Person

Glaessner, Martin Fritz (1906 - 1989)

FAA AM

Born
25 December 1906
Aussig, Austria
Died
22 November 1989
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Occupation
Geologist and Palaeontologist

Summary

Martin Glaessner was the Professor of Geology and Palaeontology at the University of Adelaide, 1964-1971. He was born and educated in Austria, and worked in Europe and Russia, and on oil exploration in the Middle-East and New Guinea prior coming to Australia in 1950. His book, Principles of Micropalaeontology, was published in 1945. Much of Glaessner's research was into micropalaeontology, particularly fossil foraminifera, and associated stratigraphy, including its importance in petroleum exploration. His work from the 1950s into the pre-Cambrian Ediacaran fauna in the Flinders Ranges of South Australia was the subject of The dawn of animal life (1984).

Details

Chronology

1923 - 1932
Career position - Research Associate in the Department of Geology, Natural History Museum in Vienna
1929
Education - LID, University of Vienna, Austria
1930 - 1931
Career position - Researcher of fossil Crustacea, British Museum (Natural History), London
1930 - 1931
Career position - Lecturer in Economic Geology, Volkshochschule in Vienna
1931
Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Vienna
1932 - 1937
Career position - Senior Research Officer and Chief of the Micropalaeontological Laboratory, Moscow Petroleum Institute (Institute of Mineral Fuels, Academy of Science of the USSR from 1934)
1936 - 1937
Career position - Senior Research Officer (part-time), Palaeontological Institute, Academy of Science of the USSR
1936 - 1937
Career position - Lecturer in Palaeontology, Petroleum Institute in Moscow
1938 - 1942
Career position - Geologist with the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company and later Head of the palaeontological laboratory of the Australasian Petroleum Company in Port Moresby
1942 - 1945
Career position - Voluntary worker for Directorate of Research, LHQ Australian Military Forces and for Allied Geographical Section, Melbourne
1942 - 1950
Career position - Chief Palaeontologist, Australasian Petroleum Company
1946
Career position - Special Lecturer in Micropalaeontology, University of Melbourne
1948
Education - Doctor of Science (DSc), University of Melbourne
1950 - 1951
Career position - Senior Lecturer in Palaeontology, University of Adelaide
1951 - 1989
Award - Fellow, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science (FANZAAS)
1952
Career position - Reader in Palaeontology, University of Adelaide
1953
Award - Walter Clarke Lecturer, Royal Society of New South Wales
1953 - 1954
Career position - Reader in Geology and Palaeontology, University of Adelaide
1953 - 1958
Career position - Foundation Editor, Journal of the Geological Society of Australia
1953 - 1989
Career position - Research Associate, South Australian Museum
1957 - 1989
Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA)
1960 - 1962
Career position - Member of Council, Australian Academy of Science
1962
Award - Walter Burfitt Prize, Royal Society of New South Wales
1962 - 1977
Career position - Chairman, Australian Academy of Science National Committee for Geological Sciences
1964 -
Career position - Professor (to 1971) then Emeritus Professor in Geology and Palaeontology, University of Adelaide
1970
Award - Sir Joseph Verco Medal, Royal Society of South Australia
1971 - 1989
Award - Fellow, German Academy of Natural Sciences Leopoldina
1974
Award - Lyell Medal, Geological Society of London
1976 - 1989
Award - Honorary Member, Geological Society of Australia
1980
Award - ANZAAS Medal (Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science)
1982
Award - Charles Doolittle Walcott Award and Medal, US National Academy of Sciences
1985
Award - Eduard Suess Medal, Geological Society of Austria
1985
Award - Member of the Order of Australia, Australian Government

Related Corporate Bodies

Published resources

Books

  • Glaessner, M.; and E. Rudd, E., Sir Douglas Mawson anniversary volume: contributions to geology in honour of Sir Douglas Mawson's 70th birthday anniversary (Adelaide: University of Adelaide, 1952), 224 pp. Details

Book Sections

  • O'Neil, Bernard, 'Glaessner, Martin Fritz (1906 - 1989), geologist and palaeontologist' in Australian dictionary of biography, volume 17: 1981 - 1990 A-K, Diane Langmore, ed. (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 2007), pp. 439-40. http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/glaessner-martin-fritz-12544. Details
  • Turner, S.; and Vickers-rich, Pat, 'Sprigg, Glaessner and Wade and the Discovery and International Recognition of the Ediacaran Fauna' in Four Centuries of Geological Travel: the Search for Knowledge on Foot, Bicycle, Sledge and Camel, Wyse-Jackson, P. N., ed. (London: Geological Society, 2007), pp. 443-5. Details

Conference Papers

  • Turner, S.; and Vickers-Rich, P, 'Reg Sprigg, Martin F. Glaessner, Mary Wade and the Ediacaran Fauna', in IGCP 493 Conference, Prato Workshop, Monash University Centre. August 30-31, 2004 (2004), p. 1.. Details

Journal Articles

  • Glaessner, M. F., 'Obituary: Walter James Parr', Australian Journal of Science, 12 (6) (1950), 211. Details
  • Glaessner, M. F., 'Obituary: Sir Harold Raggatt: 1900-1968', Australian Journal of Science, 32 (10) (1970), 398-399. Details
  • Glaessner, M. F.; Shergold, J. H.; and Teichert, C., 'Armin Alexander Öpik 1898-1983', Historical Records of Australian Science, 6 (2) (1985), 267-276. https://doi.org/10.1071/HR9850620267. Details
  • Hill, D., 'The scientific work of Martin F. Glaessner, palaeontologist and historical geologist', Special papers, Centre Pre-Cambrian Research, University of Adelaide, 1 (1972), 1-11. Details
  • McGowran, B., 'Martin Fritz Glaessner 1906-1989', Historical Records of Australian Science, 10 (1) (1994), 61-81. https://doi.org/10.1071/HR9941010061. Details

Resources

Resource Sections

Digital resources

Title
Martin Fritz Glaessner
Type
Image

Details

Gavan McCarthy [P004098] and Helen Cohn

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