Irene Crespin

Irene Crespin (12 November 1896 – 2 January 1980) was an Australian geologist and micropalaeontologist. Irene's interest in geology brought her attention to Frederick Chapman, who was a palaeontologist at the National Museum of Victoria. Irene became his assistant and later replaced his role as a palaeontologist in the Department of the Interior where she received half his salary, equipment and office space because she was a woman. Crespin began her research by examining and locating fossils across Australia. A driving desire to continue her geological studies resulted in Crespin moving to Canberra to be in contact with the Commonwealth's geological adviser Walter George Woolnough. During her career she published some ninety papers—including notable work on foraminifera—as sole author and more than twenty in collaboration with other scientists. In 1939, Crespin traveled to Java and Sumatra, Indonesia, to discuss with micro-palaenontologists who were in government service and industry, regarding the problems that existed with Tertiary correlation in the Indo-Pacific region. Crespin was invited to visit the US in 1951 to address the American Association of Petroleum Geologists and engage in a three-month tour, the first time an Australian had been asked to speak to this group. It was reported that opposition to her taking up this offer was strong from within the government. She was warmly welcomed by geologists across the United States.

A fire broke out in 1953 in the Canberra offices of the Bureau of Mineral Resources resulting in many of Crespin's books and work being destroyed. in 1975.

Bibliographies of Australian Foraminifera The Sorrento Bore, Morington Peninsula, With a Description of New or Little Known Fossils. (1928) - Irene Crespin & Chapman, F.

Awards Crespin received he Bachelor of Arts (BA) in 1919 from the University of Melbourne.