P002262 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 1997-06-30 human Rosanne Walker and Helen Cohn updated 2026-03-31 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P002262b.htm person Bennett Isobel Ida Toon AO AACR2 9 July 1909 12 January 2008 Place of Birth Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Place of Death Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Marine scientist Isobel Bennett was a highly respected marine biologist, particularly as a pioneer of coral reef biology. With no formal training, her path was set by a meeting with William Dakin, Professor of Zoology at the University of Sydney. Bennett was his research assistant for 40 years. Dakin's book Australian seashores (1952), widely regarded as an essential guide to intertidal zones, was prepared for publication after his death by Bennett and Elizabeth Pope. From the 1940s Bennett was a frequent visitor to the Great Barrier Reef. She participated in the 1954 University of Queensland Expedition to the Low Isles, which enabled an assessment of faunal changes since the Great Barrier Reef Expedition of 1928 - 1929. Other expeditions in which she participated included in 1952 in Galatea along the Australian coast between Sydney and Adelaide, and in Stanford University's research vessel Te Vega in 1963. Bennett's book The Great Barrier Reef (1971) was the first book to give a general picture of the whole of the Reef. She was one of the first women to visit Macquarie Island, making four trips between 1959 and 1968 to study intertidal ecology in cold climates. One genus and five species of marine animals have been named after her. Geographic features named in Bennett's honour include Isobel Bennett Reef 21-505 on the Great Barrier Reef near Heron Island, and Lake Bennett on Macquarie Island. Her papers and a collection of her photographs were deposited in the National Library of Australia. 1925 1928 Career position - Secretary at the Patent Attorney's Office 1928 1932 Career position - Secretary of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music 1932 1933 Career position - Research work for Professor W.J. Dakin 1933 1971 Career position - Working variously as Secretary to the Departmental Librarian and Demonstrator, University of Sydney 1942 1945 Career position - Research Assistant to Dakin at Department of Home Security 1945 1948 Career position - Continued work with Dakin until his retirement 1948 1970 Career position - Made expeditions to the Great Barrier Reef 1954 1954 Career event - Participated in University of Queensland Expedition to the Low Isles 1959 1968 Career event - Made four visits to Macquarie Island 1959 1971 Career position - Professional Officer, University of Sydney 1962 1962 Award - Honorary Master of Science (MSc), University of Sydney 1962 2002 Career position - Foundation Member, Australian Marine Sciences Association 1963 1963 Career position - Visiting Associate Professor, Stanford University, Sranford Californoa, U.S.A. 1973 1979 Career position - Member of Council, Great Barrier Reef Committee 1974 1979 Career position - Co-opted to the New South Wales Fisheries Department 1982 1982 Award - Whitley Memorial Award, Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales 1982 1982 Award - Mueller Medal, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science 1984 1984 Award - Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in recognition of service to marine science 1988 1988 Award - Whitley Memorial Award, Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales 1995 1995 Award - DSc honoris causa, University of New South Wales 1995 1995 Award - Honorary Doctor of Science (DSc (Hon)), University of Sydney 2002 2008 Award - Honorary Life Member, Australian Marine Sciences Association Mather, Patricia (1925 - 2012) Dakin, William John (John) (1883 - 1950)

Dakin's research assistant for 40 years. She prepared Dakin's book Australian seashores (1952) for publication after his death.

 Balme, Basil Eric (1923 - 2023)

Balme supplied specimens to support her research

 ANZAAS Medal, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science (1965 - )

Awarded the Medal 1982

 Mueller Medal, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science (1904 - 2006)

Awarded the Medal 1982

 Australian Marine Sciences Association (1962 - )

Foundation Member 1962; Honorary Life Member 2002 - 2008

 Great Barrier Reef Committee (1922 - 1982)

Member of Council 1973 - 1979

 The University of Sydney (1850 - )

Professional Officer 1959 - 1971

Wikidata

VIAF - Virtual International Authority File

 Bennett, Isobel (1909-)

Trove

 'Bennett, Isobel Ida Toon', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Bennett, Isobel Ida Toon Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Journal Article: Dr Isobel Bennett, AO Dr Isobel Bennett, AO 1997 Wisenet : Journal of the Women in Science Enquiry Network 44 Thesis: Departing from their sphere: Australian women and science, 1880-1960 Carey, Jane Departing from their sphere: Australian women and science, 1880-1960 Melbourne The University of Melbourne 2003 Resource Section: Interview with Dr Isobel Bennett (1909-2008), marine biologist Allen, Nessy Interview with Dr Isobel Bennett (1909-2008), marine biologist Australian Academy of Science 2002 Interviews with Australian scientists Journal Article: Alan Neville Colefax, 1908 - 1961 (Memorial series, no. 20) I. B. [ie Isobel Bennett] Alan Neville Colefax, 1908 - 1961 (Memorial series, no. 20) 1962 Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 87 2 220-2 Book: Australian seashores: adapted from W. J. Dakin's Australian seashores Bennett, Isobel Australian seashores: adapted from W. J. Dakin's Australian seashores Pymble, N.S.W. Collins: Angus & Robertson 1992 Book: Shores of Macquarie Island Bennett, Isobel Shores of Macquarie Island Adelaide Rigby 1972 Book: Australian seashores: a guide for the beach-lover, the naturalist, the shore fishermen, and the student Dakin, William J.: assisted by Isobel Bennett and Elizabeth Pope Australian seashores: a guide for the beach-lover, the naturalist, the shore fishermen, and the student Sydney Angus and Robertson 1952 Journal Article: Some pelagic molluscs and associated animals in south-eastern Australian waters Bennett, Isobel Some pelagic molluscs and associated animals in south-eastern Australian waters 1066 Journal of the Malacological Society of Australia 1 9 40-51 Book: Australia's Great Barrier Reef Bennett, Isobel Australia's Great Barrier Reef Sydney Collins: Australian Museum 1987 Book: A coral reef handbook: a guide to the fauna, flora and geology of Heron Island and adjacent reefs and cays Mather, Patricia; and Bennett, Isobel A coral reef handbook: a guide to the fauna, flora and geology of Heron Island and adjacent reefs and cays Brisbane Great Barrier Reef Committee 1978 Book: The fringe of the sea Bennett, Isobel The fringe of the sea Adelaide Rigby 1966 Book: The Great Barrier Reef Bennett, Isobel The Great Barrier Reef [Melbourne] Lansdowne [1971] Book: W. J. Dakin's classic study Australian seashores: guide to the temperate shores for the beach-lover, the naturalist, the shore-fisherman and the student: fully revised and illustrated by Isobel Bennett Dakin, William J. W. J. Dakin's classic study Australian seashores: guide to the temperate shores for the beach-lover, the naturalist, the shore-fisherman and the student: fully revised and illustrated by Isobel Bennett Rev. North Ryde, N.SW. Angus & Robertson 1987 Journal Article: Isobel Bennett: marine biologist extraordinaire Byrne, Maria Isobel Bennett: marine biologist extraordinaire 2008 Australian Marine Science Bulletin 177 6-9 Journal Article: The Sea Has Many Voices: Profile of an Australian Woman Scientist [Isobel Ida Toon Bennett] Allen, Nessy The Sea Has Many Voices: Profile of an Australian Woman Scientist [Isobel Ida Toon Bennett] 1993 Journal of Australian Studies 17 38 41-50 Journal Article: Women in conservation science making a difference Byrne, Margaret; Broadhurst, Linda; Leishman, Michelle; and Belov, Kathy Women in conservation science making a difference 2018 Pacific Conservation Biology 24 1 6 Journal Article: Australian Women in Science: Two Unorthodox Careers [Isobel Ida Toon Bennett and Helen Alma Newton Turner] Allen, Nessy Australian Women in Science: Two Unorthodox Careers [Isobel Ida Toon Bennett and Helen Alma Newton Turner] 1992 Women's Studies International Forum 15 5-6 551-562 Journal Article: Doctor of Science Award - Isobel Bennett Niland, John Doctor of Science Award - Isobel Bennett 1995 Australian Marine Science Bulletin 130 7-8 Journal Article: Honorary Life Member Isobel Bennett Anon Honorary Life Member Isobel Bennett 2002 Australian Marine Science Bulletin 160 6 Journal Article: Isobel Bennett: doyenne of the seashores Moyal, Ann Isobel Bennett: doyenne of the seashores 2015 National Library of Australia magazine 2015 March 14-7 Book: Irresistible Forces: Australian Women in Science Hooker, Claire Irresistible Forces: Australian Women in Science Carlton Melbourne University Press 2004 Journal Article: The remarkable contributions of ten outstanding women to Australian coral reef science Hutchings, Pat; Brown, Barbara E.; Byrne, Maria; Hamylton, Sarah; and Spencer, Tom The remarkable contributions of ten outstanding women to Australian coral reef science 2023 Historical Records of Australian Science 34 1 19-35 Resource: Shellers from the past and the present Rice, Tom Shellers from the past and the present Mactan Island, Philippines Conchology Inc. 2023 Journal Article: Women of AMSA [Australian Marine Sciences Association] Millers, Kimberley Women of AMSA [Australian Marine Sciences Association] 2013 Australian Marine Science Bulletin 190 40-7 Edited Book: Who's who in Australia 2001 Herd, Margaret Who's who in Australia 2001 38 Melbourne Crown Content 2001 Resource: Australian Plant Collectors and Illustrators Fagg, Murray Australian Plant Collectors and Illustrators Council of Heads of Australian Herbaria (CHAH) 2010 Interview with Dr Isobel Bennett, marine biologist [sound recording] / interviewer, Diana Giese National Library of Australia Oral History Collection Interview with Dr Isobel Bennett, marine biologist [sound recording] / interviewer, Diana Giese TRC 3910 20 July 1999 2 digital audio tapes (c. 1300 min.) and transcript (59 leaves). Bennett talks about the reasons for her involvement in the study of seashores and working with Professor Dakin in the Zoology Dept. at the University of Sydney. She then provides background on the publication, "Australian seashores" and gives reasons why it is no longer in print. Bennett then talks about the various institutions to whom she has donated material; her participation on marine expeditions and awards that she has received, in particular the Mueller Medal. She then describes the student field trips that she conducted and gives her views on the teaching of zoology at the tertiary level. Bennett then discusses the need to raise public awareness of the environment and describes the "Project Aware on the rocks" run by Pittwater Shire Council. She then talks about the advocacy role of scientists and gives her views on the level of environmental awareness in Australia. audio