Colin Wilson (volcanologist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Colin Wilson
FRS FRSNZ
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Colin Wilson in 2015, portrait from the Royal Society
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Colin James Ness Wilson
19 July 1956 Wantage, Oxfordshire
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| Alma mater | Imperial College London (BSc, PhD) |
| Known for | Volcanology of New Zealand |
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| Thesis | Studies on the origins and emplacement of pyroclastic flows (1981) |
Colin James Ness Wilson is a top scientist from New Zealand. He was born on July 19, 1956. He is a Professor of Volcanology at Victoria University of Wellington. This means he studies volcanoes and how they work. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) and the Royal Society of New Zealand (FRSNZ). These are special honors for leading scientists.
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Colin's Journey in Science
Colin Wilson studied at Imperial College London. In 1977, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology. Geology is the study of Earth's solid features, like rocks and mountains.
What is a Pyroclastic Flow?
After his first degree, Colin continued his studies. In 1981, he earned his PhD. His research focused on something called pyroclastic flows. These are fast-moving currents of hot gas and volcanic rock. They rush down the sides of a volcano during an eruption. Understanding them is very important for safety.
Amazing Discoveries and Awards
Colin Wilson has received many important awards for his work. These awards show how much his research has helped us understand volcanoes.
Fellow of the Royal Society
In 2015, Colin was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is a very high honor for scientists. His election certificate explained why he was chosen:
Colin Wilson is an amazing geologist who works in the field. He has made huge contributions to understanding explosive volcanism. He also helped us learn about how magma moves within the Earth's crust. His work is based on very detailed information he collected from old and new eruptions. His studies on explosive volcanism, especially pyroclastic flows and ignimbrites, have given us many new ideas. Ignimbrites are rocks formed from pyroclastic flows. He has helped us understand large, dangerous volcanic activity. He also developed new ways to measure prehistoric eruptions. He combines his field data with smart ways to analyze it. This helps him study the dynamics of large silicic magma chambers in modern volcanoes. Silicic magma is thick and sticky, often leading to explosive eruptions. Magma chambers are underground pools of molten rock. He has received the Wager Medal. He was also elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 2001. In 2006, he became a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union.
Understanding Super-Eruptions
Colin's research is especially important for understanding super-eruptions. These are the biggest and most powerful volcanic eruptions. They can change the climate around the world. He studies how these huge volcanoes behave before and during such massive events.
Rutherford Medal
In 2017, Colin Wilson received the Rutherford Medal. This is a top science award from the Royal Society of New Zealand. He earned it for his research on how large volcanoes work. This includes the volcanoes that created Lake Taupō in New Zealand. His work helps us predict and prepare for future eruptions.
