Who Needs Retirement When There's A PhD To Be Earned?
MELBOURNE, Victoria (The Age),
December 17, 2007:
AN 84-YEAR-OLD Melbourne meteorologist will receive a PhD today for his work forecasting tropical cyclones.
On the same day that thousands of teenage VCE students receive their exam results, France Lajoie, of Bundoora, will receive his doctorate in earth sciences from the University of Melbourne.
Mr Lajoie enjoyed a long career in weather-watching, starting as a meteorological observer for the air force on the island of Mauritius during World War II.
He was acting assistant director in meteorology in Mauritius before emigrating to Australia as a 46-year-old in 1969 to be a lecturer at the university and later a researcher at the Bureau of Meteorology.
Mr Lajoie retired in 1988, but decided to embark on a PhD to test his theory on cyclones after giving a talk on the topic in his home country. He said scientists should be encouraged to continue their research regardless of their age.
"Scientists who want to continue their study should be encouraged and shouldn't retire because they have the experience and knowledge which will help them make interesting discoveries," he said.
"It's unfortunate that so many scientists retire at 65 and all that knowledge and experience is lost."
Dr Kevin Walsh, from the university's earth sciences department, said Mr Lajoie's research had made an important contribution to tropical cyclone research.
Until Mr Lajoie's research, the only way to determine the shape of the wind field in a tropical cyclone was by using aircraft or ground observations — which is often difficult over oceans and in tropical, ocean regions, Dr Walsh explained.
Mr Lajoie's technique involved using satellite pictures to analyse the size and force of winds in a cyclone.
"This will be a really useful aid in predicting wave heights and coastal storm surges, which are the most damaging aspects of tropical cyclones in coastal regions," Dr Walsh said.
AAP
Copyright © 2007. The Age Company Ltd
