Martin Glaessner
Encyclopedia
Martin Fritz Glaessner AM
(25 December 1906 – 23 November 1989) was a geologist
and palaeontologist
. Born and educated in Austro-Hungarian Empire, he spent the majority of his life in working for oil companies in Russia
, and studying the geology of the South Pacific in Australia
. Glaessner also did early work on the classification of the pre-Cambrian
lifeforms now known as the Ediacaran biota, which he proposed were the early antecedents of modern lifeforms.
). He was a Research Associate at the in Vienna
from 1923 to 1932, and starting in 1925 attended the University of Vienna
, where he received a doctorate in law in 1929, and a Ph.D. in geology and paleontology in 1931. He was a Research Associate the Natural History Museum
in London from 1930 to 1931.
In 1932 he moved to Moscow and began working in petrogeology at the State Petroleum Research Institute until 1934. From 1934 to 1937 he worked as a Senior Research Officer at the Institute of Mineral Fuels of the Russian Academy of Sciences
, and was also a part-time lecturer at the University of Moscow's Moscow Petroleum Institute and Palaeontological Institute in 1936. Glaessner married Tina Tupikina in 1936, and moved back to Vienna in December late 1937. Of Jewish descent on his father's side, he was arrested on 19 March 1938 but released to work at the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (now British Petroleum) in London.
Later in 1938 he moved to Port Moresby
, Australia, where he worked for joint oil exploration companies until 1950. He held various positions at the University of Adelaide
from 1950 to 1989, including chair of Geology and Palaeontology in 1964. He was an associate at the South Australian Museum
from 1953 to 1989.
of the Geological Society, the Walcott Medal
of the National Academy of Sciences
in 1982, and the Suess Medal of the Geological Society of Australia
. He became a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science
in 1957 and was on its Council from 1960 to 1962. He was a Chairman of the National Committee of Geological Sciences from 1962 to 1977. He was made a Member of the Order of Australia
in 1985. He was an Honorary Research Associate at the American Museum of Natural History
from 1950 to 1970.
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"...
(25 December 1906 – 23 November 1989) was a geologist
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
and palaeontologist
Paleontology
Paleontology "old, ancient", ὄν, ὀντ- "being, creature", and λόγος "speech, thought") is the study of prehistoric life. It includes the study of fossils to determine organisms' evolution and interactions with each other and their environments...
. Born and educated in Austro-Hungarian Empire, he spent the majority of his life in working for oil companies in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, and studying the geology of the South Pacific in Australia
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...
. Glaessner also did early work on the classification of the pre-Cambrian
Cambrian
The Cambrian is the first geological period of the Paleozoic Era, lasting from Mya ; it is succeeded by the Ordovician. Its subdivisions, and indeed its base, are somewhat in flux. The period was established by Adam Sedgwick, who named it after Cambria, the Latin name for Wales, where Britain's...
lifeforms now known as the Ediacaran biota, which he proposed were the early antecedents of modern lifeforms.
Biography
Glaessner was born in Aussig in the former the Austro-Hungarian Empire (now in the Czech RepublicCzech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
). He was a Research Associate at the in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
from 1923 to 1932, and starting in 1925 attended the University of Vienna
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
, where he received a doctorate in law in 1929, and a Ph.D. in geology and paleontology in 1931. He was a Research Associate the Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is one of three large museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, England . Its main frontage is on Cromwell Road...
in London from 1930 to 1931.
In 1932 he moved to Moscow and began working in petrogeology at the State Petroleum Research Institute until 1934. From 1934 to 1937 he worked as a Senior Research Officer at the Institute of Mineral Fuels of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Academy of Sciences
The Russian Academy of Sciences consists of the national academy of Russia and a network of scientific research institutes from across the Russian Federation as well as auxiliary scientific and social units like libraries, publishers and hospitals....
, and was also a part-time lecturer at the University of Moscow's Moscow Petroleum Institute and Palaeontological Institute in 1936. Glaessner married Tina Tupikina in 1936, and moved back to Vienna in December late 1937. Of Jewish descent on his father's side, he was arrested on 19 March 1938 but released to work at the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (now British Petroleum) in London.
Later in 1938 he moved to Port Moresby
Port Moresby
Port Moresby , or Pot Mosbi in Tok Pisin, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea . It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, on the southeastern coast of the island of New Guinea, which made it a prime objective for conquest by the Imperial Japanese forces during 1942–43...
, Australia, where he worked for joint oil exploration companies until 1950. He held various positions at the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
from 1950 to 1989, including chair of Geology and Palaeontology in 1964. He was an associate at the South Australian Museum
South Australian Museum
The South Australian Museum is a museum in Adelaide, South Australia, founded in 1856. It occupies a complex of buildings on North Terrace in the cultural precinct of the Adelaide Parklands.-History:...
from 1953 to 1989.
Awards
Glaessner received the Lyell MedalLyell 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...
of the Geological Society, the Walcott Medal
Charles Doolittle Walcott Medal
Charles Doolittle Walcott Medal is an award presented by the National Academy of Sciences every five years to promote research and study in the fields of Precambrian and Cambrian life and history. The medal was established and endowed in 1934 by the Walcott Fund, a gift of Mary Vaux Walcott, in...
of the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
in 1982, and the Suess Medal of the Geological Society of Australia
Geological Society of Australia
The Geological Society of Australia was established as a non-profit organisation in 1952 to promote, advance and support earth sciences in Australia...
. He 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...
in 1957 and was on its Council from 1960 to 1962. He was a Chairman of the National Committee of Geological Sciences from 1962 to 1977. He was made a Member of the Order of Australia
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"...
in 1985. He was an Honorary Research Associate at the American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History , located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States, is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world...
from 1950 to 1970.
Major publications
- Crustacea Decapoda (1930)
- Principles of Micropalaeontology (1945)
- Field Guide to the Study of Larger Foraminifera
- Time-stratigraphy and the Miocene Epoch
- Stratigraphic nomenclature in Australia
- Three foraminiferal zones in the Tertiary of Australia
- The Dawn of Animal Life (1984)