William Gilbert Chaloner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bill Chaloner
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| Born |
William Gilbert Chaloner
22 November 1928 |
| Died | 13 October 2016 (aged 87) |
| Awards | FRS Lapworth Medal (2005) |
| Scientific career | |
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| Thesis | The spores of the Carboniferous lycopods (1953) |
William Gilbert Chaloner (born November 22, 1928 – died October 13, 2016), also known as Bill Chaloner, was a British scientist. He was a palaeobotanist, which means he studied ancient plants and plant fossils. He worked as a professor of botany at Royal Holloway, University of London and University College, London.
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Early Life and Learning
Bill Chaloner was born in Chelsea, England. He went to Kingston Grammar School for his early education. He was very interested in science from a young age.
He took evening classes to learn about geology. Geology is the study of Earth's history and rocks. In 1947, he went to the University of Reading. There, he studied Botany (the study of plants), Geology, and Chemistry. He earned a top degree in 1950. He then continued his studies and received his Ph.D. in 1953. A Ph.D. is a very high university degree that shows someone is an expert in their field.
His Career as a Scientist
After finishing his studies, Bill Chaloner spent a year doing research at the University of Michigan in the United States. When he returned home, he served two years in the army.
In 1956, he started working at the Department of Botany at University College, University of London. He became a professor of botany in 1972 at Birkbeck College. Later, in 1979, he was given a special teaching position at Bedford College. He also taught as a visiting professor at other universities around the world. These included places like Pennsylvania State University in the US and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Awards and Special Recognitions
Bill Chaloner received many important awards for his work. In 1976, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists in the United Kingdom. He was also a member of the Linnean Society, which is a group for people who study natural history.
He received the Linnean Medal and the Lapworth Medal. These awards recognized his important discoveries in palaeobotany. In 1983, he was chosen to be a Trustee for the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew. This means he helped guide the famous gardens. From 1985 to 1988, he was the president of the Linnean Society.
About His Family
Bill Chaloner was married to Judith Carroll in 1955. Judith was from America. They had three children together. Bill Chaloner passed away on October 13, 2016, when he was 87 years old.
