Irene Crespin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Irene Crespin
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| Born | 12 November 1896 Kew, Victoria, Australia
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| Died | 2 January 1980 (aged 83) |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation | geologist, paleontologist |
Irene Crespin (born November 12, 1896 – died January 2, 1980) was an amazing Australian geologist and micropaleontologist. Geologists study the Earth's rocks and history, while paleontologists study fossils. Micropaleontologists focus on tiny fossils, often too small to see without a microscope!
Irene became interested in geology and started working with Frederick Chapman, a paleontologist at the National Museum of Victoria. She became his assistant and later took over his job. However, because she was a woman, she was paid much less and didn't get the same equipment or office space as he did. Despite these challenges, Crespin worked hard, studying and finding fossils all over Australia.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Irene Crespin was born in Kew, Victoria, Australia. Her father, Godwin George Crespin, was an auctioneer, and her mother was Eliza Jane. When she was young, Irene dreamed of becoming a musician. But after attending Mansfield Agricultural High School, she discovered her passion for geology.
She went to the University of Melbourne and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1919. She had planned to become a teacher. While at university, she met Frederick Chapman. In December 1927, she became his assistant. Together, they worked on finding oils and minerals in the area.
A Career in Science
On January 1, 1936, Irene Crespin took over Frederick Chapman's role as a paleontologist in the Department of the Interior. This was a big honor, but she faced unfair treatment. Her salary was only half of what Chapman had earned, and she had to work with fewer tools and a less-than-ideal office.
Even with these difficulties, Irene was determined to continue her geological studies. She moved to Canberra to work closely with the government's geological adviser, Walter George Woolnough.
During her career, Irene Crespin wrote about 90 scientific papers by herself and more than 20 with other scientists. She did important work on tiny fossils called foraminifera.
In 1939, Crespin traveled to Java and Sumatra in Indonesia. She met with other micropaleontologists to discuss problems with dating rocks from the Tertiary period in the Indo-Pacific region.
In 1951, Irene was invited to visit the United States to speak to the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. She was the first Australian to be asked to speak to this group, and she went on a three-month tour. Even though some people in the Australian government didn't want her to go, geologists in the U.S. welcomed her warmly.
Sadly, in 1953, a fire broke out in the Canberra offices of the Bureau of Mineral Resources. Many of Irene's books and research papers were destroyed. In 1961, Irene Crespin retired at the age of 65.
Later Life and Legacy
Irene Crespin passed away in Canberra on January 2, 1980.
In 1975, she wrote a book called Ramblings of a Micropalaeontologist. In it, she shared some of her experiences and the history of her work with tiny fossils in Australia.
Irene Crespin's contributions to science are still remembered today.
- A street in the Canberra suburb of Banks is named Crespin Place in her honor.
- The Australian National University gives out the Irene Crespin Prize for Palaeontology. This award recognizes students who do excellent work in undergraduate paleontology.
- Geoscience Australia in Canberra has named a room after Irene. The Irene Crespin Innovation Lab was opened on September 24, 2019, with her family present.
Awards and Recognition
Irene Crespin received many awards and honors for her important work:
- In 1919, she earned her Bachelor of Arts (BA) from the University of Melbourne.
- In 1953, she received the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal.
- In 1956, she was awarded the Royal Society of New South Wales Clarke Medal.
- In 1957, she received the Clarke Medal from the Royal Society of New South Wales.
- In 1960, she earned her Doctor of Science (DSc) from the University of Melbourne.
- In 1962, she received the Award of Merit from the Commonwealth Professional Officers' Association.
- In 1969, she was honored with the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) award.
- In 1973, she became an Honorary member of the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science.
Publications
Irene Crespin wrote many scientific papers, often about tiny fossils. Here are some of her notable works:
- The Sorrento Bore, Morington Peninsula, With a Description of New or Little Known Fossils. (1928) - with Chapman, F.
- Rare Foraminifera From Deep Borings in the Victorian Tertiaries- Victoriella, Gen. Nov., Cycloclypeus Communis Martin, and Lepidocylina Burneensis Provale. (1930) - with Chapman, F
- Rare Foraminifera From Deep Borings in the Victorian Tertiaries; Part II. (1930) - with Chapman, F.
- Rare Foraminifera From Deep Borings; Part III. (1932) - with Chapman, F.
- Arenaceous Forminfera From the Permian Rocks of New South Wales. (1940) - with W. J. Parr
- The Genus Cycloclypeus in Victoria. (1941)
- The Genus Lepidocyclina in Victoria. (1934)
- Some Lower Cretaceous Forminfera From Bores in the Great Artesian Basin, Northern New South Wales. (1944)
- Some Permian Foraminifera From Victoria, Australia. (1945)
- Some Tertiary Foraminifera From Victoria, Australia. (1950)
- Two New Species of Lepidocyclina From Cape Range, North Western Australia. (1952)
- Lower Cretaceous Foraminifera From the Great Artesian Basin, Australia. (1953)
See also
- In Spanish: Irene Crespin para niños
