Keith O'Nions facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Keith O'Nions
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|---|---|
| Born |
Robert Keith O'Nions
26 September 1944 |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | University of Nottingham University of Alberta |
| Awards | Bigsby Medal (1983) Arthur Holmes Medal (1995) Lyell Medal (1995) Knight Bachelor (1999) Urey Medal (2001) HonFREng (2005) |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | University of Alberta University of Oslo University of Oxford Imperial College London Columbia University University of Cambridge |
| Thesis | Geochronology of the Bamble sector of the Baltic Shield, South Norway (1969) |
| Doctoral advisor | Roger D. Morton |
Sir Robert Keith O'Nions, born on September 26, 1944, is a famous British scientist. He used to be the leader (President and Rector) of Imperial College London, a very important university. He also served as the Director General of Research Councils UK, which helps fund scientific research. Before that, he was a Professor of the Physics and Chemistry of Minerals and led the Earth Sciences Department at the University of Oxford.
Early Life and Education
Keith O'Nions grew up in Birmingham, England, and went to Yardley Grammar School. He studied geology, which is the study of Earth's rocks and history, at the University of Nottingham. After that, he earned his PhD degree at the University of Alberta in Canada. He then moved to Norway for a research job at the University of Oslo.
A Career in Science
Sir Keith O'Nions taught geochemistry, which is about the chemistry of Earth, at the University of Oxford from 1971 to 1975. He then became a Professor of Geology at Columbia University in the United States.
In 1979, he returned to the UK and became a Royal Society Research Professor at the University of Cambridge. He stayed there until 1995. Then, he went back to Oxford to become a Professor of Physics and Chemistry of Minerals.
He was given the title of Knight in 1999 for his important work. From 2000 to 2004, he was the Chief Scientific Adviser for the Ministry of Defence. This means he gave scientific advice to the government on defense matters.
After working as the Director-General of Research Councils UK, he was chosen to lead a new group at Imperial College London in 2008. This group focused on science and technology for security.
In 2010, he became the acting leader of Imperial College London. Later that year, he was officially appointed as the Rector, a role he held until September 2014.
Awards and Recognitions
Sir Keith O'Nions has received many awards for his contributions to science.
- In 1979, he won the James B Macelwane Award from the American Geophysical Union.
- He received the Bigsby Medal in 1983 from the Geological Society of London.
- In 1995, he was awarded the Arthur Holmes Medal and the Lyell Medal.
- The European Association of Geochemistry gave him the Urey Medal in 2001.
- In 2005, he was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.
He is also a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters. In September 2017, he became the Chair of the new board for the British Geological Survey. He has also served on other important boards, like A*Star in Singapore and Cambridge Enterprise. He is currently the Chair of the Council at the University of Nottingham.
Personal Life
In 1967, Keith O'Nions married Rita Bill. They have three daughters together.
