28 April 2008

A generous gesture by the family of the late Professor Douglas Archer has allowed the creation of a new prize for excellence in Aerospace Engineering.

Professor Archer was a greatly respected figure in aerospace engineering both at UNSW and internationally. He joined UNSW’s Faculty of Engineering in 1964, after serving in the RAAF and working on aircraft design in Australia and Britain. Professor Archer led the Aeronautical Engineering group for more than 25 years. He retired formally from UNSW in 1990 but remained actively involved in research and teaching until his death in 2004.

In a signing ceremony at UNSW on Monday, April 21, Professor Archer’s widow, Olga Archer, and one of his sons, Dr Robin Archer, made a generous donation which will fund a substantial new annual award, The Douglas Archer Prize in Aerospace Engineering.

“It gives me and my sons great pleasure in knowing that this gift is to be used in the establishment of a prize for excellence in aerospace engineering,” Mrs Archer said.

UNSW Dean of Engineering Professor Graham Davies paid tribute to Professor Archer and thanked the family for their substantial donation.

The Douglas Archer Prize, to be awarded for the first time in 2009, will recognise overall academic achievement in a student who has completed the requirements of a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in the Aerospace Engineering Program in the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering.

Mrs Olga Archer with Dean of Engineering Professor Graham Davies at the signing ceremony for The Douglas Archer Prize.