ATSE congratulates Professor Rob Fitzpatrick FTSE on receiving the inaugural Raymond Murray Medal from the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS).
ATSE congratulates Professor Rob Fitzpatrick FTSE on receiving the inaugural Raymond Murray Medal from the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS). The award, presented at the 2025 Forensic Geology Conference in Rome on 21 May, recognises Professor Fitzpatrick’s distinguished international contributions to forensic geology, highlighting his leadership in developing this field of applied science around the world.
Professor Fitzpatrick is one of Australia’s most accomplished soil and forensic geologists. With a career spanning over five decades, he has made lasting contributions across soil science, environmental forensics, mineral exploration, acidic soils and infrastructure protection. His work has transformed the way soils, rocks and other materials are used in criminal and environmental investigations in Australia and around the world.
Professor Fitzpatrick is the founding director of both the Acid Sulfate Soils Centre and the Centre for Australian Forensic Soil Science which he established to drive research and innovation in the use of earth materials as forensic evidence. He has conducted over 250 forensic investigations in collaboration with law enforcement agencies, applying advanced soil and mineral analysis techniques to informing major criminal, environmental pollution and counter terrorism cases.
It has been both challenging and rewarding to develop practical forensic techniques that help solve complex investigations — often from tiny soil samples found on clothing. It’s particularly meaningful when this work leads to justice in serious criminal cases.
One example of his cutting-edge work involved the Australian Synchrotron in Melbourne, where Professor Fitzpatrick’s team successfully used X-ray diffraction on tiny brick fragments less than a millimetre in size found on a murder victim’s clothing, matching them to a bricked driveway and providing crucial evidence in a Supreme Court trial.
Professor Fitzpatrick’s contributions extend beyond the lab and outside the courtroom. He co-edited the landmark 2021 volume Forensic Soil Science and Geology, published by the Geological Society of London. This foundational text draws on real-world forensic cases from around the globe to demonstrate the power of soil and geological evidence in criminal investigations.
In addition, he developed the first international Soil Forensic Investigation User Manual, offering clear guidelines for the forensic application of earth materials — a vital tool now used by practitioners worldwide.
His scientific insights have also reached non-scientific audiences through expertise provided to bestselling author Stephen Hunter’s 2021 WWII spy thriller Basil’s War.
I’m proud to see my work improving outcomes for society, whether by helping the police solve crimes or by guiding international best practice through publications and education.
A current Adjunct Professor at the University of Adelaide, and previously an Honorary Fellow at CSIRO, Professor Fitzpatrick has held numerous leadership roles including Chief Research Scientist at CSIRO Land and Water. He is also a Fellow of several international scientific societies and the recipient of major accolades, including the Sir Joseph Verco Medal, the Prescott Medal, and the Pons Medal from esteemed organisations like the Royal Society of South Australia, Soil Science Australia and the International Union of Soil Sciences.
Professor Fitzpatrick has led more than 500 specialised investigations across more than 50 years, combining scientific rigour with a mission-driven approach to justice and sustainability.
In 2005, ATSE supported Professor Fitzpatrick’s efforts to bring forensic soil science into the global spotlight, providing a $24,000 grant through the International Science Linkages Program. The funding enabled him to host the first International Forensic Soils & Geology Workshop at the 2006 International Symposium on Forensic Sciences in Perth. This groundbreaking workshop helped lay the foundation for the creation of the Centre for Australian Forensic Soil Science and the IUGS Commission on Forensic Geology.
Looking back, I can confidently say that the support from ATSE played a pivotal role in advancing forensic geology in Australia and globally.
ATSE is proud to celebrate Professor Rob Fitzpatrick FTSE for his enduring contributions to forensic science and innovation, as well as for his ongoing contributions to the broader Academy’s work advising governments on soil science and its impact on agriculture and water security. His work exemplifies the Academy’s goal of using science, technology and engineering to solve complex problems for the betterment of society.
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