Patricia M. Mawson

Patricia Marietje Mawson (13 April 1915 – 16 December 1999) was an Australian zoologist and parasitologist. Also known as Pat Thomas after marriage, Mawson published more than 100 scientific articles on parasitic nematodes under her maiden name.

Early life and education Patricia Marietje Mawson was born on 13 April 1915 in Windsor, Victoria, the daughter of worker biographer and community Francisca Adriana "Paquita" (née Deplrat) and geologist and Antarctic explorer Sir Douglas Mawson. and operated out of the parish hall at St Jude's Anglican Church. Patricia completed her education at Woodlands Church of England Girls' Grammar School, earning the leaving certificate in 1932. Her masters thesis was titled "Some studies in Australian nematoda", with Thomas Harvey Johnson as her supervisor.

Awards and recognition In 1974 Mawson was awarded the Verco Medal by the Royal Society of South Australia.

Mawson was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in the 1994 Queen's Birthday Honours in recognition of her "service to the science of zoology in both research and teaching and to the development of the Australian Helminthological Collection".

In 2024, she was inducted into the SA Environment Hall of Fame.

Personal life Mawson had a younger sister, Jessica, who became a bacteriologist.

Mawson married Welshman Ifor Morris Thomas, a zoology lecturer at the University of Sydney, on 14 January 1947 at the Mawsons' parish church, St Jude's Church, Brighton. They had three sons.

Death and legacy Her husband predeceased her in 1985. Mawson died on 16 December 1999.