Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
Drake, Lawrence

Scientist, astronomer; born Camperdown, Victoria, 29 October 1931; died Melbourne, 28 April 2007; aged 75.

Lawrence Drake will be remembered as the last Jesuit Director of the Riverview Observatory, a post he held for 27 years. He was a geophysicist who also did research and lectured in the School of Earth Sciences, Macquarie University for 20 years. In addition, he wrote or co-authored over 63 academic articles, especially on finite element method, and Love and Rayleigh Waves.

Drake grew up in Lorne, Victoria, and spent his secondary education at Xavier College, Kew, 1944-47, and then worked as a draughtsman and laboratory assistant in 1948, before entering the Society at Loyola College, Watsonia, 1 February 1949. Following philosophy studies, he obtained a combined BA (Hons) and BSc (Physics) from the University of Melbourne, 1956-60. After his appointment as Director of the Riverview Observatory in 1965 he did tertianship at Decatur, Illinois, USA. He later proceeded to study for an MA and PhD in geophysics at the University of California, Berkeley. Here he worked to develop finite element methods for modeling the effects of 2D geological structure on seismic surface waves. After this he was a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, 1971. He returned to Australia and Macquarie University in 1972 as a lecturer, and in 1974, as senior lecturer. His work included working on a computer-modelling project that translated deep seismic readings into valuable data on the earth's crust and mantle. The computer software used was developed for the United States aerospace programme. Drake's research focused on the application of this software in studying earthquake zones and investigating mineral deposits such as coal.

Drake's interests included not only theology and astronomy, but also music and jogging. He was also a member of the following societies: Royal Astronomical Society, Seismological Society of America, Society of Exploration Geophysicists, Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists, Royal Society of New South Wales and the American Geophysics Union.

His work was recognised in 1977 when he received the Archibald Olle Prize of the Royal Society of NSW for the best paper submitted to the Journal and Proceedings in 1976. He was included in the Who's Who in America and Australia, the International Who's Who of Contemporary Achievement, the International Who's Who in Community Service and the Who's Who in Australasia and the Far East.

In August 1992 Drake left Riverview to take up the position of Director of Observatorio San Calixto at La Paz, Bolivia, which records, interprets and stores data from eight seismic stations which listen to the natural and man-made noises of our planet twenty four hours a day. The Jesuits had established this observatory in 1913, and was recognised by Professor Richter as the most important single seismological station in the world, due to its isolated position, its sensitive instruments and the meticulous work of its staff in the care of records. It is located near the edge of the Nazca plate, which extends to a depth of 500 kilometres under Bolivia and Argentina and is responsible for many of the earthquakes under Peru and Chile. In 1993 San Calixto became one of the first observatories to install a high-gain, broadband station and joined the Global Telemetered Seismic Network. Digital data of this type available on a global scale, together with modern computing facilities, are significant steps forward for the field of seismology.

As director, Drake was in charge of general administration, scientific investigations, funding and public relations. Below him he had a number of research associates and postgraduate students work on projects concerning regional seismicity, seismic risk analysis, the interior of the earth and meteorology. Ten auxiliary staff attended to the operation of the seismic stations, interpretation of seismograms, meteorological observations, the library, secretarial duties, accounts and vehicles.

The observatory was organised in three sections, seismology, meteorology, and astronomy. It worked together with national and international organisations.

Drake returned to Australia and Campion House in 2002 when it was discovered that he had developed cancer. After initial treatment he was able to work in the province archives, turning his highly ordered mind to work especially on records with a scientific base. Spanish-speaking scientific colleagues often asked him to read and translate their research for publication, and he later became actively involved in the debate between 'creation science' and 'evolution'.

He was theologically very orthodox, and in his earlier years energetically preached conservative opinions. He took a strict non-deviating stance on Church rules, believing that rules helped human weakness. He also appreciated the work of Bernard Lonergan, giving a paper at an Australian Lonergan Workshop in 1993 entitled, 'Bernard Lonergan, mechanicism and evolution'.

Drake attracted a group of friends and admirers who appreciated his spirituality, his scientific insightfulness and cheerful company. They admired his ability to read Latin inscriptions 'as if they were the morning newspaper.' He kept in touch with many until the end.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)