George Patrick Leonard Walker
Encyclopedia
George Patrick Leonard Walker FRS (2 March 1926 – 17 January 2005) was a British geologist
who specialized in mineralogy
and volcanology
.
, and on Mount Etna
.
He taught at Imperial College.
In 1978, he was Captain James Cook Research Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand
at the University of Auckland
,
In 1981, he was Macdonald Chair in Volcanology at the University of Hawaii
.
He was married to his wife Hazel, and had daughter Alison and son Leonard.
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
who specialized in mineralogy
Mineralogy
Mineralogy is the study of chemistry, crystal structure, and physical properties of minerals. Specific studies within mineralogy include the processes of mineral origin and formation, classification of minerals, their geographical distribution, as well as their utilization.-History:Early writing...
and volcanology
Volcanology
Volcanology is the study of volcanoes, lava, magma, and related geological, geophysical and geochemical phenomena. The term volcanology is derived from the Latin word vulcan. Vulcan was the ancient Roman god of fire....
.
Life
He worked on the volcanic rocks of IcelandIceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, and on Mount Etna
Mount Etna
Mount Etna is an active stratovolcano on the east coast of Sicily, close to Messina and Catania. It is the tallest active volcano in Europe, currently standing high, though this varies with summit eruptions; the mountain is 21 m higher than it was in 1981.. It is the highest mountain in...
.
He taught at Imperial College.
In 1978, he was Captain James Cook Research Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand
Royal Society of New Zealand
The Royal Society of New Zealand , known as the New Zealand Institute before 1933, was established in 1867 to co-ordinate and assist the activities of a number of regional research societies including the Auckland Institute, the Wellington Philosophical Society, the Philosophical Institute of...
at the University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
,
In 1981, he was Macdonald Chair in Volcanology at the University of Hawaii
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
.
He was married to his wife Hazel, and had daughter Alison and son Leonard.
Awards
- Honorary D.Sc. from the University of New ZealandUniversity of New ZealandThe University of New Zealand was the New Zealand university from 1870 to 1961. It was the sole New Zealand university, having a federal structure embracing several constituent colleges at various locations around New Zealand...
in 1988. - Dr. scient. hon. c. from the University of IcelandUniversity of IcelandThe University of Iceland is a public research university in Reykjavík, Iceland, and the country's oldest and largest institution of higher education. Founded in 1911, it has grown steadily from a small civil servants' school to a modern comprehensive university, providing instruction for about...
in 1988. - Icelandic Order of the FalconOrder of the FalconThe Order of the Falcon or Hin íslenska fálkaorða is a national Order of Iceland, established on July 3, 1921 by King Christian X of Denmark and Iceland.-History and appointments:...
, conferred by the president of Iceland in 1977. - Lyell MedalLyell MedalThe Lyell Medal is a prestigious annual scientific medal given by the Geological Society of London, equal in status to the Murchison Medal, awarded on the basis of research to an Earth Scientist of exceptional quality...
of the Geological Society of LondonGeological Society of LondonThe Geological Society of London is a learned society based in the United Kingdom with the aim of "investigating the mineral structure of the Earth"...
in 1982. - UH Board of Regents Award for Excellence in Research in 1985.
- Thorarinsson MedalThorarinsson MedalThe Thorarinsson Medal is awarded by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior for outstanding contributions to the general field of volcanology, and is the highest award given by IAVCEI. It is named for the noted Icelandic geologist and volcanologist...
(IAVCEI) in 1989. - Wollaston MedalWollaston MedalThe Wollaston Medal is a scientific award for geology, the highest award granted by the Geological Society of London.The medal is named after William Hyde Wollaston, and was first awarded in 1831...
(Geological Society of London) in 1995.
External links
- Guardian obituary.
- IAVCEI - A George P.L. Walker symposium on Advances in Volcanology - Reykholt, Borgarfjordur, W-Iceland, 12–17 June 2006.