After the war (during which he was a valuable member of Professor T.H. Laby's Scientific Instruments and Optical Panel) PhiIIip Law was appointed Senior Scientific Officer of the Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions (ANARE) when these were first established in 1947. His duties were to develop and coordinate programmes of scientific research for the expeditions and to participate in the cosmic ray experiments. In 1949 Law was appointed Director of the Antarctic Division of the Department of External Affairs, a post that he held untiI 1966. In this position he created an organization for scientific research and exploration and led it so successfully that Australian Antarctic achievements have earned the respect of the world. Under his direction some 4000 miles of Antarctic coast were charted and a very large area of unknown territory explored and mapped. Law collaborated with the Bureau of Meteorology and the Bureau of Mineral Resources to develop scientific work at two Sub-Antarctic stations, Heard Island and Macquarie Island. Programmes in cosmic rays, upper atmosphere physics and glaciology were developed within the Antarctic Division. Law also took a keen personal interest in work on Antarctic biology, hydrography (in collaboration with the RAN) and cartography (in collaboration with the Division of National Mapping). As a result of his representations the Commonwealth Government decided in 1954 to set up a station on the continent: the site for the Mawson station was chosen by Law and has since proved to be one of the best in Antarctica. Three years later Law established the Davis station at Pryda Bay in time for the International Geophysical Year. Subsequently he also persuaded the Australian Government to take over from the USA, and eventually rebuiId, the WiIkes station. Altogether Law has made 28 visits to Antarctica, including the first flight to that continent in 1964. His personal participation in, and strong leadership of Australian activities there, from exploration to experiment, have established him as a major figure in Antarctic research. He has been a member of the Australian National Committee for Antarctic Research since its inception in 1959 and has been Chairman since 1966. He has been involved over the same period in the activities of the ICSU Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR). Law played an active part in developing the Australian IGY programme, a major part of which consisted of the Antarctic research at Mawson, Davis and Macquarie Island. His contribution to Antarctic research has been widely recognized, among others by the award of the Gold Medal of the Royal Geographical Society of London in 1960. Law has also played an active part in the establishment of the Victorian Institute of Marine Sciences, and his election to Special Fellowship would undoubtedly add distinction to the Academy and broaden our expertise in geographic and Antarctic research.