Rate My Professor Ross Telfer

Emeritus Professor Ross A. Telfer serves in the College of Engineering, Science and Environment at the University of Newcastle, Australia. His academic background includes a B.A. from the University of New South Wales, an M.Ed.Admin. (Hons.) from the University of New England, and a Ph.D. Telfer commenced his career at the University of Newcastle as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Education. He progressed to Associate Professor of Education and later spearheaded aviation initiatives, becoming Director of the Institute of Aviation established in 1987. As Foundation Professor and Head of the Department of Aviation, he administered Australia's first university Diploma in Aviation Science and contributed to the development of higher-degree programs in aviation. His appointments reflect a transition from educational administration and research to pioneering aviation studies within the university.

Telfer's research specializations center on aviation education, aeronautical decision-making, pilot judgment training, individual differences in learning and motivation among trainee pilots, human factors in flight instruction, and the use of simulation games in educational settings. He collaborated on studies aimed at reducing aviation accidents through enhanced decision-making training, including work with Dr. A. Ashman and Mr. Bede Jordan. Telfer presented findings at international events, such as the Third Annual Conference on Pilot Decision-making in Ottawa, Canada, and authored key publications including "Decision congruence and the sex of school administrators" (Journal of Educational Administration, 1978), "Aviation Instruction and Training" (with P. Moore, 1991), and "Aviation Training: Learners, Instruction and Organization" (with P.J. Koles, 1995). Additional contributions encompass articles on flight instructor training workshops, learning styles of pilots, and back-to-basics solutions for flight instruction problems. Through his leadership, Telfer established foundational university-level aviation training in Australia, influencing professional pilot education, safety protocols, and academic inquiry into aviation human factors, with lasting impact on the discipline.