Edwin Sherbon Hills
Encyclopedia
Edwin Sherbon Hills CBE
(31 August 1906 - 2 May 1986) was an Australian geologist, a Foundation Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science
and at the time of his death was regarded as one of Australia's "most eminent scientists and most accomplished geologists".
Hills grew in the Melbourne
suburb Carlton
. He was dux
of Carlton Primary School and received a scholarship to attend University High School
. Hills graduated from high school in 1924 and with classmate Harrie Massey
received a scholarship to attend the University of Melbourne
. Hills had chosen his undergraduate courses with the idea of becoming a chemist and took geology as a suitable ancillary, however his studies led him to become a geologist and physiographer. Hills undertook his MSc at the University of Melbourne under E. W. Skeats, his graduate field work was based at Cathedral Range
just outside Melbourne and he studied fossil fishes, acid vulcanism and physiography in the area.
With Skeats' support Hills was awarded a 1851 Exhibition scholarship
to travel to the United Kingdom and attend the Royal College of Science
(now the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine). He began his PhD studies there in mid-1929 and continued to research fossil fishes and on the petrology and mineralogy of igneous rock
s. During the course of his studies he was elected to the Geological Society of London
At the completion of his studies Hills was offered a position in the William George Fearnsides
at the British Museum
, however Skeats had gone to some effort to secure an academic position for Hills at the University of Melbourne; so Hills returned to Melbourne and began lecturing at the university in 1932. In the same year he married Claire Doris Fox whom he had met in London and they had three children together.
Hills lectured at the university from 1932 to 1943 climbing the academic ranks from lecturer, senior lecturer to associate professor; he became a full professor and the Chair of the geology department in 1944, he held this position until 1971. He also involved in the university administration serving as Deputy Vice-Chancellor from 1962 to 1971. While at Melbourne his fields of research were broad encompassing Australian fossil fishes of the Upper Devonian and Cainozoic, physiography, hydrology, petrology and mineralogy of Victoria
and economic geology. In addition to scientific papers and monographs, Hills produced three geology textbooks; Outlines of Structural Geology (first published in 1940), The Physiography of Victoria: an Introduction to Geomorphology (first published in 1940), Elements of Structural Geology (first published in 1963), each was reprinted into multiple editions.
Hills was the founding chair of the Geological Society of Australia
in 1951 and in the same year received the Bigsby Medal
from Geological Society of London. In 1954 he was elected to the Royal Society
and was a founding fellow of Australia's learned science organisation, the Australian Academy of Science
. He served as a member of the UNESCO International Advisory Committee on Arid Zone Research and on numerous other advisory boards. For his contributions he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1971.
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
(31 August 1906 - 2 May 1986) was an Australian geologist, a Foundation Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science
Australian Academy of Science
The Australian Academy of Science was founded in 1954 by a group of distinguished Australians, including Australian Fellows of the Royal Society of London. The first president was Sir Mark Oliphant. The Academy is modelled after the Royal Society and operates under a Royal Charter; as such it is...
and at the time of his death was regarded as one of Australia's "most eminent scientists and most accomplished geologists".
Hills grew in the Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
suburb Carlton
Carlton, Victoria
Carlton is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Melbourne...
. He was dux
Dux
Dux is Latin for leader and later for Duke and its variant forms ....
of Carlton Primary School and received a scholarship to attend University High School
University High School, Melbourne
The University High School is a public, co-educational high school, located in the Melbourne suburb of Parkville.-History:...
. Hills graduated from high school in 1924 and with classmate Harrie Massey
Harrie Massey
Sir Harrie Stewart Wilson Massey FRS was an influential Australian mathematical physicist. He worked primarily in the fields of atomic and atmospheric physics.- Life and career :...
received a scholarship to attend the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
. Hills had chosen his undergraduate courses with the idea of becoming a chemist and took geology as a suitable ancillary, however his studies led him to become a geologist and physiographer. Hills undertook his MSc at the University of Melbourne under E. W. Skeats, his graduate field work was based at Cathedral Range
Cathedral Range (Victoria)
Cathedral Range is a mountain range in Victoria, Australia, located in Cathedral Range State Park. The range is formed from a 7km ridge of upturned sedimentary rock, consisting mainly of Sandstone, Mudstone and Conglomerates of the Devonian Period. This has given the range steep sides, and a narrow...
just outside Melbourne and he studied fossil fishes, acid vulcanism and physiography in the area.
With Skeats' support Hills was awarded a 1851 Exhibition scholarship
1851 Research Fellowship
The 1851 Research Fellowship is a UK scheme conducted by the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 to annually award a three-year research scholarship to approximately eight "young scientists or engineers of exceptional promise"...
to travel to the United Kingdom and attend the Royal College of Science
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...
(now the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine). He began his PhD studies there in mid-1929 and continued to research fossil fishes and on the petrology and mineralogy of igneous rock
Igneous rock
Igneous rock is one of the three main rock types, the others being sedimentary and metamorphic rock. Igneous rock is formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or lava...
s. During the course of his studies he was elected to the Geological Society of London
Geological Society of London
The Geological Society of London is a learned society based in the United Kingdom with the aim of "investigating the mineral structure of the Earth"...
At the completion of his studies Hills was offered a position in the William George Fearnsides
William George Fearnsides
William George Fearnsides FRS was a British geologist....
at the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
, however Skeats had gone to some effort to secure an academic position for Hills at the University of Melbourne; so Hills returned to Melbourne and began lecturing at the university in 1932. In the same year he married Claire Doris Fox whom he had met in London and they had three children together.
Hills lectured at the university from 1932 to 1943 climbing the academic ranks from lecturer, senior lecturer to associate professor; he became a full professor and the Chair of the geology department in 1944, he held this position until 1971. He also involved in the university administration serving as Deputy Vice-Chancellor from 1962 to 1971. While at Melbourne his fields of research were broad encompassing Australian fossil fishes of the Upper Devonian and Cainozoic, physiography, hydrology, petrology and mineralogy of Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
and economic geology. In addition to scientific papers and monographs, Hills produced three geology textbooks; Outlines of Structural Geology (first published in 1940), The Physiography of Victoria: an Introduction to Geomorphology (first published in 1940), Elements of Structural Geology (first published in 1963), each was reprinted into multiple editions.
Hills was the founding chair of the Geological Society of Australia
Geological Society of Australia
The Geological Society of Australia was established as a non-profit organisation in 1952 to promote, advance and support earth sciences in Australia...
in 1951 and in the same year received the Bigsby Medal
Bigsby Medal
The Bigsby Medal is a medal of the Geological Society of London established by John Jeremiah Bigsby. It is awarded for the study of American geology and recipients must be under 45 years of age.-Bigsby Medalists:List of Medallists...
from Geological Society of London. In 1954 he was elected to the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
and was a founding fellow of Australia's learned science organisation, the Australian Academy of Science
Australian Academy of Science
The Australian Academy of Science was founded in 1954 by a group of distinguished Australians, including Australian Fellows of the Royal Society of London. The first president was Sir Mark Oliphant. The Academy is modelled after the Royal Society and operates under a Royal Charter; as such it is...
. He served as a member of the UNESCO International Advisory Committee on Arid Zone Research and on numerous other advisory boards. For his contributions he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1971.