Biographical entry Mather, Patricia (1925 - )

Summary

Patricia Mather conducted research into marine invertebrates throughout her forty year career in science. Much of this research was on the Great Barrier Reef and she drafted a Bill which contributed to the establishment of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. Marther also worked as Senior Curator of Higher Invertebrates at the Queensland Museum from 1975-1990. Patricia Mather was appointed Officer of the Order of Australia, 8 June 1992, for service to marine biology, particularly in the fields of ascidian research (the study of sea squirts) and reef science. Mather described about 500 new species, 12 genera and 7 families of sea squirts.

Details

Events

1948

Education - Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc (Hons)) completed at the University of Western Australia

1948 - 1955

Career position - Research Officer at the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) Division of Fisheries

1965 - 1972

Career position - Research Fellow at the University of Queensland

1970

Education - Doctor of Science (DSc) received from the University of Western Australia

1973 - 1974

Career position - Curator at the Queensland Museum

1975 - 1990

Career position - Senior Curator of Higher Invertebrates at the Queensland Museum

1990 -

Career position - Honorary Associate at the Queensland Museum

1990

Life event - Retired

1990

Education - Honorary Doctor of Science (DSc (Hon)) received from the University of Queensland

1991

Award - Queensland Museum Medal received

1992

Award - Jubilee Prize for Marine Science received from the Australian Marine Science Association

8 June 1992

Award - Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)

Related entries

Archival resources

National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection

• Biographical cuttings on Patricia Mather, former marine biologist, Cuttings Files BIOG; National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection. Details

Published resources

Books

• Mather, Patricia, A Time for a Museum: a History of the Queensland Museum, Queensland Museum, Brisbane, 1986, 365 pp. Details

Book Sections

• Mather, Patricia, 'McKeon, Gwladys Yvonne (1897-1979), Biologist', in John Ritchie (ed.), Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 15, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 2000, pp. 246-247. Also available at http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A150287b.htm. Details

Edited Books

• McKay, Judith (ed.), Brilliant Careers: Women Collectors and Illustrators in Queensland, Queensland Museum, Brisbane, 1997, 80 pp. Details

Journal Articles

• Mather, P. and Talbot, F. H., 'Research Facilities in the Great Barrier Reef: Their history, operation and funding', Search, vol. 6, no. 8, 1975, pp. 335-338. Details

Online Resources

• Bowen, Margorita, 'Women of Distinction in Marine Science: Patricia Mather', WISENET Journal, vol. 34, March, 1994, http://www.wisenet-australia.org/profiles/qldmus.htm#mather. Details
• National Library of Australia, 'Mather, Patricia', Trove, National Library of Australia and the Australian National Maritime Museum Darling Harbour, 2009, http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-466905. Details

See also

• Herd, Margaret (ed.), Who's Who in Australia 2002, 38 edn, Crown Content, Melbourne, 2001, 2020 pp. Details