Person

Öpik, Armin Aleksander (1898 - 1983)

FAA

Born
24 June 1898
Lontova, Estonia
Died
15 January 1983
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Occupation
Geologist

Summary

Armin Öpik was Professor of Geology and Palaeontology, Estonian State University at Tartu 1930-1944. He and his family emigrated to Australia in 1948 and was employed as geologist at the Bureau of Mineral Resources, Canberra until his retirement in 1964. His major work in Australia was on the Cambrian and Early Ordovician stratigraphy and palaeontology of northern Australia.

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Details

Born Lontova, Estonia, 24 June 1898. Died Canberra, 15 January 1983. Educated Estonian State University, Tartu (Magister Mineralogiae 1926, Doctor Philosophiae Naturalis 1928, Privatdozent 1929). Lecturer in geology and mineralogy, Estonian State University at Tartu 1926-29, Professor of Geology and Palaeontology and Director of the Geological Museum and Institute 1930-44; compiling a regional geology of the north-eastern part of Europe, Geotectonic Institute, German Academy of Science, Berlin 1944; teacher of geology, 'Baltic University', Pinneberg, near Hamburg 1945-48; Bureau of Mineral Resources, Melbourne 1948-49; Bureau of Mineral Resources, Canberra 1949-63, with special contract arrangements to continue his work on documenting the Cambrian collections until it was completed. Correspondent, Geological Society of Finland 1926; Corresponding Member, Palaeontological Society of America 1928; Honorary Member, Geological society of London 1938; Fellow, Australian Academy of Science 1962; Charles Doolittle Walcott Medal, Smithsonian Institution 1962; Honorary Member, Geological Society of Australia 1965; Clarke Memorial Lecturer, Royal Society of New South Wales 1965; Award of Merit, Professional Officers' Association 1966. In Estonia he edited the journal "Eesti Loodus" and was president of the Naturalists' Society of the University of Tartu.

Chronology

Career position - Editor, Eesti Loodus, Journal of the Naturalists' Society of The University of Tartu, Estonia
- 1926
Education - Magister Mineralogiae, Estonian State University, Tartu, Estonia
1926 -
Career Position - Correspondent, Geological Society of Finland, Finland
1926 - 1928
Education - Doctor Philosophiae Naturalis, Estonia State University, Tartu, Estonia
1926 - 1929
Career position - Lecturer in Geology and Mineralogy, Estonia State University, Tartu, Estonia
1928 -
Career Position - Corresponding Member, Palaeontology Society of America, United States of America (USA)
1928 - 1929
Education - Privatdozent, Estonia State University, Tartu, Estonia
1930 - 1944
Career position - Professor of Geology and Palaeontology, Estonia State University, Tartu, Estonia
1930 - 1944
Career position - Director, The Tartu Geological Museum and Institute, Estonia
1938 -
Award - Honorary Member, Geological Society of London, England
1944
Career position - Geotectonic Institute, German Academy of Science, Berlin, Germany
1945 - 1948
Career position - Geology Teacher, Baltic University, Pinnberg, Germany
1948 - 1949
Career position - Bureau of Mineral Resources, Melbourne, Australia
1949 - 1963
Career position - Bureau of Mineral Resources, Canberra, Australia
1962 -
Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA)
1962
Award - Charles Doolittle Walcott Medal, Smithsonian Institution, United States of America (USA)
1965 -
Award - Honorary Member, Geological Society of Australia, Australia
1965
Award - Clarke Memorial Lecture, Royal Society of New South Wales, Australia
1966
Award - Award of Merit, Professional Officers' Association, Australia

Related Corporate Bodies

Archival resources

Adolph Basser Library, Australian Academy of Science

  • Armin Aleksander Öpik - Records, 1912 - 1983, MS 205; Adolph Basser Library, Australian Academy of Science. Details

Published resources

Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Exhibitions

Books

  • O'Sullivan, Lisa; McCarthy, Gavan; Sherratt, Tim, A Brief Guide to the Records of Armin Aleksander Öpik (Melbourne: Australian Science Archives Project, 1992), 47 pp. Details

Book Sections

Journal Articles

  • 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
  • Jago, J. B.; and Cooper, B. J., 'Armin Öpik's first links with Australia?', The Australian geologist, 188 (2018), 41. Details
  • Shergold, J. H.; and Roberts, R., 'Editorial: Armin Alexander Öpik', Alcheringa, 3 (1979), 1-5. Details

Resources

Resource Sections

Digital resources

Title
Armin Aleksander Öpik
Type
Image

Details

McCarthy, G.J.

Created: 20 October 1993, Last modified: 4 June 2010

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