b'PeopleNewsA tribute to Ron GreenSciences at the Australian NationalWhile Ted was a geologist and Ron University (ANU). John Conrad Jaeger hada physicist/mathematician, they been appointed the Foundation Professorcomplemented each other perfectly of Geophysics in 1952. Previously Jaegerand managed enormous progress in a had lectured in mathematics at thevery short time period. Ron also worked University of Tasmania and had attendedclosely with Jaeger, especially on the a series of lectures presented by Professorcooling history of a massive Tasmanian Sam Carey (1998 ASEG Gold medallist).dolerite sill, where they demonstrated Jaeger was inspired by Carey to focusgeomagnetic secular variation during the his new Department of Geophysics onJurassic period. Jaeger was already well the physics of the crust and interior ofknown for his work on heat flow and the the Earth. It is probably pertinent thatcooling of solids.at about this time (1952 - 53) Carey was appointed Visiting Reader in JaegersBy 1957 the polar wandering path new department. In late 1954 Jaegerof Australia from Early Proterozoic also appointed Edward (Ted) Irvingtimes to the Late Tertiary had been as a Research Fellow to commence aconstructed. Laughably (now) Ted systematic study of rock magnetism inand Rons manuscript was rejected by Australia the Journal of Geophysical Research Ron Green (JGR). Their paper Polar movement Ron was Ted Irvings first PhD student.relative to Australia, was published Ron had worked on magnetic surveys inin the first issue of the Geophysical This year, 2020, we celebrate 50 yearsWA at the Bureau of Mineral ResourcesJournal of the Royal Astronomical of the Australian Society of Exploration(BMR), Canberra, between 1953 andSociety (Irving and Green, 1958). To Geophysicists. We also celebrate the1955. He recognised the heterogeneousreconcile the European, American 90th birthday of Ron Green, one of themagnetisation of rocks, and how thisand Australian paths, relative motion Societys founding members, and afact was not consistent with a simplebetween the continents must have person who through lateral thinking andinduction model. Ron was, therefore, welloccurred. With remarkable accuracy a unique approach made pioneeringplaced to begin doctoral studies on rocka rate of 50 mm/year was determined contributions to several facets of ourmagnetism. Rons contacts in the BMRfor the northward drift of Australia. science. Ron also mentored manywere very useful at times, with BMR fieldSee also a review by one of us (PWS) of geophysicists who have gone on to makegeologists generously providing orientedThe Continental Drift Controversy by their own careers in geophysics. field specimens from remote localities.Henry R. Frankel (Preview 163 p. 29). It Their assistance was greatly appreciatedis also noteworthy that Sam Carey had and gladly acknowledged. a manuscript rejected by JGR at about Background: Pioneering continentalthis time.drift One of Ted and Rons first findings was that at the time the Jurassic TasmanianIn the late 1950s, while still pursuing his Ron Green was born in Brisbane on 22dolerite was intruded, Tasmania was veryPhD research, Ron took up a lecturing July, 1930. Following secondary schoolclose to the South Pole. The opportunityposition in Careys department at the Ron was paid a Public Service salaryto carry out research on the TasmanianUniversity of Tasmania. Ron graduated by the Commonwealth (Departmentdolerites and to test the predictions ofwith a PhD in geophysics from ANU of Supply) to attend the UniversityWegeners continental drift hypothesisin 1961. The title of his thesis was of Queensland (UQ). The federalwas one of the main reasons Ted hadThe Palaeomagnetism of some government department selectedagreed to come to Australia. TheirKainozoic & Palaeozoic rocks.* Also all course work with emphasis onfinding was opposed to the conventionalin 1961, the year Ron joined the SEG, mathematics, physics, electronics andpolar wander interpretation of resultshe participated in the voyage of the geology. No failures were tolerated.from Europe and North America, andR.V. Argo from Fremantle to Hobart. Ron did not fail, and on graduation waswas probably one of the main factorsThe cruise established that there was employed by the Commonwealth ofbehind Sam Careys Continental Driftno continuation of the Darling Fault Australia on a permanent basis. RonSymposium in Hobart in 1956. Earththrough the oceanic floor, and that there graduated with a BSc (Hons Physics) inscience thinking in the southernwere mirror-image magnetic anomaly 1953 and his thesis was entitled: Thehemisphere was well ahead of thinkingstripes paralleling the 50S degree electron density in the F2 ionosphereelsewhere. It is hard to appreciateridge. All these findings supported layer. now just how ground-breaking thiscontinental drift.early work was and, although not as Ron commenced his PhD studies in 1955widely recognised as it should be, howIn 1967 Ron was appointed to the UNE in the nascent Department of Geophysicsvery influential on research directionsat Associate Professor level, and tasked in the Research School of Physicalglobally. with establishing an independent * Editors note: Cenozoic, meaning new life, is derived from Greek kains new, and z life. The era is also known as the Cnozoic, Caenozoic, or Cainozoic. The name Cenozoic (originally: Kainozoic) was proposed in 1840 by the British geologist John Phillips (18001874).AUGUST 2020 PREVIEW 8'