Geologists' Biographies, S - Z
Adam Sedgwick (1785–1873)
Establisher of the Cambrian System and Darwin's fieldwork teacher, his life story is at the University of California Museum of Paleontology site.
Establisher of the Cambrian System and Darwin's fieldwork teacher, his life story is at the University of California Museum of Paleontology site.
Hans Seuss (1909–1993)
Third of the Austrian geologic dynasty, Seuss made basic contributions to planetary chemistry, meteoritics and radiocarbon dating. A biographical memoir from the National Academy of Sciences.
Third of the Austrian geologic dynasty, Seuss made basic contributions to planetary chemistry, meteoritics and radiocarbon dating. A biographical memoir from the National Academy of Sciences.
Francis Shepard (1897–1985)
Shepard was called the father of marine geology for his approach to the continental shelves and global outlook. A "Rock Star" profile from GSE Today (PDF).
Shepard was called the father of marine geology for his approach to the continental shelves and global outlook. A "Rock Star" profile from GSE Today (PDF).
George Gaylord Simpson (1902–1984)
The great American paleontologist is remembered by Everett Olson for the National Academy of Sciences Biographical Memoirs.
The great American paleontologist is remembered by Everett Olson for the National Academy of Sciences Biographical Memoirs.
George Gaylord Simpson
Léo Laporte, Simpson's biographer, has a site of deeper resources on the great paleontologist's life.
Léo Laporte, Simpson's biographer, has a site of deeper resources on the great paleontologist's life.
Louis B. Slichter (1896–1978)
Slichter was a pioneer in many areas of geophysics, including heat flow, free oscillations, crustal seismology and mineral exploration. A biographical memoir from the National Academy of Sciences.
Slichter was a pioneer in many areas of geophysics, including heat flow, free oscillations, crustal seismology and mineral exploration. A biographical memoir from the National Academy of Sciences.
Robert E. Sloan (1930– )
The American paleontologist talks about his life and career with Joe Cain of University College London.
The American paleontologist talks about his life and career with Joe Cain of University College London.
William Smith (1769–1839)
"Strata" Smith, first to map England's geology, laid the foundation of modern geology. From the University of California Museum of Paleontology site.
"Strata" Smith, first to map England's geology, laid the foundation of modern geology. From the University of California Museum of Paleontology site.
Mary Somerville (1780–1872)
This extraordinary English woman was a crucial part of the planetary science community of her time as well as an expert mineralogist. This biography from the MacTutor History of Mathematics archive must be read to be believed.
This extraordinary English woman was a crucial part of the planetary science community of her time as well as an expert mineralogist. This biography from the MacTutor History of Mathematics archive must be read to be believed.
Nicolaus Steno (Nils Steensen) (1638–1686)
His Prodromus of 1669 laid geology's foundation, but for his religious work he achieved sainthood. A biography by James Aber.
His Prodromus of 1669 laid geology's foundation, but for his religious work he achieved sainthood. A biography by James Aber.
Henry Stommel (1920–1992)
"The most original and important physical oceanographer of all time" is remembered in this National Academy of Sciences memoir.
"The most original and important physical oceanographer of all time" is remembered in this National Academy of Sciences memoir.
Dorothy L. Stout (1941–2001)
"An admired and revered leader in geoscience education" is remembered at the Dibblee Foundation site.
"An admired and revered leader in geoscience education" is remembered at the Dibblee Foundation site.
Harald Sverdrup (1888–1957)
Born in Norway, Sverdrup came to fame as an Arctic explorer and later as the revolutionary leader of Scripps Institution of Oceanography. A memoir from the National Academy of Sciences.
Born in Norway, Sverdrup came to fame as an Arctic explorer and later as the revolutionary leader of Scripps Institution of Oceanography. A memoir from the National Academy of Sciences.
Marie Tharp (1920–2006)
Compiler of seafloor maps that first made the hidden Earth visible, Tharp's life and work are summarized in the Encyclopedia of World Biography. For more, see marietharp.com.
Compiler of seafloor maps that first made the hidden Earth visible, Tharp's life and work are summarized in the Encyclopedia of World Biography. For more, see marietharp.com.
Randy Tufts (1948–2002)
Randy Tufts explored Arizona's caves and Jupiter's moon Europa. Obituary reprinted from Eos.
Randy Tufts explored Arizona's caves and Jupiter's moon Europa. Obituary reprinted from Eos.
Francis Turner (1904–1985)
Turner transformed the science of petrology; he also was a noted and beloved leader both in his native New Zealand and at the University of California. A memoir from the National Academy of Sciences.
Turner transformed the science of petrology; he also was a noted and beloved leader both in his native New Zealand and at the University of California. A memoir from the National Academy of Sciences.
Merle Tuve (1901–1982)
A wide-ranging geophysicist who made discoveries from the upper atmosphere to the Earth's core, Tuve was also a brilliant inventor and manager. A memoir from the National Academy of Sciences.
A wide-ranging geophysicist who made discoveries from the upper atmosphere to the Earth's core, Tuve was also a brilliant inventor and manager. A memoir from the National Academy of Sciences.
J. B. Tyrrell (1858–1957)
This pioneer of Canadian geology and the Canadian mining industry (and eponym of the Royal Tyrrell Museum) is remembered by the library of the University of Toronto, which has put his papers online.
This pioneer of Canadian geology and the Canadian mining industry (and eponym of the Royal Tyrrell Museum) is remembered by the library of the University of Toronto, which has put his papers online.
J. B. Tyrrell
The "doyen of Canadian mining men" is honored here in the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame.
The "doyen of Canadian mining men" is honored here in the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame.
Harold Urey (1893–1981)
Urey's seminal work in physics and chemistry laid the foundations for several whole branches of Earth science--plus cosmology and the origin of life. A memoir from the National Academy of Sciences.
Urey's seminal work in physics and chemistry laid the foundations for several whole branches of Earth science--plus cosmology and the origin of life. A memoir from the National Academy of Sciences.
Victor Vacquier (1907–2009)
The "magnetician" whose inventions and observations laid the firm ground of data beneath plate tectonics is given a brief biography by the Society of Exploration Geophysicists.
The "magnetician" whose inventions and observations laid the firm ground of data beneath plate tectonics is given a brief biography by the Society of Exploration Geophysicists.
Clyde Wahrhaftig (1919–1994)
This remarkable generalist is fondly remembered on the University of California, Berkeley site.
This remarkable generalist is fondly remembered on the University of California, Berkeley site.
Charles Walcott (1850–1927)
A great American paleontologist (discoverer of the Burgess Shale) and leader, a "rock star" profile (PDF) by the Geological Society of America.
A great American paleontologist (discoverer of the Burgess Shale) and leader, a "rock star" profile (PDF) by the Geological Society of America.
Robert M. Walker (1929–2004)
With his invention of fission-track dating, Walker studied the ages of Moon rocks, meteorites, stardust and archaeological objects. A biographical memoir from the National Academy of Sciences.
With his invention of fission-track dating, Walker studied the ages of Moon rocks, meteorites, stardust and archaeological objects. A biographical memoir from the National Academy of Sciences.
Alfred Russel Wallace (1823–1913)
Darwin's remarkable contemporary and one of the most celebrated scientists of his time is presented in complete detail by Charles Smith of Western Kentucky University.
Darwin's remarkable contemporary and one of the most celebrated scientists of his time is presented in complete detail by Charles Smith of Western Kentucky University.
Alfred Wegener (1880–1930)
The far-reaching geophysicist who first made continental motion a scientific problem, from the University of California Museum of Paleontology site.
The far-reaching geophysicist who first made continental motion a scientific problem, from the University of California Museum of Paleontology site.
Alfred Wegener (1880–1930)
A biography from the U.S. Geological Survey.
A biography from the U.S. Geological Survey.
David White (1862–1935)
A New York farmboy who rose to eminence through studying (and drawing) the plant fossils of coal country. A "rock star" profile by the Geological Society of America.
A New York farmboy who rose to eminence through studying (and drawing) the plant fossils of coal country. A "rock star" profile by the Geological Society of America.
Peter J. Whybrow (1942–2004)
This British geologist studied the fossils of the Arabian Peninsula and did much to popularize paleontology in his books.
This British geologist studied the fossils of the Arabian Peninsula and did much to popularize paleontology in his books.
Howel Williams (1898–1980)
A "rock star" profile of this pioneering volcanologist from GSA Today, in PDF format.
A "rock star" profile of this pioneering volcanologist from GSA Today, in PDF format.
Newton H. Winchell (1845?–1914)
A great mapper and generalist, founder (and eponym) of the University of Minnesota's college of geology, remembered at the U Minn site.
A great mapper and generalist, founder (and eponym) of the University of Minnesota's college of geology, remembered at the U Minn site.
J. Tuzo Wilson (1908–1993)
Playing with two scraps of paper, he divided up the whole Earth's crust; a biography from GSA Today.
Playing with two scraps of paper, he divided up the whole Earth's crust; a biography from GSA Today.
John Woodward (1665–1728)
The first major figure in English geology, from the Galileo Project site.
The first major figure in English geology, from the Galileo Project site.
J. Lamar Worzel (1919–2008)
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory noted this oceanographic titan's death.
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory noted this oceanographic titan's death.
Oliver Wulf (1897–1987)
The original "ozone man" is memorialized on the National Academy of Sciences site. His childhood high-voltage experiments led to a career that laid the foundation for studies of the upper atmosphere.
The original "ozone man" is memorialized on the National Academy of Sciences site. His childhood high-voltage experiments led to a career that laid the foundation for studies of the upper atmosphere.