The First Lecturer in Exploration Geophysics in Australia – Later to Become a World Renowned Seismologist

Abstract

The first full-time university lecturer in Australia in exploration geophysics was Dr Henry Ivison Shipley Thirlaway, who was appointed to the position in the University of Sydney's Department of Geology in 1949. Dr Alan Day (1966) reports that the only teaching in geophysics before this was in 1931, when E. H. Booth gave a series of lectures, demonstrations and three days field work in geophysical prospecting 'under the auspices of the Extension Board of Sydney University' 1 .

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“…An entertaining read! Roger Henderson ASEG History Committee Chair rogah@tpg.com.au The second lecturer in exploration geophysics in Australia -later to become Surveyor General of India The first lecturer in exploration geophysics in Australia, Dr Thirlaway, only held the position at the University of Sydney for 18 months, from October 1949 to April 1951 (Henderson 2016). He left Australia to establish a geophysical observatory in Quetta in Pakistan.…”

The level of knowledge about exploration geophysical methods in Australia prior to the Imperial Geophysical Experimental Survey (IGES), 1928–30. Part 1

“…E H Booth, in his Presidential address to the Royal Society of NSW (Booth, 1938) acknowledged that before the IGES, "no trained personnel, scientific or otherwise, was available in Australia, … no students had yet been trained, although it was known to be absorbing many science graduates of Continental and American universities". Also, we know that lectures on exploration geophysics did not start in Australia until 1950 (Henderson, 2016).…”

The second lecturer in exploration geophysics in Australia – later to become Surveyor General of India

“…The first lecturer in exploration geophysics in Australia, Dr Thirlaway, only held the position at the University of Sydney for 18 months, from October 1949 to April 1951 (Henderson 2016). He left Australia to establish a geophysical observatory in Quetta in Pakistan.…”