Person

Paterson, Mervyn Silas (1925 - 2020)

FAA

Born
7 March 1925
Booleroo Centre, South Australia, Australia
Died
4 June 2020
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Occupation
Geophysicist and University Administrator

Summary

Mervyn Paterson was a geophysicist renowned for his research on deformation mechanisms of minerals and rocks. In his pioneering studies on the genesis of geological structures he worked with rocks rather than model substitutes. As part of this work he invented a variety of instruments, notably the Paterson Apparatus, a device designed to measure strength and deformation under conditions of high stress and temperature. It is widely used in relation to earthquake research. Among his publications was the influential Experimental rock deformation - the brittle field (1978). Paterson was research officer at the Aeronautical Research Laboratories for six years investigating the physics of metal fatigue before joining the Australian National University in 1953. He retired from the University in 1990 as Professor in the Research School of Earth Sciences. In retirement he continued instrument building as owner and manager of Paterson Instruments Pty Ltd, and later in association with Australian Scientific Instruments Pty Ltd. His instruments are supplied to laboratories world-wide.

Details

Chronology

- 1945
Education - Bachelor of Engineering (BE), University of Adelaide
- 1968
Education - Doctor of Science (ScD), University of Cambridge, England
c. 1945 - 1949
Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Cambridge, England
1947 - 1953
Career position - Assistant Research Officer to Senior Scientific Officer, Aeronautical Research Laboratories, Melbourne, Australia
1953 - 1956
Career position - Senior Research Fellow, Department of Geophysics and Geochemistry, Australian National University, Australia
1956 - 1987
Career position - Reader, Department of Geophysics and Geochemistry, Australian National University, Australia
1972 - 2020
Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA)
1982 - 2020
Award - Fellow, Mineralogical Society of America
1986 - 2020
Award - Fellow American Geophysical Union
1986 - 2020
Award - Honorary Fellow, Geological Society of America
1987 - 1990
Career position - Professor, Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Australia
1990 -
Career position - Visiting Fellow (Emeritus Professor), Australian National University, Australia
2001
Award - Centenary Medal - for service to Australian society and materials science
2004
Award - Walter H. Bucher Medal, American Geophysical Union

Related Corporate Bodies

Archival resources

Adolph Basser Library, Australian Academy of Science

  • Mervyn Silas Paterson - Records, 1942 - 1989, MS 135; Adolph Basser Library, Australian Academy of Science. Details

Published resources

Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Exhibitions

Book Sections

Journal Articles

Resources

Resource Sections

Gavan McCarthy [P004098] and Helen Cohn

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