Dorothy Hill
Encyclopedia
Dorothy Hill, AC
, CBE
, FAA
, FRS (10 September 1907 – 23 April 1997). She was an Australian
geologist
, the first female professor at an Australian university, and the first female president of the Australian Academy of Science
.
and attended Brisbane Girls Grammar School. Following high school she considered studying medicine and entering her life in medical research, but at the time the University of Queensland
did not offer a medical degree, and the Hill family could not afford to send Dorothy to Sydney
. Fortunately, she won one of twenty entrance scholarships to the University of Queensland, where she decided to study science, in particular chemistry
. She chose to study geology as an elective, and under the guidance of Professor H.C. Richards she graduated in 1928 with a First Class Honours degree in Geology, the University's Gold Medal for Outstanding Merit and a scholarship to study at the Sedgwick Museum at [University of Cambridge].
corals of Scotland
, and obtaining her PhD
. She remained in England
for seven years, publishing several important papers systemising the terminology for describing Rugose corals. When Hill returned to Australia she took on the huge task of mapping the limestone coral faunas of Australia, using them to outline wide-ranging stratigraphy
, and producing papers on the coral faunas of all states except South Australia
. This work on Palaeozoic corals became the worldwide standard.
During World War II
Hill enlisted in the Women's Royal Australian Naval Service. She worked 80–90 hours a week on cypher
and coding of shipping orders.
In 1964 Hill was awarded the Lyell Medal
for scientific research by the Geological Society of London
.
In 1956 Hill became a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science
. She served time on Academy committees, becoming Vice-President in 1969 and became the first female President in 1970, following the death of David Forbes Martyn
. At the end of her term of office she did not seek re-election.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, FAA
Australian Academy of Science
The Australian Academy of Science was founded in 1954 by a group of distinguished Australians, including Australian Fellows of the Royal Society of London. The first president was Sir Mark Oliphant. The Academy is modelled after the Royal Society and operates under a Royal Charter; as such it is...
, FRS (10 September 1907 – 23 April 1997). She was an Australian
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
geologist
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
, the first female professor at an Australian university, and the first female president of the Australian Academy of Science
Australian Academy of Science
The Australian Academy of Science was founded in 1954 by a group of distinguished Australians, including Australian Fellows of the Royal Society of London. The first president was Sir Mark Oliphant. The Academy is modelled after the Royal Society and operates under a Royal Charter; as such it is...
.
Education
Hill grew up in BrisbaneBrisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
and attended Brisbane Girls Grammar School. Following high school she considered studying medicine and entering her life in medical research, but at the time the University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
did not offer a medical degree, and the Hill family could not afford to send Dorothy to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. Fortunately, she won one of twenty entrance scholarships to the University of Queensland, where she decided to study science, in particular chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
. She chose to study geology as an elective, and under the guidance of Professor H.C. Richards she graduated in 1928 with a First Class Honours degree in Geology, the University's Gold Medal for Outstanding Merit and a scholarship to study at the Sedgwick Museum at [University of Cambridge].
Career
Dorothy Hill studied at Cambridge from 1929 to 1933 every Wednesday to research the CarboniferousCarboniferous
The Carboniferous is a geologic period and system that extends from the end of the Devonian Period, about 359.2 ± 2.5 Mya , to the beginning of the Permian Period, about 299.0 ± 0.8 Mya . The name is derived from the Latin word for coal, carbo. Carboniferous means "coal-bearing"...
corals of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and obtaining her PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
. She remained in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
for seven years, publishing several important papers systemising the terminology for describing Rugose corals. When Hill returned to Australia she took on the huge task of mapping the limestone coral faunas of Australia, using them to outline wide-ranging stratigraphy
Stratigraphy
Stratigraphy, a branch of geology, studies rock layers and layering . It is primarily used in the study of sedimentary and layered volcanic rocks....
, and producing papers on the coral faunas of all states except South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. This work on Palaeozoic corals became the worldwide standard.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Hill enlisted in the Women's Royal Australian Naval Service. She worked 80–90 hours a week on cypher
Cypher
Not to be confused with CipherCypher may refer to:* A royal cypher or monogram-like glyph-Art and entertainment:* Cypher , a Goa trance music group* Cypher , an Australian instrumental band* Cypher , a 2002 film...
and coding of shipping orders.
In 1964 Hill was awarded the Lyell Medal
Lyell Medal
The Lyell Medal is a prestigious annual scientific medal given by the Geological Society of London, equal in status to the Murchison Medal, awarded on the basis of research to an Earth Scientist of exceptional quality...
for scientific research by the Geological Society of London
Geological Society of London
The Geological Society of London is a learned society based in the United Kingdom with the aim of "investigating the mineral structure of the Earth"...
.
In 1956 Hill became a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science
Australian Academy of Science
The Australian Academy of Science was founded in 1954 by a group of distinguished Australians, including Australian Fellows of the Royal Society of London. The first president was Sir Mark Oliphant. The Academy is modelled after the Royal Society and operates under a Royal Charter; as such it is...
. She served time on Academy committees, becoming Vice-President in 1969 and became the first female President in 1970, following the death of David Forbes Martyn
David Forbes Martyn
David Forbes Martyn was a Scottish-born Australian physicist and radiographer.Martyn was born in Cambuslang, Scotland , the son of a local doctor. He was educated at Alan Glen's School then the Royal College of Science at Imperial College London....
. At the end of her term of office she did not seek re-election.