Patricia M. Mawson

Patricia Marietje Mawson AO (13 April 1915 – 16 December 1999) was an Australian zoologist and parasitologist. Also known as Pat Thomas, Mawson published more than 100 scientific articles on parasitic nematodes.

Early life and education

Born on 13 April 1915 in Windsor, Victoria, Mawson was the daughter of worker biographer and community Francisca Adriana "Paquita" (née Deplrat) and Antarctic explorer Sir Douglas Mawson. She began her education at Hopetoun School, then moved to Woodlands Church of England Girls' Grammar School, completing the Leaving certificate in 1932. She graduated from the University of Adelaide in 1936 with a BSc and in 1938 MSc.[1] Her masters thesis was titled "Some studies in Australian nematoda",[2] with Thomas Harvey Johnson as her supervisor.[1]

Career

Mawson devoted her career to researching parasitic nematodes, publishing more than 100 articles.[1][3]

Awards and recognition

In 1974 Mawson was awarded the Verco Medal by the Royal Society of South Australia.[3] Two years later she was elected a Fellow of the Australian Society for Parasitology.[4]

Mawson was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in the 1994 Queen's Birthday Honours in recognition of her "service to the science of zoology in both research and teaching and to the development of the Australian Helminthological Collection".[5] She was inducted into the SA Environment Hall of Fame in 2024.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c Antonello, Alessandro, "Patricia Marietje (Pat) Thomas (1915–1999)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 2024-08-30
  2. ^ Mawson, Patricia M (1938), Some studies in Australian nematoda, retrieved 31 August 2024
  3. ^ a b "Patricia Thomas". SA Environment Awards. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  4. ^ "Fellows of the Society". Australian Society for Parasitology. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  5. ^ "Mrs Patricia Marietje THOMAS". Australian Honours Search Facility. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  6. ^ "SA Environment Hall of Fame". SA Environment Awards. Retrieved 2024-08-30.