John Tuzo Wilson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John 'Jock' Tuzo Wilson
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John Tuzo Wilson in 1992
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| Born | October 24, 1908 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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| Died | April 15, 1993 (aged 84) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Alma mater | |
| Known for | Theory of Plate tectonics |
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Geophysics & geology |
| Institutions | University of Toronto |
| Doctoral advisor | Harry Hammond Hess |
| Doctoral students | Harold Williams |
John Tuzo Wilson (October 24, 1908 – April 15, 1993) was a famous Canadian geophysicist and geologist. He became known around the world for his important ideas about plate tectonics.
Plate tectonics is a scientific theory that explains how Earth's outer layer moves. This outer layer, called the lithosphere, is made of the crust and part of the upper mantle. It is broken into about 13 large pieces, like puzzle pieces, called "plates." These plates slowly move over a softer layer beneath them, called the asthenosphere.
Wilson suggested that the Hawaiian Islands were formed as a tectonic plate, which covers much of the Pacific Ocean, moved over a fixed hotspot. This hotspot was like a stationary "volcano factory" deep inside the Earth. As the plate moved, new volcanoes formed over the hotspot, creating a long chain of islands.
He also came up with the idea of a transform fault. This is a major type of plate boundary where two plates slide past each other horizontally. A famous example is the San Andreas Fault in California.
Two young Canadian submarine volcanoes, the Tuzo Wilson Seamounts, are named after him. Also, the Wilson cycle, which describes how ocean basins open and close over millions of years, carries his name.
Early Life and Education
John Tuzo Wilson was born in Ottawa, Canada, on October 24, 1908. His father was from Scotland, and his mother was Canadian with French family roots.
He was one of the first people in Canada to earn a degree in geophysics. He graduated from the University of Toronto in 1930. He then studied at Cambridge University in England, where he earned another degree in 1932. Later, he received a Ph.D. in geology from Princeton University in the United States in 1936.
Career Highlights
In 1936, Wilson started working as a government geologist for the Canadian Geological Survey. His work was paused during the Second World War. He served in the Royal Canadian Engineers in Europe and became a Colonel.
After the war, in 1946, he became the first Professor of Geophysics at the University of Toronto. He was a leader in his field, serving as president of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics from 1957 to 1960.
He later became the Principal of the University of Toronto in 1967. In 1974, he took on a new role as the Director General of the Ontario Science Centre. He also became the Chancellor of York University in Toronto in 1983. Wilson was also the host of a TV show called The Planet of Man.
Awards and Recognition
John Tuzo Wilson received many important awards for his work. In 1969, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada, and then a Companion of that order in 1974. This is one of Canada's highest honors.
He also received the John J. Carty Award for the Advancement of Science in 1975. In 1978, he was given the Wollaston Medal by the Geological Society of London, a very prestigious award in geology. He was also a Fellow of important scientific groups like the Royal Society in London and the Royal Society of Canada.
From 1974 to 1985, he led the Ontario Science Centre. At the Centre, there is a special display that shows how much the continents have moved since Wilson was born. This helps people understand his ideas about plate tectonics.
The Canadian Geophysical Union gives out the J. Tuzo Wilson Medal to honor great achievements in geophysics. There is also a special professorship and an annual public lecture named after him at the University of Toronto. In 2016, he was added to the Legends Row: Mississauga Walk of Fame.
Personal Life
Wilson loved to travel and took many photographs during his trips. He visited places all over the world, including Europe, parts of the former Soviet Union, China, Africa, and even the North and South Poles. Many of his photos showed geological features like rocks and landforms. But he also took many pictures of the places he visited, the cities, monuments, and the people he met.
In 1938, he married Isabel Jean Dickson. He retired in 1986 and passed away in Toronto on April 15, 1993.
See also
In Spanish: John Tuzo Wilson para niños
