Bernard Wood (geologist) facts for kids

Bernard Wood, often called Bernie, is a famous British geologist. He is a professor at the University of Oxford and a senior research fellow. He studies how rocks and minerals behave deep inside the Earth. He does this by using special experiments in a lab. His work is very important in a field called experimental petrology, which means studying rocks by doing experiments on them. He has won many awards and taught at universities all over the world.

Becoming a Scientist: Bernard Wood's Education

Bernard Wood grew up in London, England. He went to William Ellis School and the Northern Polytechnic. He earned his first university degree, a Bachelor of Science (BSc), in 1967 from the University of London. He then continued his studies, getting a Master of Science (MSc) from the University of Leeds in 1968. Later, in 1972, he earned his PhD in geophysics from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Geophysics is the study of Earth's physical processes, like earthquakes and volcanoes.

Bernard Wood's Career Journey

Professor Wood has taught and done research at many universities. These include places in Europe, North America, and Australia.

After finishing his PhD, he taught at the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Manchester. He also worked as a special researcher at the Carnegie Institution of Washington. Later, he became a lead scientist at Rockwell Hanford Operations.

In 1982, Professor Wood became a professor at Northwestern University in the United States. He even led the geology department there from 1985 to 1988.

He returned to the UK in 1989 to become a professor at the University of Bristol. He was also the head of that department for a few years. His work at Bristol was very important. Another scientist, Jonathan Blundy, said that Professor Wood helped make Bristol a very strong place for Earth sciences. From 1995 to 1996, he was a guest professor in Germany.

In 2005, he worked as a professor in Australia at Macquarie University.

Since 2007, Professor Wood has been at the University of Oxford. There, he set up a special lab for experimental petrology. This lab allows scientists to do experiments on rocks.

Discoveries and Research

Professor Wood first became known for his work on "geothermometry" and "geobarometry." These are ways to figure out the temperature and pressure that rocks experienced deep inside the Earth. He started doing these experiments in 1972.

At Northwestern University, he studied how minerals change deep inside the Earth. These changes cause major "seismic discontinuities." These are like boundaries inside the Earth that affect how earthquake waves travel.

At the University of Bristol, he focused on "trace elements." These are tiny amounts of certain elements found in rocks. He worked with Jonathan Blundy to create models. These models help predict how trace elements split between crystals and melted rock. This is important for understanding how different types of rocks form. He also developed a model about how the Earth formed and changed early in its history.

At Oxford, he worked on how elements move into sulfides during rock formation. He also worked with Alex Halliday, another well-known scientist.

Piston-Cylinder Apparatus: A Special Tool

Professor Wood's labs use a special machine called a "piston-cylinder apparatus." This machine can create very high pressures and temperatures. These conditions are similar to those found deep inside the Earth. This allows scientists to study how rocks behave under extreme conditions.

He worked with Fred Wheeler to design a simpler and cheaper version of this machine. This design is now used by many scientists around the world.

Books by Bernard Wood

Professor Wood has also written books to share his knowledge:

• Holloway, J. R., & Wood, B. J. (1989). Simulating the Earth: Experimental Geochemistry. This book is about using experiments to understand Earth's chemistry.
• Wood, B. J., & Fraser, D. G. (1976). Elementary Thermodynamics for Geologists. This book explains basic thermodynamics for people who study geology.

Awards and Recognitions

Professor Wood has received many important awards for his work. He is a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union. He has also received awards from many other scientific groups. These include the Mineralogical Society of America, the Geochemical Society, and the Geological Society of London.

Some of his major awards include:

• 2018: Elected a Member of the Academia Europaea.
• 2014: Roebling Medal from the Mineralogical Society of America.
• 2013: Harry H. Hess Award.
• 2012: Abraham G. Werner Medal from the German Mineralogical Society.
• 2003: V. M. Goldschmidt Award.
• 1998: Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.
• 1997: Arthur Holmes Medal.
• 1997: Murchison Medal from the Geological Society of London.