Norman Hall (scientist)

Hall was born in Geraldton, Western Australia.[1] In 1964, he obtained a B.Sc.(in Mathematics) from the University of Western Australia, followed by a Dip.Ed. in 1965.[1] Hall spent two years teaching mathematics and science at the Eastern Goldfields Senior High School in Kalgoorlie, before taking up a lecturing position at Leederville Technical College in Perth.[1] From 1967–1969, he studied part-time, again at the University of Western Australia, to complete a postgraduate Dip. Comp.[1] After decades of working in fisheries science, Hall submitted his PhD thesis at Murdoch University in 2000, and formally graduated the following year.[1]

In August 1969, Hall began working as a researcher at the Western Australian Department of Fisheries and Fauna. In this role, he helped develop models of the prawn fisheries in Shark Bay and Exmouth Gulf.[1] He remained in the department until October 1995, at which stage he was a Principal Research Scientist.[1]

In the early- and mid-1970s, Hall was "one of the few computer-literate staff" in the department's fisheries and wildlife research branches, and undertook much of their data processing and computer programming.[1] After attending a course by Carl Walters and Ray Hilborn, Hall was inspired to use computer modelling approaches to help assess Australian fisheries stocks.[1] To help his colleagues develop the skills necessary for these approaches, he presented short courses at fisheries agencies around the country.[1] From 1995 to 2001, Hall served as a Supervising Scientist with the department’s Stock Assessment and Data Analysis (SADA) Group.[1] From 2001, he worked in Murdoch University's Centre for Fish and Fisheries Research, before retiring in 2008.[1] Following his retirement, he returned to a part-time role with SADA, and continued to be involved with research at Murdoch University.[1]

Hall is a long-time member of the Australian Society for Fish Biology.[1] From 2003–2007, he served on the Editorial Advisory Committee of the journal Marine and Freshwater Research.[1]

In 1999, Hall won the Minister for Fisheries’ Innovation and Technical Excellence Award (presented by Monty House), for his work within the Western Australian Department of Fisheries.[1][4] In 2005, he received the K. Radway Allen Award, the highest award given by the Australian Society for Fish Biology, in recognition of his contributions to fisheries science.[2]