John Frederick Dewey facts for kids
John Frederick Dewey is a famous British scientist born on May 22, 1937. He is a structural geologist, which means he studies how rocks and the Earth's crust are shaped and moved. He is a big supporter of the idea called plate tectonics. This idea explains how the Earth's outer layer is made of huge plates that slowly move. John Dewey is also known as an expert on how mountain ranges are formed and change over time.
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John Dewey's Journey in Geology
Early Life and Learning
John Dewey went to school at Bancroft's School. He then studied geology at Queen Mary and Imperial College London, which are part of the University of London. There, he earned his first degree and then a PhD in geology.
Exploring the Earth's Movements
After finishing his studies, John Dewey worked as a teacher at several universities. He taught at the University of Manchester from 1960 to 1964. Then he moved to the University of Cambridge (1964–1970) and Memorial University of Newfoundland (1971). Later, he became a Professor of Geology at the State University of New York at Albany in the United States.
During this time, he wrote many important papers. These papers focused on the history of the Appalachian Mountains in Newfoundland. He also studied the Caledonides, which are ancient mountain ranges in Scotland and Ireland. In later years, his research focused on creating a model to explain how the mighty Himalayan Mountains were formed and developed.
Return to the UK and Beyond
In 1982, John Dewey came back to the United Kingdom. He became a Professor of Geology at the University of Durham for four years. In 1986, he was appointed Professor of Geology at the University of Oxford, a very famous university. He also became a Fellow at University College, Oxford. He held these positions until 2000.
After leaving Oxford, he returned to the United States. He became a Professor of Geology at the University of California at Davis. However, he still keeps a special role as a Senior Research Fellow at University College, Oxford.
Awards and Recognition
John Dewey is highly respected in the world of geology. In 1985, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society of London. This is a very high honor for scientists in the UK. He has also received many important medals and awards.
In 1999, he received the Wollaston Medal from the Geological Society of London. This is the highest award given by that society. In 1992, he was awarded the Penrose Medal by the Geological Society of America. He was also elected to the United States National Academy of Sciences in 1997. He is a member of the Royal Irish Academy and a corresponding member of the Australian Academy of Science since 2011. These awards show how much his work has helped us understand our planet.
