Vickers-Rich, Patricia - Bright Sparcs Biographical entry

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Vickers-Rich, Patricia (1944 - )

Palaeontologist and Ornithologist

Born: 11 July 1944 United States of America

Patricia Vickers-Rich is Director of the Monash Science Centre, Monash University and a world renowned palaeontologist and geologist. Vickers-Rich researches the origin and evolution of Australasian vertebrates and their environments over the past 400 million years. She has special interest in Australian avian fossil non-passerines.

Career Highlights

Alternative Names: Rich, Patricia (maiden name)

Patricia Vickers-Rich was born and educated in the USA and migrated to Australia in 1976. Prior to arriving in Australia, she held a number of research positions including one at the American Museum of Natural History in New York (1972). There she studied the bird fossils collected from the Northern Territory and South Australia by joint Australian and American expeditions. One of her first appointments in Australia was as Lecturer in the Department of Earth Sciences at Monash University. Over the next 20 years, Patricia Vickers-Rich held numerous positions within the University and is now Director of the Monash Science Centre and Personal Chair in Palaeontology. She is also a Research Associate at Tasmania’s Queen Victoria Museum, the Museum of Victoria and Moscow’s Paleontological Institute.

Vickers-Rich is a prolific writer and has co-authored at least 10 books, three of which have won major science publishing awards. Her refereed journal articles and published exhibition catalogues number well over 150. Patricia Vickers-Rich has also been awarded several prizes for excellence in science communication and elected to many prominent scientific organizations. She was Vice-President, President Elect then President of the Australian Association of Palaeontologists from 1992 to 1998.

Chronology
1963 - 1965 Zooarchaeologist at the Nevada State Museum in Reno, USA
1963 - 1965 Research Assistant in Paleontology at the University of California
1966 Bachelor of Arts (AB) in Palentology completed at the University of Berkeley, USA
1968 - 1969 Teaching Assistant in Geology at Columbia University, New York
1969 Master of Arts (MA) in Geology completed at Columbia University, USA
1970 Field Ecologist with the Organization of Tropical Studies in Costa Rica
1970 Member of the Sigma Xi (National Science Honorary Organization)
1972 Palaeontologist at the American Museum of Natural History in New York
1973 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) completed at Columbia University, USA
1973 - 1976 Assistant Professor and Associate Curator at the Texas Tech University & Museum
c. 1976 Migrated to Australia (Melbourne)
1976 - 1983 Lecturer in Earth Sciences at Monash University
1977 - Research Associate in Ornithology at the Museum of Victoria
1984 - 1989 Senior Lecturer in Earth Sciences and Zoology at Monash University
1989 - 1995 Reader in Departments of Earth Sciences and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Monash University
1990 - Member of the Society of Women Geographers in Washington, USA
1992 - 1993 Deputy Head of Earth Sciences at Monash University
1992 - 1994 Vice-President of the Australian Association of Palaeontologists
1993 - Foundation Director of the Monash Science Centre at Monash University
1993 Wildlife of Gondwana awarded the Eureka Prize
1993 Michael Daley Award for Excellence in Science Technology & Engineering Journalism received
1994 Wildlife of Gondwana awarded the Whitley Medal for best book on the natural history of Australian animals
1994 - 1995 President Elect of the Australian Association of Palaeontologists
1995 - Research Associate at the Queen Victoria Museum in Launceston
1995 - Professor and Personal Chair in Palaeontology at Monash University
1996 - Member of the International Acadamey of Sciences of Nature & Society in Moscow
1997 - 1998 President of the Australian Association of Palaeontologists
1998 - Research Associate in Vertebrate Palaeontology and Ornithology at the Museum of Victoria?
2000 Dinosaurs of Darkness by T. H. Rich & Vickers-Rich received the Eureka Prize
2004 - Research Associate in the Laboratory of Precambrian Organisms at the Paleontological Institute in Moscow
2004 Magnificient Mihirungs by Vickers-Rich & Peter Murray received the Whitley Medal for best book on the natural history of Australian animals

Structure based on ISAAR(CPF) - click here for an explanation of the fields.

Prepared by: Rosanne Walker & Annette Alafaci
Created: 19 April 2001
Modified: 16 November 2005

Published by The University of Melbourne eScholarship Research Centre on ASAPWeb, 1994 - 2007
Originally published 1994-1999 by Australian Science Archives Project, 1999-2006 by the Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre
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Prepared by: Acknowledgements
Updated: 26 February 2007
http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/biogs/P003192b.htm

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