Steve Sparks (volcanologist) facts for kids

Sir Robert Stephen John Sparks, born on May 15, 1949, is a very important scientist. He is a professor of Geology at the University of Bristol. He is known around the world as a top volcanologist. This means he studies volcanoes and how they work.

Studying Volcanoes

Sir Steve Sparks studied at Imperial College London. He earned his first degree there in 1971. Later, in 1974, he completed his PhD. His PhD supervisor was George P. L. Walker, another famous scientist.

After his studies, he worked at several universities. He was a research fellow at Lancaster University. He also worked in the USA at the University of Rhode Island. From 1978 to 1989, he was a lecturer at the University of Cambridge Department of Earth Sciences. In 1989, he became a professor at the University of Bristol. He has also been a visiting scholar at other top universities like California Institute of Technology and Yale University.

Important Discoveries

Sir Steve Sparks has made a huge impact in the study of volcanoes. He has also influenced the field of igneous petrology. This is the study of rocks formed from magma or lava. He has written over 300 scientific papers. These papers have been used as references by other scientists many thousands of times.

Because of his important work, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1988. This is a very high honor for scientists in the UK. He also became a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union in 1998.

Helping the Science Community

Sir Steve Sparks has also helped the geology community in many ways. He was the President of the Geological Society of London from 1994 to 1996. He also led the IAVCEI from 1999 to 2003. This is a global group for volcano scientists.

In 2010, he received the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). This was for his services to environmental sciences. In 2018, he was made a Knight Bachelor. This means he can be called "Sir." This honor was for his important work in volcanology and geology. In the same year, he also received the Royal Medal.