Born: 4 November 1912, New Zealand
Died: 18 September 1993
Country most active: Australia
Also known as: NA
This biography has been shared from The Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, published by the Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology, under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Elizabeth Pope was a marine zoologist highly-regarded for her research on the effect of sea temperatures and latitude on the distribution and abundance of intertidal organisms on rocky shores. She mapped large areas of the Australian coast, doing some of the earliest Australian research in littoral ecology. Her fieldwork took her all over Australia, including to Macquarie Island in 1962. This series of comprehensive intertidal surveys provided a useful baseline for assessing the effects of climate change and increases in sea surface temperatures. Pope was keen to introduce young people to the wonders of the sea shore. Exploring between the tidemarks (1958, with Patricia McDonald) was written as an introduction to seashore ecology. Pope also contributed frequently to the popular children’s radio program, The argonauts. Joining the Australian Museum in 1939 as a Scientific Assistant, at a salary less than half that of her male counterparts, Pope became Curator of the Worms and Echinoderms Department and ultimately Deputy Director of the Museum. She was active in local professional organisations including the Linnean Society of New South Wales and the Australian Marine Science Association.
Chronology
1913
Life event – Migrated to Australia with her family
1935
Education – Bachelor of Science (BSc(Hons)), University of Sydney
1936 – 1939
Award – Linnean Macleay Fellowship (Zoology), for study at the University of Sydney
1939 – 1949
Career position – Scientific Assistant, Crustaceae and Lower Invertebrates department, Australian Museum
1940
Education – Master of Science (MSc), University of Sydney
1949 – 1957
Career position – Assistant Curator, Australian Museum
1953 – 1993
Award – Fellow, Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales
1957 – 1971
Career position – Curator, Worms and Echinoderms Department, Australian Museum
1964 – 1965
Career position – President, Linnean Society of New South Wales
1965 – 1968
Career position – Editor, Australian marine science newsletter, Australian Marine Sciences Association
1969? – 1993
Award – Honorary Life Member, Australian Marine Sciences Association
1971 – 1972
Career position – Deputy Director, Australian Museum
1972 – ?
Career position – Honorary Associate, Australian Museum
1972
Life event – Retired from Australian Museum