Patrick Gerard Quilty (20 March 1939 – 26 August 2018) was an Australian

geologist A geologist is a scientist who studies the structure, composition, and History of Earth, history of Earth. Geologists incorporate techniques from physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, and geography to perform research in the Field research, ...

and

paleontologist Paleontology, also spelled as palaeontology or palæontology, is the scientific study of the life of the past, mainly but not exclusively through the study of fossils. Paleontologists use fossils as a means to classify organisms, measure geolo ...

who specialised in the surface and subsurface earth sciences of

Antarctica Antarctica () is Earth's southernmost and least-populated continent. Situated almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle and surrounded by the Southern Ocean (also known as the Antarctic Ocean), it contains the geographic South Pole. ...

. The Quilty Nunataks are named for his initial service in Antarctica, at which time he was connected to the

University of Wisconsin A university () is an institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly means "community of teachers and scholars". Uni ...

. He later continued his Antarctic service with the

University of Tasmania The University of Tasmania (UTAS) is a public research university, primarily located in Tasmania, Australia. Founded in 1890, it is Australia's fourth oldest university. Christ College (University of Tasmania), Christ College, one of the unive ...

, rising to the position of chief scientist with the

Australian Antarctic Division The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) is a division of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment & Water. The division undertakes science programs and research projects to contribute to an understanding of Antarctica and the S ...

(AAD) of the Australian Department of the Environment. On 18 June 2016, Quilty was awarded the Phillip Law Medal for his outstanding contribution to Antarctica and the Antarctic community. On 21 June 2020, he was posthumously awarded the

Australian Antarctic Medal The Australian Antarctic Medal (stylised as post-nominal), originally designated the Antarctic Medal until 18 December 1997, is a meritorious service award of the Australian honours and awards system, instituted by Letters Patent on 2 June 19 ...

for outstanding service in Antarctic scientific research (especially in the fields of geology and palaeontology) and for his support of such research as head of the Australian Antarctic Division's science division between December 1980 and February 1999.

References

1939 births 2018 deaths Australian geologists Australian paleontologists Academic staff of the University of Tasmania Members of the Order of Australia Australian Antarctic scientists {{Australia-scientist-stub