Professor Barry Cooper

Barry Cooper has made a significant contribution to geology, palaeontology, sustainability, history of geology and heritage stone through 45 years employment in the earth sciences, primarily with the South Australian Government. Barry's publication record includes almost 200 research papers, monographs, edited volumes, abstracts, letters, book reviews and obituaries, many in international journals.

Highlights of this contribution include : - 

* Longstanding interest and involvement in the history of the earth sciences with consequent editing and authoring of three volumes. 

* Pioneering a new geological standard that recognises those stone types that have attained international prominence in human        heritage with editing of one volume of this subject. 

* Investigations into the sustainability of minerals with publication of a paper: "Sustainability, Minerals and Geology: The Present and the    Future"

* Exploration and Assessment of Dimension Stone resources in Australia and Europe for potential development. A recent joint paper is:     "The embodied energy of dimension stone use in buildings: its value in promoting sustainability"

* Palaeontology investigations viz Cambrian microfossils, Permian spore-pollen, Cenozoic stratigraphy- foraminifera, Ordovician-  Devonian conodonts.

Barry has also had a life long involvment with professional associations. On an international level he is currently President of the International Commission on the History of Geological Sciences (INHIGEO) as well as Vice Chair Australasia of the Heritage Stone Subcommission. On a local level he is Chair of the Field Guide Subcommittee of the Geological Society of Australia (SA Division) and Vice Chair of the History of Science, Ideas and Technology Group.

President 2016-2020, Secretary 2008-2016, International Commission on the History of Geological Sciences (INHIGEO),

Secretary 2011-2016, Heritage Stone Task Group, International Union of Geological Sciences,Commission C-10 Building and Ornamental Stones,International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment (IAEG C10),

Fellow (FGSAust), Past Chair and Past Editor SA Division,Chair Field Guide Subcommittee, Geological Society of Australia.

Fellow (FAIG),Australian Institute of Geoscientists,

Vice Chair,History of Science, Technology and Ideas Group, South Australia,

Past Australian Treasurer, Past Member Editorial Board, History of Earth Sciences Society,

Australian Mining History Association,Royal Society of South Australia,Royal Geographical Society of South Australia, Historical Society of South Australia,National Trust of South Australia

Qualifications

• Doctorate of Philosophy The Ohio State University