Oliver Bulman facts for kids

Oliver Meredith Boone Bulman (born May 20, 1902 – died February 18, 1974) was a famous British palaeontologist. A palaeontologist is a scientist who studies ancient life, especially through fossils. He became a very important geology professor at the University of Cambridge.

Early Life and School

Oliver Bulman was born in Chelsea, England. His father, Henry Herbert Bulman, was an artist, and his mother was Beatrice Elizabeth Boone. Oliver was the second of their three children.

In 1910, Oliver started attending Battersea Grammar School. However, he really wanted to study geology, which his school did not teach. So, he decided to take evening classes at Chelsea Polytechnic to learn about rocks and Earth's history. Later, he became a full-time student there.

University Studies

Oliver's hard work paid off! In 1920, he won a special scholarship from London University. This allowed him to go to Imperial College. There, he studied both geology and zoology (the study of animals). He was a brilliant student and graduated in 1923 with top honors in geology.

After his first degree, Oliver continued his studies. He worked towards his PhD, which is a very high university degree. He studied ancient rocks from the Palaeozoic era, which was a time when Earth's first complex life forms appeared.

Studying Graptolites

Oliver then received another special scholarship. He spent two years at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. Here, he focused on studying tiny, extinct sea creatures called graptolites. These creatures lived in colonies and looked a bit like tiny branches or saw blades. He worked with a famous scientist named Gertrude Lilian Elles.

His detailed work on graptolites helped him earn another PhD degree from Cambridge in 1928. He even helped write important books about British graptolites.

Career and Achievements

After finishing his studies, Oliver Bulman worked as a demonstrator at Imperial College and later at Cambridge. A demonstrator helps students in labs and practical classes.

He quickly moved up in the academic world. In 1944, he became a "reader" in palaeozoology, which is a senior teaching and research position. Then, in 1955, he became the Woodwardian Professor of Geology at the University of Cambridge. This was a very prestigious job, showing he was one of the top geology experts in the country.

Honors and Awards

Oliver Bulman received many important awards and honors for his scientific work:

• In 1940, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is a huge honor for scientists in the UK.
• He led several important scientific groups, including the geology section of the British Association.
• He was also president of the Palaeontological Association (from 1960 to 1962).
• He led the Geological Society (from 1962 to 1964).
• He was president of the Palaeontographical Society (from 1971 to 1974).
• In 1953, the Geological Society gave him the Lyell Medal. This medal is given to scientists who have made major contributions to geology.

Family Life

In 1938, Oliver Bulman married Marguerite Fearnsides. Her father, William Fearnsides, was also a geology professor. Oliver and Marguerite had four children: one son and three daughters.

Oliver Bulman passed away at his home in Cambridge in 1974. He was cremated.