Bernard Smith (geologist) facts for kids

Bernard Smith (born 13 February 1881 – died 19 August 1936) was an important British geologist. Geologists are scientists who study the Earth's rocks, minerals, and landforms. Bernard Smith worked for the British Geological Survey, which is a group that maps and studies the geology of Great Britain. He worked there from 1906 until his death in 1936. In 1935, he became the director of the survey, but sadly passed away less than a year later.

Early Life and Education

Bernard Smith was born in Grantham, Lincolnshire, a town in England. He was the fourth son in his family. He went to school at The King's School, Grantham.

In 1900, Bernard won a scholarship to study at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, which is part of the famous University of Cambridge. His uncle, Charles Smith, was actually in charge of the college at that time.

Bernard studied Natural Sciences, which includes subjects like geology. He earned his first degree, a BA, in 1903. The next year, in 1904, he finished his geology studies and was the top student in his year! After that, he became a geology demonstrator at Cambridge, helping to teach other students. He also continued to do fieldwork and write scientific papers. Later, in 1927, the University of Cambridge gave him a higher degree, a DSc, because of all the important work he had published.

A Career in Geology

In July 1906, Bernard Smith started his career at the Geological Survey of Great Britain. He began by mapping the geology of central England. Mapping geology means creating detailed maps that show the different types of rocks and their locations underground.

In 1910, his team moved to Denbighshire in Wales to continue their mapping work. When World War I started, Bernard and his colleagues had a new important job. They needed to find and assess raw materials that were vital for making weapons and other supplies for the war. These materials included things like anhydrite, dolomite, silica, and fireclays. He also made new discoveries about haematite ores, which are important for iron, in areas like Cumbria, Lancashire, and the Lake District.

After the war, in 1919, Bernard returned to Wales. In 1920, he was promoted to lead a new team focused on the Cumberland Coalfield District. In 1928, he moved to Brighton and worked from the survey's London office. He was promoted again in 1931 to assistant director, working closely with the director, John Flett. During a time of drought, Bernard focused on finding and understanding underground water supplies across Great Britain.

In September 1935, Bernard Smith was chosen to be the director of the Geological Survey after John Flett retired. This was a very important role. However, he became ill just eight months into the job and sadly passed away in August 1936.

Publications and Service

Bernard Smith wrote many maps, reports, and scientific papers during his time with the Geological Survey. In 1910, he also published a textbook called Physical Geography for Schools. This book was so popular that new editions were published in 1916 and 1931.

He also helped out in the academic world. He was an examiner for the Natural Sciences Tripos at Cambridge University in 1923-24 and again in 1932-33. He served on the council of the Geological Society of London from 1930 to 1934. He was also on the council of the Royal Society, a very famous scientific organization, from 1935 to 1936.

Awards and Recognition

Bernard Smith received several important awards for his work. In 1927, he was given the Bigsby Medal by the Geological Society of London. This medal is awarded to geologists who have made significant contributions to the study of geology.

In 1933, Bernard was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is a very high honor for scientists in the UK. The reason he was chosen was because of his important work on the 'stratigraphical geology' (which is about the layers of rocks) in North Wales, the Lake District, and Nottinghamshire. They also recognized his studies on how certain rivers formed and the way the land was shaped in North Wales. Many famous geologists, including John Edward Marr and John Smith Flett, nominated him for this award.

Family Life

Bernard Smith married May Ferguson on 27 July 1912. They had one son, named Geoffrey Ferguson Smith.