Biographical entry Exley, Elizabeth Morris (1927 - )

Summary

Elizabeth Morris Exley was Associate Professor of Entomology at the University of Queensland until her retirement in 1992. She continues to work at the University in an honorary capacity where she carries out systematic work on species of native bees (Euryglossines). To date Exley has described and named 230 new species including Homalictus exleyea. Initially her area of interest was fruit fly larvae which was the subject of her Honours degree and her fellowship at the Imperial College, London. Once back in Queensland Exley changed her focus to the systematics of ants. But following a visit from Professor Charles Michener, a world authority on bees from University of Kansas, she realised how little was known of the native bee fauna of Australia. This was the start of her passion for studying Australian bees and resulted in her being awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) on the topic in 1968. For many years regular field trips were undertaken particularly in northern areas of Australia and the many thousands of bees she collected are lodged in the University of Queensland Insect Collection. In the 1980s her research extended into insect pollination of crops such as lychee, macadamia, pigeon pea and custard apple. These studies and those on bees resulted in many significant publications. Elizabeth Exley is an Honorary Life Member of the Australian Entomological Society.

Details

Events

1948

Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc) completed at the University of Queensland

1948 - 1952

Career position - Demonstrator in Zoology and Entomology at the University of Queensland

c. 1949

Education - Honours in Science (BSc Hon) completed at the University of Queensland

1952 - 1953

Education - Diploma of Imperial College completed, London

1954 - 1955

Career position - Entomologist with the Queensland Department of Agriculture

1956

Education - Master of Science (MSc) completed at the University of Queensland

1958 - 1992

Career position - Tutor through to Associate Professor of Entomology at the University of Queensland

1968

Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) completed at the University of Queensland

Published resources

Encyclopedia of Australian Science Exhibitions

• McCarthy, Gavan; Morgan, Helen; Smith, Ailie; van den Bosch, Alan, Where are the Women in Australian Science?, Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, 2003, http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/wisa/wisa.html. Details

Edited Books

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

Online Resources

• 'Exley, Elizabeth Morris (1927-)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1475797. Details