Kenneth Richard Norris

Who was Kenneth Richard Norris?

Dr. Kenneth Richard Norris was an eminent Australian entomologist.

He was born in Geraldton, Western Australia. The family moved to Fremantle in 1922, which was to provide the opportunity for Dick and his younger brother Donald to pursue studies in agricultural science at the University of Western Australia. Don graduated in 1938, completed his MSc in 1944 and a doctorate in 1948. He became a world authority on plant viruses, and chief research scientist with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation's Division of Tropical Agronomy in Queensland. He died in 1976.

Dick Norris graduated from UWA with first class honours in 1934. This was followed by an MSc in 1938. A science doctorate was awarded by the university in 1969 for a thesis titled History, Bionomics, and Control of Pests of the Australian Pastoral Industry.

He joined the CSIR - later to become the CSIRO - in 1937 as a temporary research officer for Western Australia. Ultimately he moved to Canberra and progressed to become assistant chief of the Division of Entomology in 1965. In recognition of his unique contributions he was honoured with the title of Associate Chief in 1977.