Edgar Frederick Riek (1920–2016) was an Australian

entomologist Entomology (from Ancient Greek ἔντομον (''éntomon''), meaning "insect", and -logy from λόγος (''lógos''), meaning "study") is the branch of zoology that focuses on insects. Those who study entomology are known as entomologists. In ...

and invertebrate zoologist known for his research on fossil insects and the taxonomy of freshwater

crayfish Crayfish are freshwater crustaceans belonging to the infraorder Astacidea, which also contains lobsters. Taxonomically, they are members of the superfamilies Astacoidea and Parastacoidea. They breathe through feather-like gills. Some spe ...

. He later became known as prominent

viticulturist Viticulture (, "vine-growing"), viniculture (, "wine-growing"), or winegrowing is the cultivation and harvesting of grapes. It is a branch of the science of horticulture. While the native territory of ''Vitis vinifera'', the common grape vine, ...

and winemaker. Affiliated with the

CSIRO The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) is an Australian Government agency that is responsible for scientific research and its commercial and industrial applications. CSIRO works with leading organisations arou ...

for over 30 years, he wrote the first pocket field guide to Australian insects, described over 230 species, and is commemorated in the names of over 80 species. After retiring from the CSIRO he became a noted figure in the Australian wine industry, co-founding the Canberra and District Vignerons Association and receiving the Order of Australia Medal (1996) for his work. Edgar Riek was born 1 May 1920 in Napier, New Zealand, to Australian parents. He was raised in Caboolture, Queensland, attended

Brisbane Grammar School Brisbane Grammar School (BGS) is an Independent school, independent, fee charging, non-denominational, day school, day and boarding school for boys, located in Spring Hill, Queensland, Spring Hill, an inner suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Austra ...

, and entered the

University of Queensland The University of Queensland is a Public university, public research university located primarily in Brisbane, the capital city of the Australian state of Queensland. Founded in 1909 by the Queensland parliament, UQ is one of the six sandstone ...

in 1939 where he worked as an assistant in the Geology Department. He majored in Geology and Biology, earned a B.S. from the University of Queensland in 1942, and taught zoology there from 1943 to 1945 while earning a M.S. on freshwater animals of Queensland, awarded 1946. In 1945 he joined the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, a precursor to the CSIRO, as an assistant in the Division of Economic Entomology in Canberra. He retired in 1976.

References

External links

Edgar Riek 1998 interview
at the

National Library of Australia The National Library of Australia (NLA), formerly the Commonwealth National Library and Commonwealth Parliament Library, is the largest reference library in Australia, responsible under the terms of the ''National Library Act 1960'' for "mainta ...

* 1920 births 2016 deaths Australian entomologists Australian carcinologists Australian paleontologists Australian winemakers 20th-century Australian zoologists Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia University of Queensland alumni People from Napier, New Zealand Scientists from Queensland People educated at Brisbane Grammar School CSIRO people Viticulturists {{Australia-scientist-stub