Person
Heathcote, Ronald Leslie (Les) (1934 - 2010)
- Born
- 1934
- Died
- 2010
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia - Occupation
- Geographer
Summary
Les Heathcote was a geographer whose research focused on arid lands ecology, human responses to natural hazards, environmental perception, reconstruction of past geographies, and the geographical impact of technical change. At Flinders University, where he taught for over 30 years, he instilled into his students the importance of observing past events in order to understand current and future trends. He also designed and oversaw introduction of environmental management degree. Heathcote's major publications include Back of Burke: a study of land appraisal and settlement in semi-arid Australia (1965) and The arid lands: their use and abuse (1983). He made significant contributions to the South Australian Geographical Society and the Institute of Australian Geographers, serving as President for both organisations.
Details
Chronology
- 1955
- Education - Graduated from University College, London
- 1959
- Education - Masters degree, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.A.
- 1963
- Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Australian National University
- 1965 - 1997
- Career position - Senior Lecturer (later Reader) in Geography, Flinders University
- 1966 - 2010
- Career position - Member, Royal Geographical Society of South Australia
- 1971 - 1973
- Career position - President, Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, South Australian Branch
- 1981 - 2010
- Award - Fellow, Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
- 1985 - 1986
- Career position - President, Institute of Australian Geographers
- 1989
- Award - Honours Award, Association of American Geographers
- 1997
- Life event - Retired
- 1997
- Award - Griffith Taylor Medal, Institute of Australian Geographers
- 1998
- Award - John Lewis Gold Medal, Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, South Australian Branch
- 1999 - 2004
- Career position - Editor, South Australian geographical journal
Related entries
Published resources
Book Sections
- Heathcote, R. L., 'Price, Sir Archibald Grenfell (1892-1977)' in Australian dictionary of biography, volume 16: 1940 - 1980 Pik-Z, John Ritchie and Diane Langmore, eds (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 2002), pp. 31-33. http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A160036b.htm. Details
Journal Articles
- Cutler, Cecile, 'Ronald Leslie (Les) Heathcote - 1934-2010', Geographical research, 48 (3) (2010), 327-9. Details
- Heathcote, R. L., 'Michael Williams (1935 - 2009)', Geographical research, 48 (2) (2010), 215-7. Details
- Heathcote, Sheila, 'Les Heathcote: His Academic Interests and Publications', South Australian Geographical Journal, 111 (2012), 2-17. Details
- Shearing, Rod, 'Obituary: Leslie (Les) Heathcote', South Australian Geographical Journal, 108 (2009), 121-2. Details
Helen Cohn
Created: 12 February 2019