Austin Mardon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dr. Austin Albert Mardon
Born	(1962-06-25) 25 June 1962 (age 63) Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Alma mater	University of Lethbridge South Dakota State University Texas A&M University Greenwich University
Spouse(s)	Catherine Mardon
Scientific career
Fields	Astronomy, Geography, and Medicine

Dr. Austin Albert Mardon is a Canadian author, researcher, and professor. He teaches at the University of Alberta and the University of Lethbridge. He is married to Catherine Mardon, a lawyer and activist. They have written several books together.

Dr. Mardon often publishes research about geography and astronomy. He also studies other areas, like medicine. He has written many introductory books through Golden Meteorite Press. Dr. Mardon has published over 360 academic papers and 200 non-fiction and fiction books. His work has been viewed over 87,000 times, making him a very active scholar in Canada.

He is also a strong supporter for people with mental health challenges. Dr. Mardon has volunteered and worked with groups like Alberta Health Services, the Schizophrenia Society of Alberta], and the Canadian Mental Health Association.

In 1985, Dr. Mardon started the Antarctic Institute of Canada]. This group, based in Edmonton, Alberta, first worked to encourage more research in the Antarctic. Now, it helps with academic writing, research, and multimedia projects on many topics.

Biography

Family History

Ardross Castle.

Dr. Mardon's grandfather, also named Austin Mardon, studied at Cambridge University. He became a professor of classics and history. Dr. Mardon’s father, Ernest George Mardon, went to Trinity College Dublin and became an English professor at the University of Lethbridge.

In 1937, Dr. Mardon’s grandparents bought Ardross Castle in Scotland. This 19th-century castle was built in a Scottish style. The property once included 60,000 acres of land. His grandparents lived there until 1983. Today, the castle is used for private events and as a place for filming movies.

Early Years

Austin Mardon was born on June 25, 1962, in Edmonton, Alberta. His parents were May and Ernest George Mardon. He grew up in Lethbridge, Alberta. During his childhood, he often got sick and was bullied. In winter, he would travel to Hawaii with his mother and sister.

He attended St. Patrick's Elementary, St. Mary's Junior High, and Catholic Central High School. Before university, he also studied at Invergordon Academy in Ross-shire, Scotland. In his late teens, Dr. Mardon went to Grenoble Alpes University in Grenoble, France. After getting a French Diploma in 1979, he returned to Canada. He then studied Cultural Geography at the University of Lethbridge. After graduating in 1985, he joined the Canadian Armed Forces as part of the Primary Reserve. He completed basic training and was stationed in Dundurn, Saskatchewan.

Education

From 1979 to 1985, Dr. Mardon earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Cultural Geography. He received this from the University of Lethbridge. After that, he studied for a Master of Science degree in Geography. He got this from South Dakota State University in 1988. From 1986 to 1990, he also earned a Master of Education degree. This was in Education Curriculum and Instruction from Texas A&M University.

After his master's degrees, Dr. Mardon took more courses in Space Science. He studied at the University of North Dakota in 1990. From 1993 to 2000, he earned his Ph.D. in Geography from Greenwich University in Australia. He also took graduate courses in Theology, Geography, and Comparative Education at other universities.

Career

Dr. Mardon on a snowmobile in December 1986.

In 1986, while studying, Dr. Mardon joined an expedition to the Antarctic. This trip was for NASA and the National Science Foundation to find meteorites. He and his team found hundreds of meteorites near the South Pole. During this trip, he got sick from the cold weather, which hurt his lungs. He received the Antarctica Service Medal for his work.

Dr. Mardon at Beardmore Glacier in December 1986.

When he returned to Alberta, Dr. Mardon gave talks about Antarctica. He later tried to join a Canadian/Soviet Arctic trip but was not chosen. He also planned to join an Argentinian Antarctic trip, but it was canceled due to a fire.

Dr. Mardon went on another meteorite search in the Canadian Arctic. This was near Resolute in the Northwest Territories. They didn't find meteorites, but Dr. Mardon wrote about what the Inuit people thought about them.

One of his important discoveries was about the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. This old book describes events in medieval England. With his father's help, Dr. Mardon found mentions of eleven comets and two meteor showers in the Chronicle. These had not been recorded anywhere else in astronomy books.

In 1991, Dr. Mardon was invited on a trip to the South Pole by a Russian group. When he arrived in Moscow, he realized the Soviet government was watching him. He was arrested by the GRU and then the KGB. After being questioned, he was released but had to have a "guide" with him. He eventually returned to Canada and later received an apology letter from Moscow.

In 1992, Dr. Mardon was diagnosed with schizophrenia. After this, he began working to help people with mental illnesses. He has written many books on the topic. He has also received several awards for his work. In 2006, he received the Order of Canada. This is one of Canada's highest honors. In 2011, the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) gave him the CMA Medal of Honour. They recognized his "personal contributions to the advance of medical research and education." The CMA president said Dr. Mardon helped Canadians understand mental illness by bravely sharing his own story.

Over the years, Dr. Mardon and his wife have created several awards for college and university students. These awards support students at places like Newman Theological College, the University of Alberta, and Norquest College.

Today, Dr. Mardon is a professor at the University of Lethbridge and the University of Alberta.

Honours, Appointments, Awards, and Degrees

Honours

Ribbon Bars of Austin Mardon

Appointments

• Order of Canada, Member - October 2006
• Specially Elected Fellow, Royal Society of Canada - 2014
• Honorary Social Worker, Alberta College of Social Workers - April 2015
•  Holy See Order of St. Sylvester - 2017

Medals

• Antarctic Service Medal - US Congress (Navy) - 1987
• Duke of Edinburgh Award - Bronze Level - 1987
• Governor Generals' Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers Award - 1996
• Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal - 2002
• Alberta Centennial Medal - 2005
• Medal of Honour, Alberta Medical Association - October 2010
• Honorable Kentucky Colonel - Commonwealth of Kentucky - April 2011
• Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal - 28 May 2012

Other awards

• Texas State Proclamation #51, Texas Legislature - 1988
• Nadine Stirling Award, Canadian Mental Health Association - Alberta - 1999
• Flag of Hope Award, Schizophrenia Society of Canada - 2001
• Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Lethbridge - 2002
• Presidents Award, Canadian Mental Health Association - Alberta - 2002
• Ron LaJeunnesse Leadership Award, Canadian Mental Health Association - Edmonton - 2005
• Bill Jefferies Family Award, Schizophrenia Society of Canada - 2007
• C.M. Hincks Award, Canadian Mental Health Association - National Division - 2007
• Best National Editorial, Canadian Church Press - 2010
• Mental Health Media Award, Canadian Mental Health Association - Alberta - October 2010
• Diversity and Inclusion Award, American Association of Geographers - USA - 2022
• Medical Humanitarian Award, Institute of International Peace Leaders - Pakistan - 2022
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Award, NASA - USA - April 2024

Degrees

Dr. Mardon has earned several degrees and honorary degrees from different universities.

Location	Date	School	Degree
Alberta	1985	University of Lethbridge	Bachelor of Arts (Cultural Geography)
South Dakota	1988	South Dakota State University	Masters of Science (Geography)
Texas	1990	Texas A&M University	Masters of Education (Curriculum and Instruction)
Australia	2000	Greenwich University	Doctorate, Ph.D. (Geography)
Alberta	10 June 2011	University of Alberta	Honorary Doctor of Laws, L.L.D.
Alberta	19 June 2014	University of Lethbridge	Honorary Doctor of Laws, L.L.D.
Alberta	2022	Norquest College	Honorary Diploma
Brazil	2023	Faculdade de Ciências Médicas e Jurídicas	Honorary Doctorate, HCA (Health Care Administration)
USA	2023	Logos University	Honorary Doctorate, HCA (Health Care Administration)
Alberta	2023	Athabasca University	Honorary Doctorate, DSc (Science)
British Columbia	2024	University of British Columbia	Honorary Doctor of Laws, L.L.D.
Nova Scotia	2024	University of Dalhousie	Honorary Doctorate, DSc (Science)

See also

In Spanish: Austin Mardon para niños