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A Far Frontier

British Geological Research in Australia During the Nineteenth Century

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International Science and National Scientific Identity

Part of the book series: Australasian Studies in History and Philosophy of Science ((AUST,volume 9))

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Abstract

Geology in Australia, from the end of the eighteenth century until at least the First World War, remained primarily the preserve of British geologists. Given Australia’s colonial status during the greater part of this period, it was to be expected that emigrant scientists from the metropolis would colonize employment opportunities arising at the periphery of the imperial system. Britain’s tradition of amateur scientific inquiry also dictated that a good deal of such research would be accomplished by men who were not full-time scientists. As geology was professionalized and institutionalized in Britain during the second half of the nineteenth century, Australian geology likewise became the province of the geological surveyor or professor rather than the avocation of the military officer or clergyman. Yet long after the foundation of Australian universities and schools of mines, these professional posts continued to be filled almost exclusively by Britons.

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Abbreviations

ADB:

Australian Dictionary of Biography

Notes

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© 1991 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Stafford, R.A. (1991). A Far Frontier. In: Home, R.W., Hohlstedt, S.G. (eds) International Science and National Scientific Identity. Australasian Studies in History and Philosophy of Science, vol 9. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-3786-7_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-3786-7_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-5686-1

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