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Fleming, Charles Alexander (1916 - 1987)

KBE, OBE, FRS, FGS, FRSNZ, FRAOU
Published Sources
Palaeontologist and Ornithologist
Born: 9 September 1916  Auckland, New Zealand.  Died: 11 September 1987  Wellington, New Zealand.
(Sir) Charles Alexander Fleming was one of New Zealand’s most famous and revered naturalists who made major contributions to many fields especially in the knowledge of local bird and mollusc species. One of his pet subjects was the influence of past climates on the distribution of birds. His professional career, which spanned over thirty years, was spent in the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research on the New Zealand Geological Survey team. Fleming joined the team in 1940 as an Assistant Geologist and retired in 1977 at the level of Chief Palaeontologist. He was a prolific fieldworker, researcher and writer who contributed to all the major natural history publications and wrote numerous books including the Checklist of New Zealand Birds(1953), The Geological History of New Zealand and its Life (1979) and George Edward Lodge: The Unpublished New Zealand Bird Paintings (1982). Fleming was also actively involved in conservation of endangered animals serving on the National Parks Authority, The Outlying Islands Reserves Committee and on the New Zealand Native Animals Advisory Council / Fauna Protection Advisory Council almost continuously from 1955. Throughout his illustrious career he received a great many awards including Fellowships to some of the world’s most prestigious professional societies and a Knighthood in 1977.
Career Highlights

Chronology
1938Bachelor of Arts (BA) completed at Auckland University College
1940Bachelor of Science (BSc) completed at Auckland University College
1940 - 1942Assistant Geologist with the Geological Survey of New Zealand
1941Master of Science (MSc) completed at Auckland University College
1942 - 1943Coastwatcher (war service) on Auckland Island
1942 - 1945Assistant Palaeontologist with the Geological Survey of New Zealand
1943Hamilton Award received from the Royal Society of New Zealand
1945 - 1952Palaeontologist in New Zealand
1948 - 1949President of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand
1951New Zealand Research Medal received from the New Zealand Scientific Workers Association
1952 - Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand (FRSNZ)
1952Doctor of Science (DSc) received from Auckland University College
1953 - 1977Chief Palaeontologist with the Geological Survey of New Zealand at the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research
1956Hutton Memorial Award received from the Royal Society of New Zealand
1957McKay Hammer Award received from the Geological Society of New Zealand
1961 - Corresponding Fellow of the American Ornithologists Union
1961Mt Fleming in Victoria Land, Antarctica named in his honour
1962 - 1966President of the Royal Society of New Zealand
1963Hector Memorial Medal and Prize received from the Royal Society of New Zealand
1964Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
1965Walter Burfitt Prize received from the Royal Society of New South Wales
1967 - Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS)
1967Honorary Doctor of Science (DSc) received from Victoria University in Wellington
1968William Smith Lecturers presented to the Geological Society, London
1968Foreign Fellow of the Geological Society of London (FGS)
1968 - 1969President of ANZAAS (Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science)
1969New Zealand Association of Scientists Medal received
1972ANZAAS Medal received (Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science)
1973Foreign Member of the American Philosophical Society
1974 - Fellow of the Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union (FRAOU)
1974Honorary Doctor of Science (DSc) received from the University of Auckland
1977Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE)
1988Charles Fleming Award for Environmental Achievement established by the Royal Society of New Zealand to commemorate his achievements

 
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Structure based on ISAAR(CPF) - click here for an explanation of the fields.Prepared by: Rosanne Walker & Annette Alafaci
Created: 30 June 1997
Modified: 16 November 2005
Published by The University of Melbourne eScholarship Research Centre on ASAPWeb, 1994 - 2007
Originally published 1994-1999 by Australian Science Archives Project, 1999-2006 by the Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre
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Updated: 26 February 2007
http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/biogs/P003070b.htm
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