member of editorial boards of numerous scientific journals.
Sports: Cricket: Hawke’s Bay Rep 1954-1957, NZ University 1957-1958, English Universities (UAU), Captain 1959, 2 first class games for Cambridge University, 1960.
Recreations: reading.
Address: 2 Gladstone Road, Napier; Alte Poststr 2, D-3410 Northeim, FRG.