Highlights of Tasmania in Antarctic history

The Royal Society of Tasmania presents the latest installment of its 2018 Lecture Series.
Tasmania has a long and distinguished history in Antarctic exploration – Ross, Dumont d’Urville, Borchgrevinck, Mawson as examples. But there is so much more that needs to be advertised. While Scott did not come to Tasmania, we have a surprising and deep association with his expeditions. In the early days (1820s-1830s) famous explorers all came here, often at the same time. And we sent one of our own to the sealing grounds – to be expanded.
During 1891-1999, Prof. Quilty was Chief Scientist for the Australian Antarctic Division and ANARE. He is a West Australian, and primarily a palaeontologist who first ventured to Eastern Ellsworth Land, Antarctica, with the University of Wisconsin in 1965/66, visited Macquarie Island in 1968 with a party that identified the island as a unique piece of uplifted oceanic crust and discovered fossil whales and dolphins at Marine Plain near Davis, the only site to provide fossil vertebrates since Antarctica became glaciated 34 million years ago. He has published over 200 scientific papers, is a regular commentator on Antarctic issues, has worked in the industry and academia and participated in many marine research cruises.
For more info visit www.qvmag.tas.gov.au.