Dr. Patricia Vickers-Rich Ph D




Present Appointment:
Foundation Director, Monash Science Centre, Monash University, 1993 - present.
Professor (Personal Chair in Palaeontology), Monash University (Australia),
Earth Sciences Department and Botany/Zoology: November 1995-1997;
School of Geosciences 1997 to present.

Personal Details
Address: School of Geosciences and Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
Contacts: (03) 9905 4889 (School of Geosciences)
(03) 9905 1370 (Monash Science Centre)
(03) 9562 1443 (home)
(03) 9905 4903 (FAX) or (03) 9905 1370
email: pat.rich@sci.monash.edu.au
Citizenship: Australia and U.S.A. (dual citizen)
Marital Status: Spouse, Dr. Thomas H. Rich, 2 children

Formal Qualifications:
Columbia University, New York (1973), PhD. in Geology.
(THESIS: The History of Australia’s non-passeriform birds. Antarctic dispersal routes, plate tectonics, and the origin of Australia’s non-passeriform avifauna.)
Columbia University, New York (1969), M.A. in Geology.
(THESIS: New World Vultures with Old World Affinities: A review of fossil and recent Gypaetinae of both the Old and the New Worlds)
University of California, Berkeley (1966), A.B. in Paleontology.

Other Relevant Awards, Distinctions, and Scholarships

• National Geographic/Toyota Field Vehicle Award, 2002 (one of 17 given world wide. New Toyota Land Cruiser valued at about $85.000)
• Eureka Award, New Holland, Science Book of the Year Price for Dinosaurs of Darkness, (2001)
• Elected member of the New York Explorer’s Club, (1998)
• Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Scholar, (Dec. 2000 - Jan. 2001)
• Chairman’s Award (with Dr T. H. Rich), Committee for Research and Exploration, National Geographic Society, Washington, Nov. 2000, for accumulation of “an extraordinary record of life from the Age of Dinosaurs in Australia ranging from dinosaurs to mammal. This has completely revised our understanding of Mesozoic life at high latitudes. In recognition of their tireless and virtually superhuman efforts to gather and interpret fossils of great significance, this award is given.”
• Crosbie Morrison Medal & Annual Lecture (1998), for excellence in science communication (1998)
• Telstra Business Women’s Award (Victorian State Finalist - one of 5) (1997)
• Elected Member, International Academy of Sciences of Nature & Society, Moscow Branch (1996)
• President Elect, Australasian Association of Palaeontologists (1994-1995)
• Key to the City of Mesa, Arizona, for the Great Russian Dinosaur Exhibition, (1995)
• The Whitley Medal, Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, for Wildlife of Gondwana (best book on the natural history of Australian animals published in 1993-4) (1994)
• Victorian Nominee (with T. H. Rich) for the von Muller Medal (only one per state) (1994)
• Eureka Award, New South Wales University Press, Science Book of the Year Prize, for Wildlife of Gondwana (1993)
• Michael Daley Award for Excellence in Science, Technology & Engineering Journalismin the category “Best Entry by a communicator not a Professional Journalist or Media Photographer 1993 for “The Dinosuars that Came in from the Cold”, QANTAS Airways Magazine (Jan.-Feb., 1993), pp. 38-44.
• Cover Article for Time Australian Magazine, 9 August 1993, Dinosaurs Down Under: Coming In From the Cold.
• Elected Member, Society of Women Geographers, Washington, D. C. (1990)
• Australian Academy of Science Scholar, Peoples’ Republic of China (1979, 1998)
• American Association of University Women, Graduate Fellowship Columbia University, N. Y.) (1971)
• Elected to Sigma Xi (National Science Honorary Organization) (1970)
• Columbia University Graduate Fellowship (1968-1970)
• Elected to Phi Beta Kappa (1966)
• Honours at Entrance, University of California, Berkeley (1962)

Other appointments and experience:
Director, The Dinosaurs of Darkness Exhibition, 2000 to present
Director, The Great Russian Dinosaurs Exhibition, 1993-1997
Deputy Head, Earth Sciences Department, Monash University. 1992 to 1993.
Research Associate, Queen Victoria Museum, Launceston (nominated 1995).
Reader, Monash University (Australia), Departments of Earth Sciences and Ecology and
Evolutionary Biology. 1989 to 1995, Senior Lecturer, Monash University
(Australia), Departments of Earth Sciences and Zoology: January 1984 - 1989.
Lecturer, Monash University, Department of Earth Sciences: June1976 December1983.v
Research Associate, Department of Ornithology, The Museum of Victoria: appointed 1977.
Research Associate Department of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Department of
Ornithology, 1998-present.
Assistant Professor and Associate Curator, Texas Tech University, Department of
Geosciences, and the Texas Tech Museum, Lubbock,Texas: Sept.1973 May1976.
Field Ecologist, Organization for Tropical Studies, Costa Rica, Summer, 1970
(competitive position for 20 participants from the entire USA)
Teaching Assistant, Department of Geology, Columbia University, New York: 1968-1969.
Zooarchaeologist, Nevada State Museum, Reno, Nevada: 1966-1967.
Research Assistant, Department of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley,
California, 1963-1965.
Field Assistant, Hell Gap Expedition, Harvard University, Peabody Museum, Gurnsey,
Wyoming, 1963-1964.

Research and publications:
Published Scholarly Works:
Books: 9
Refereed Journal Articles: 131
Abstracts/Poster Papers: 48
Laboratory Manuals: 8

Published Popular Works
Books: 13
Exhibition Catalogues: 12
Popular Articles: in excess of 45
Educational Modules: 4