Vale Geoff Monteith

Dr Geoff Monteith, an international giant in entomology and member of the Society for 60 years, has succumbed to illness.

The ABC recently ran an article showcasing the taxonomic work of Dr Monteit. He has been included in the list of the top 10 most commemorated scientists in history.

• Entomologist Dr Geoff Monteith has had 225 species and 15 genera named after him
• Dr Monteith has collected more than 200,000 specimens, as well as significant numbers of arachnids, myriapods and molluscs
• Despite retiring in 2006, Dr Monteith continues to collect and classify new insect species.

Dr Monteith worked for 16 years as Curator of Insects at the University of Queensland, then 28 years as Curator of Insects at Queensland Museum, a total of 44 years’ paid employment, then has been an active research fellow at the Museum from 2006 until the present.

The list of the world’s top 10 most commemorated scientists was published in 2020 in a book by Canadian biologist Stephen Heard titled Charles Darwin’s Barnacle and David Bowie’s Spider: How Scientific Names Celebrate Adventurers, Heroes and Even a Few Scoundrels.

Ten most commemorated scientists

1. Charles Darwin, Geologist, England
2. Alfred Russel Wallace, Biologist, England
3. Joseph Dalton Hooker, Botanist, England
4. William Jackson Hooker, Botanist, England
5. Alexander von Humboldt, Polymath, Germany
6. Augusto Weberbauer, Botanist, Germany
7. Julian Steyermark, Botanist, USA
8. Cyrus Guernsey Pringle, Botanist, USA
9. Willy Kuschel, Entomologist, New Zealand
10. Geoffrey Monteith, Entomologist, Queensland, Australia, Queensland Museum.

Until his passing in October, he was the only one still alive! Vale Geoff Monteith.

 

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