Top honour for Geoscience Australia geophysicist Richard Lane

19 June 2017

Black and white photo of Richard Lane

The 2017 Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists (ASEG) Gold Medal has been awarded to Geoscience Australia geophysicist Richard Lane.

This prestigious honour has only been awarded eight times since the Society was founded in 1970. Richard is the ninth recipient and his recognition is for "exceptional and highly significant distinguished contributions to the science and practice of geophysics by a member, resulting in wide recognition within the geoscientific community".

Richard is widely recognised throughout the global geophysical community for his keen intellect and insight into geophysical methods in both mining and petroleum, and his frequent contributions at conferences both in Australia and overseas. His current role at Geoscience Australia allows him to share his knowledge widely to improve the science of exploration for Australia's hidden minerals and energy resources.

He first joined Geoscience Australia in 2001 following a distinguished career in industry and academia. Richard's expertise is wide ranging and includes the airborne electromagnetic technique, 3D inversion and modelling of magnetics and gravity as well airborne gravity and gravity gradiometry. These fields are areas of technical strength in Geoscience Australia; with much of this capability due to Richard's endeavours.

Richard was instrumental in the development of the Geomodeller 3D geological modelling package and in establishing a national rock properties database to inform regional modelling studies. He has organised numerous pertinent and timely seminars as well as mentoring many younger scientists and graduates in the application of numerical methods for geoscientific problems.

He has previously received a Geoscience Australia Individual Award for Achieving Results in Geoscience in 2004, and a Sir Harold Raggatt Award as a Distinguished Geoscience Australia Lecturer in 2004.

To read more about this well-deserved recognition for Richard, visit the ASEG Honours and Awards webpage.