Personal profile: Dr Tony Sprent AM

Tony, by profession a surveyor, is an adjunct senior researcher in the Department of Physics. He taught Spatial Science at the University of Tasmania for 35 years before retiring in 2003. Completing a PhD in Physics in 1984, he became interested in the development of instrumentation for high precision measurement in spatial science and astronomy, designing and making special equipment for these studies. This led to him becoming involved with various projects ranging from launching giant balloons carrying X-Ray telescopes in Central Australia and Brazil, to carrying out archaeological surveys in Greece.

For the last 20 years he has played a major role with the establishment and continuing development of the Greenhill Observatory at Bisdee Tier, 70 km north of Hobart. In 2011 he was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for his work in spatial science, astronomy and disability services.

Throughout his life Tony has had an interest in sculpture and the aesthetics of scientific and industrial machinery as works of art. Using this theme he has designed and constructed several sculptures and sundials situated here in Tasmania and Western Australia.  Tony is the College of Sciences and Engineering representative on the University of Tasmania Alumni Committee.