Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria
Australian National Herbarium
Biographical Notes
|
|
Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria |
|
Burbidge,
Nancy Tyson (1912 - 1977) Nancy Tyson Burbidge was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1912, and came to Australia
with her parents as a young child. After graduating in science at the University
of Western Australia she was awarded a scholarship from the University to spend
eighteen months at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England, in 1939 and 1940.
At this time she undertook the first of several studies of Australian grass
genera. The results of these studies contributed to her Master of Science degree
from the University of Western Australia.
During the next three years, Nancy Burbidge continued her studies of the Western
Australian flora, both in the field and in the herbarium. In 1943 she was appointed
assistant agronomist at the Waite Agricultural Research Institute in Adelaide
and began working on the regeneration of native pastures in the arid and semi-arid
regions of South Australia.
A turning point in her career came when she was appointed to the new position
of systematic botanist in the CSIRO Division of Plant Industry in 1946. Apart
from organising and extending the herbarium collections and providing an identification
service for colleagues in the CSIRO, she initiated what was to be a continuing
feature of her career, the provision of assistance to all Australian plant taxonomists,
wherever located. This was done mainly through her work for the Systematic Botany
Committee of the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement
of Science, and as liaison officer at Kew in the early 1950s.
The period from 1955 to 1970 was perhaps the most productive in Nancy Burbidge's
career. During this time she published her Dictionary of Australian Plant
Genera , a comprehensive paper on the phytogeography of the Australian region,
and studies of the plant groups Nicotiana , Sesbania and Helichrysum
. During the latter part of this period she completed the Flora of the
Australian Capital Territory with Max Gray, also of the CSIRO Division of
Plant Industry, and three regional volumes of Australian Grasses, all beautifully
illustrated with her original line drawings. In 1961 she was awarded the degree
of Doctor of Science by the University of Western Australia.
Later in her career Dr Burbidge became increasingly involved in the preparation
of a new Flora of Australia , a project of keen interest to her ever
since it was first mooted many years before. Nancy Burbidge was the obvious
scientific leader for this project and in 1973 she was relieved of her responsibilities
as Curator of Herbarium Australiense to enable her to work full time on it
Dr Burbidge was made a member of the Order of Australia in 1976 in formal recognition
of her services to botany in the widest sense.
In addition to her many scientific publications Dr Burbidge wrote about botany
in simple terms for the interested lay person. Many non-botanists had their
first introduction to the wonders of the Australian flora through Nancy Burbidge's
writing and will remember her with gratitude for awakening their interest with
articles in the National Parks Association ACT Bulletin under the title 'Eyes
or No Eyes'.
It might be thought that such an outstanding record of botanical achievement
would have left little time for other activities. Such thought would greatly
underestimate both Dr Burbidge's energy and wide range of interests. She took
part in, and often led, the activities of many cultural and scientific societies
and associations, which united to develop the concept of a memorial to her in
the Australian National Botanic Gardens.
One project deserving special mention was Dr Burbidge's keen involvement in
the proposal for a large national park in the southern part of the Australian
Capital Territory. Unfortunately it was not until 1979, two years after her
death on 4 March 1977, that the Gudgenby Nature Reserve (now Namadji National
Park) became a reality.
Dr Burbidge was generous in sharing her time and abilities in the interests
of science, conservation, education and international friendship. It is fitting
that she is commemorated in the Australian National Botanic Gardens where children
and adults may gain a better understanding and appreciation of the Australian
natural environment and native flora.
1937 Bachelor of Science (BSc), University of Western Australia
1939 - 1940 Worked on the taxonomy of Australian plants at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England
1940 - 1943 Field and herbarium work in Western Australia
1943 - 1946 Assistant agronomist at Waite Agricultural Research Institute
1945 - Master of Science (MSc), University of Western Australia
1946 - 1967 Systematic botanist at the Division of Plant Industry, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
1946 - 1973 Curator of the Herbarium at the Division of Plant Industry, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
1953 - On secondment as Australian botanical liaison officer at Kew herbarium, London, England
1961 - Doctor of Science (DSc), University of Western Australia
1967 - 1973 Senior Principal Research Scientist at the Division of Plant Industry, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
1973 - 1977 Director, Flora of Australia project
1976 - Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
Source: From a leaflet about the Nancy
Burbidge Memorial Amphitheatre at the ANBG
Data from 12,042 specimens
