Fellows' biographical memoirs

Marcello Costa was a leading researcher in neuroscience who played a key role in defining the roles of neuropeptides, in devising methods to characterise different classes of nerve cells, and in the quantitative analysis of intestinal motility.

With the death of Professor Sir Mark Oliphant, the first President of the Australian Academy of Science, Australia lost one of its most distinguished scientists. The Academy will remember and honour him for his leading role in its establishment, and for his continuing association with it until the last years of his long life.

Sir Maurice Mawby was a memorable figure in the Australian minerals industry – an Australian proud of his country and of what mining had done to make it strong. He was one of a handful of professional mining executives who set in motion the greatest upsurge in mineral exploration, discovery, and development ever seen in the country's history. Well known and highly regarded, he inspired international confidence in the people who worked with him.

Rudi Lemberg was a biochemist who made significant contributions to the study of biological pigments, especially porphyrins. He was a Foundation Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science.

Max Day AO FAA was an ecologist whose pioneering research spanned entomology, virology, ecology and forestry. He served as the founding chief of CSIRO’s Division of Forest Research and worked on nationally significant challenges, such as deploying myxomatosis to control rabbits.

Professor Mervyn Paterson FAA was an engineer by training whose pioneering work in experimental geology – designing specialised instruments for studying rocks under high temperatures and pressures – furthered understanding of the Earth's crust and mantle.

Michael White put chromosomes into evolutionary thinking and made a primary contribution to the emerging neo-Darwinian evolutionary synthesis. He emphasised cytogenetic systems and argued that genic and chromosomal evolution were of seminal importance in the process of speciation and evolution. His major scientific contribution was Animal Cytology and Evolution (1945), a book that summarised, analysed and synthesised current information on animal chromosomes.

Dr Michael Robin Raupach (Mike) was recognised around the world as a pre-eminent researcher in the fields of micrometeorology and Earth system science.

Professor Mollie Holman was a physiologist who advanced understanding of how the autonomic nervous system controls smooth muscle at a cellular level.

Professor Emeritus Nancy Millis AC MBE FAA FTSE was a trailblazing scientist who broke barriers as one of Melbourne's first women professors. She pioneered microbiology in Australia and shaped the nation's genetic technology regulation over 20 years.