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

geologist A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid, liquid, and gaseous matter that constitutes Earth and other terrestrial planets, as well as the processes that shape them. Geologists usually study geology, earth science, or geophysics, alt ...

and

paleontologist Paleontology (), also spelled palaeontology or palæontology, is the scientific study of life that existed prior to, and sometimes including, the start of the Holocene epoch (roughly 11,700 years before present). It includes the study of foss ...

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, it contains the geographic South Pole. Antarctica is the fifth-largest co ...

. The

Quilty Nunataks Quilty Nunataks () is a group of nunataks (exposed ice-free ridges) which extend over 8 miles (13 km), located 15 miles (24 km) southwest of the Thomas Mountains in Palmer Land. Discovered by the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition (RARE) ...

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 higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase ''universitas magistrorum et scholarium'', which ...

. 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 and Water. The Division undertakes science programs and research projects to contribute to an understanding of Antarctica and th ...

(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 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 University of Tasmania faculty Members of the Order of Australia {{Australia-scientist-stub