David Brunt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Brunt
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| Born | 17 June 1886  Staylittle |
| Died | 5 February 1965 (aged 78) |
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Sir David Brunt (born 1886, died 1965) was a very important Welsh scientist. He was a meteorologist, which means he studied the weather and Earth's atmosphere. He taught about weather at Imperial College, London for many years.
He was also a leader in the scientific world. He served as vice-president of the Royal Society, a famous group for top scientists. A huge ice shelf in Antarctica is even named after him, called the Brunt Ice Shelf!
Contents
David Brunt's Early Life and Education
David Brunt was born on June 17, 1886, in a small place called Staylittle in Wales. He was the youngest of nine children. His father was a farmworker who later moved the family to a mining area to work in a coal mine.
David went to school in Abertillery from 1899 to 1904. He was a very bright student. In 1904, he won a special scholarship. This allowed him to study at the University College of Wales in Aberystwyth. There, he focused on mathematics, physics, and chemistry. He earned a top degree in mathematics in 1907.
After that, he continued his studies at Trinity College, Cambridge. In 1909, he received a special award called the Isaac Newton studentship. This allowed him to work at the National Solar Physics Observatory.
His Career in Meteorology
After finishing his studies at Cambridge, David Brunt taught mathematics for a few years. He worked at the University of Birmingham and then at the Monmouthshire Training College.
In 1916, during World War I, he joined the Royal Engineers. He worked in their weather section. He did important research on how weather conditions close to the ground affected chemical warfare. Later, he became the main weather expert for the Air Force.
After the war, he joined the Meteorological Office, which became part of the Air Ministry in 1921. He kept doing his own research. A famous scientist, Sir Napier Shaw, invited him to teach about meteorology part-time at Imperial College, London.
When Sir Napier Shaw retired, David Brunt became the first full-time professor of meteorology in Britain. He held this important position from 1934 to 1952. He also helped discover something important in weather science called the Brunt–Väisälä frequency.
Helping Planes Land in Fog
Between 1936 and 1939, David Brunt helped figure out how to clear fog. His ideas were used to create a system called FIDO. This system helped planes land safely during foggy weather, especially during World War II.
Awards and Recognition
David Brunt was recognized for his amazing work in science.
- In 1939, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is a great honor for scientists.
- The Royal Society gave him their Royal Medal in 1944.
- He served as a secretary for the Royal Society from 1948 to 1957.
- He was also their vice-president from 1949 to 1957.
He was also the president of the Royal Meteorological Society from 1942 to 1944. This society focuses on weather science. He received two awards from them: the Buchan prize and the 1947 Symons Gold Medal. He was also president of the Physical Society from 1945 to 1947.
For all his contributions, he was made a Knight Bachelor in 1949. This meant he could be called "Sir." In 1959, he received an even higher honor, becoming a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE).
Private Life
In 1915, while working at Caerleon, David Brunt married Claudia Mary Elizabeth Roberts. She had been a fellow student with him in school and at university. They had one son, but sadly, he passed away without marrying.
