Eddie Bowen
From Ffaith
As if we didn't already have enough rain in Wales one of our own scientists had to go and invent an artificial variety. Edward George 'Taffy' Bowen, OBE was born in Gendros, Swansea. He was also a pioneer of radar and one of the most dynamic and influential of the wartime generation of British physicists.
In 1946 two scientists, Langmuir and Schaefer, claimed that clouds could be made to rain by creating ice crystals in them. While other scientists where somewhat sceptical, Bowen immediately saw the potential importance of 'artificial rain' for an arid Australia, where he was at that time living. Two members of his staff investigated Langmuir and Schaefer's work and within months carried out trials in eastern New South Wales using RAAF aircraft with immediate success. When seeded with dry ice clouds reacted with spectacular changes in shape and with heavy rainfall. This striking result held such promise that a systematic programme of cloud seeding was set up in February 1947 and continued for the next twenty-four years.
Throughout his life he remained an ardent Welshman and in Australia rejoiced in the name of 'Taffy'.