John Hickman (meteorologist)

John Sedgley Hickman QSO (9 September 1927 – 13 December 2014) was a New Zealand meteorologist, and was the director of the New Zealand Meteorological Service between 1977 and 1988.

Biography

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Born in Whanganui in 1927, Hickman grew up in rural Northland until his family moved to Auckland in 1941. After finishing his secondary education there, he completed a building apprenticeship and at the same time studied mathematics, physics and geology part-time.[1] He then moved to Dunedin, and studied at the University of Otago,[1] from where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1951.[2]

Hickman joined the New Zealand Meteorological Service, rising to become its director in 1977. He remained in that role until his retirement in 1988. He served as vice-president of Regional Association V of the World Meteorological Organization from 1982 to 1986, and president from 1986 to 1988.[1]

In the 1989 Queen's Birthday Honours, Hickman was appointed a Queen's Service Order for public services,[3] and the following year he was awarded an honorary DSc by Victoria University of Wellington.[4] He was also awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal, and in 1998 he was made an honorary member of the Meteorological Society of New Zealand.[1]

Hickman also served as the convenor of the climate committee of the Royal Society of New Zealand until 1994.[5]

He died in 2014.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Taba, Hessam (July 2001). "Interview with John S. Hickman". WMO Bulletin. 50 (3): 193. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  2. ^ "NZ university graduates 1870–1961: Hi–Hy". Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  3. ^ "No. 51774". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 June 1989. p. 32.
  4. ^ "Honorary graduates and Hunter fellowships". Victoria University of Wellington. Archived from the original on 26 June 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  5. ^ "People changes". Science Digest. Royal Society of New Zealand. 1 December 1994. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  6. ^ Bridges, Jacqui (19 December 2014). "A sad farewell to John Hickman". MetService. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.