Person

Tyler, Michael James (1937 - 2020)

AO

Born
1937
United Kingdom
Died
26 March 2020
Occupation
Herpetologist

Summary

Michael Tyler was a herpetologist whose research is on the taxonomy, behaviour and ecology of frogs. He investigated frog populations as indicators of pollution, novel chemicals and possible applications in pharmaceutical and industrial uses, and the fossil frog record; he took a leading role in research into the world-wide phenomenon of frog disappearance. Tyler had long associations with the South Australian Museum and the Royal Society of South Australia, holding executive office with both. Among his publications were Amphibians of South Australia (1978) and Australian frogs: a natural history (1999). In 2005 Tyler was awarded an Ig Nobel Prize for research on frog odours.

Details

Chronology

1961 - 1971
Career position - Laboratory Assistant, University of Adelaide
1962 -
Career position - Honorary Associate in Herpetology, South Australian Museum
1966 - 1968
Career position - Steering Committee, South Australia Science House
1971 - 1974
Career position - Laboratory Manager, Department of Human Physiology, University of Adelaide
1973 - 1974
Career position - Vice-President, Australian Society of Herpetologists
1973 - 1994
Career position - Honorary Associate, Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas, Lawerence, Kansas, U.S.A.
1974
Education - Master of Science (MSc), University of Adelaide
1975 - 1979
Career position - Lecturer, Department of Zoology, University of Adelaide
1976 - 1982
Career position - Editor, Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia
1979 - 1981
Career position - President, Australian Society of Herpetologists
1979 - 1983
Career position - Senior Lecturer, Department of Zoology, University of Adelaide
1980
Award - Sir Joseph Verco Medal, Royal Society of South Australia
1980
Award - Australian Natural History Medallion, Field Naturalists Club of Victoria
1982 - 1992
Career position - Chairman of the Board, South Australian Museum
1983 - 1985
Career position - Vice-President, Royal Society of South Australia
1983 - 1987
Career position - Member, Editorial Committee,Alytes
1983 - 1987
Career position - Research Associate, California Academy of Science, San Francisco, California, U.S.A.
1983 - 1989
Career position - Member, International Herpetological Committee, 1st World Congress of Herpetology
1984 - 2001
Career position - Associate Professor, Department of Zoology, University of Adelaide
1985 - 1986
Career position - President, Royal Society of South Australia
1986 - 1988
Career position - Vice-President, Royal Society of South Australia
1988 - 2020
Award - Fellow, Australian Institute of Biology
1990 - 1994
Career position - Director, 2nd World Congress of Herpetology
1990 - 1996
Career position - Member, CSIRO Cane Toad Research Advisory Committee
1991
Career position - Director, IUCN Declining Amphibian Populations Task Force
1991 - 1997
Career position - Chairman, Australian Working Group, IUCN Declining Amphibian Populations Task Force, IUCN
1992 -
Career position - Member, IUCN Species Survival Commission
1994 - 2001
Career position - President and Chairman of the Board, Royal Zoological Society of South Australia
1995
Award - Officer of the Order of Australian (OA) for service to zoology, particularly through the research and conservation of Australian amphibians
1995 - 1997
Career position - President, Australian Institute of Biology
1997 -
Career position - Member, National Threatened Frog Working Group
1997
Award - Michael Daley Eureka Prize for Science Communication
1998 -
Award - Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science
1998
Award - Riversleigh Medal, Riversleigh Society
2002 -
Career position - Visiting Research Fellow, Department of Environmental Biology, University of Adelaide
2002
Education - Doctor of Science (DSc), University of Adelaide
2002
Award - Knight of the Order of St John of Jerusalem (KStJ)
2002 - 2010
Award - Honorary Fellow, Australian Society of Herpetologists
2004 - 2009
Career position - Editor-in-Chief, Applied herpetology
2005
Award - Ig Noble Prize for Biology for research into frog odours
2010 - 2020
Award - Honorary Life Member, Australian Society of Herpetologists

Related Corporate Bodies

Published resources

Journal Articles

  • Davies, Margaret, 'Michael James Tyler AO, MSc, DSc, 1937 - 2020', Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia, 144 (2) (2020), 154-79. https://DOI:10.1080/03721426.2020.1781026. Details
  • Martin, Angus, 'Dr Michael John Tyler AO 27 March 1937 - 26 March 2020', The Victorian naturalist, 137 (3) (2020), 87-90. Details
  • Roberts, J. Dale, 'Michael J. Tyler (1937 - March 26, 2020)', Newsletter, Australian Society of Herpetologists, 54 (2021), 7. Details

Resources

See also

  • Who's who in Australia 2012 (Melbourne: Crown Content Pty Ltd, 2012), 2430 pp. Details

Helen Cohn

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