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Professor Dorothy Hill |
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Prof. Dorothy Hill was an outstanding contributor to Queensland geology as well as a dedicated member of the Geological Society. Following are some extracts from her biography, which can be accessed at the Australian Academy of Sciences website: http://www.science.org.au/academy/memoirs/hill.htm |
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Dorothy Hill, was a former Professor of Geology at the University of Queensland and the only female President of the Australian Academy of Sciences to date. Professor Hill had a forward-looking approach to geology for her time. She kept maps of many areas of Queensland, including parish and county maps, and on these she inscribed new information as it became available. Her work resulted in the '40 Mile' map of Queensland and the Geology of Queensland, which she edited with A.K. Denmead. Her interest in coral and Queensland coastal geology enabled her to support the studies of the Great Barrier Reef, and she was secretary of the committee that oversaw the building of the Heron Island Research Station. Professor Hill's palaeontological work assisted with the elaboration of continental geology, and she particularly supported the field workers of the Bureau of Mineral Resources and the State Geological Surveys. She also supported industries involved with coal, petroleum and economic sedimentary rocks. |
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When Hill returned from Cambridge, she was depressed to find that many local scientists saw overseas publication as the best way of establishing a career in science. She considered that Australia should build up local publications that would give opportunities for work of major significance to be published locally. As a result of this approach, a large part of her work on Palaeozoic corals was published by the Royal Societies of Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia, and the Linnean Society of New South Wales. Her attitude was that if the work was of high standard, it would attract attention. This attitude led Hill to be a strong supporter of the Journal of the Geological Society of Australia, and from 1958 to 1964 she was its editor. |
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The committee of the Queensland Division is aware of the Geological Society's plans to help assist the Australian Academy of Science in instituting a Dorothy Hill Award for young female Earth Scientists however we think our proposal is complementary and recognises Prof. Hill's unique contribution to Queensland geology. We considered other candidates to name the medal after but none were as well-qualified or had the record of service to the Geological Society as Prof. Hill. |
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