E. R. Ward Neale

Infobox Scientist


image_width = 150px
name = Dr. E. R. Ward Neale
birth_date = July 03, 1923
birth_place = Montreal, Quebec
death_date = May 20, 2008
death_place = Calgary, Alberta
residence = Canada
citizenship = Canadian
nationality = Canadian
field = Geology
work_institution = Geological Survey of Canada
Memorial University of Newfoundland
alma_mater = McGill University
Yale University
doctoral_advisor =
doctoral_students =
known_for = Expertise in the geology of Appalachian region of Atlantic Canada
author_abbreviation_bot =
author_abbreviation_zoo =
prizes = Bancroft Award
R. T. Bell Medal
Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal
Ambrose Medal
religion =
footnotes =

Ernest Richard Ward Neale, OC, FRSC (July 03, 1923 – May 20, 2008) was a distinguished Canadian geologist. His scientific research contributed to the understanding of the large-scale structure of the northern Appalachian mountains of Atlantic Canada. Neale used his enthusiasm for geology to inform students and the general public about discoveries in his field through television, radio, pamphlets, booklets, news magazines, and the popular press.

Neale worked with the Geological Survey of Canada and Memorial University of Newfoundland. He, along with John Rodgers of Yale University, were the first to recognize the transported oceanic rocks that overlie ancient shelf deposits in western Newfoundland. They provided the basis for adaptation of plate tectonic theory to Paleozoic mountain-building processes.

Early life

Neale was born in Montreal in July 1923. He served in the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War between 1943-1945. After the war he went to study at McGill University, Montreal. He completed his BSc in 1949. In 1950, Ward married Roxie and they moved to New Haven, Connecticut so Ward could attend Yale University. There he obtained his MSc. (1951) and PhD (1952).

Career

Neale worked briefly as an Assistant Professor at the University of Rochester, New York, between 1952 and 1954. After that he went on to work for the Geological Survey of Canada. His first position was as to head the Appalachian Geology Section. Between 1963 and 1965, Neale served as the Commonwealth Geology Liaison Officer. When he returned he was given the responsibility to head the Precambrian Geology Section.

In 1968, Neale left the Survey to became Professor and head of the Geology Department at Memorial University of Newfoundland. In 1972, he organized a Montreal-based symposium for the International Geological Congress on Geoscience Aid to developing Countries. This symposium led to the creation of the Association of Geoscientists for International Development.

In 1976, Neale moved to Calgary as Head of the Geological Information Subdivision of the Institute of Sedimentary and Petroleum Geology. He retained his ties to academia whilst in Calgary by holding an adjunct position at the University of Calgary and acting on the University Senate.

In 1982, Neale returned to Newfoundland to accept the position of Vice-President Academic of Memorial University. He held that position until retiring in 1987. After retirement, Ward and his wife moved to Calgary, Alberta.

Other Positions held

*1972-1973, President of the Geological Association of Canada
*1973-1978, Director of the Canadian Geological Foundation
*1974-1980, Editor of the Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences
*1976, President of the Canadian Geoscience Council
*Chaired the Royal Society of Canada's Committee on Public Awareness of Science
*co-Founder of the Calgary Science Network
*1989, Chair of the Calgary Science Network

Honours and Awards

* was a Fellow of the Geological Society of America for over 50 years
* was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
* 1975, awarded the Bancroft Award by the Royal Society of Canada
* 1977, awarded an honorary degree from the University of Calgary
* 1977, awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal
* 1977, awarded the R. T. Bell Medal by the Canadian Mining Journal
* 1981, awarded a Distinguished Service Award by the Geological Association of Canada
* 1986, awarded the Ambrose Medal of the Geological Association of Canada
* 1990, made an Officer of the Order of Canada
* 1992, awarded the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal by the Government of Canada
* 1994, honored by the creation of the E. R. Ward Neale Medal by the Geological Association of Canada
* 2003, awarded an honorary award for a significant contribution to the field of education by the International Geoscience Education Organization

References

* [http://www.legacy.com/Can/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStoryPrint&PersonID=110296762 Neale's Obituary] . Retrieved May 26, 2008.
* [http://www.mun.ca/marcomm/gazette/1994-95/Aug.25/n05-nota Memorial University of Newfoundland Gazette August 25, 1995] . Retrieved May 26, 2008.
* [http://www.mun.ca/marcomm/gazette/1996-97/June.19/m-nota.htm Memorial University of Newfoundland Gazette June 19, 1997] . Retrieved May 26, 2008.
* [http://rock.geosociety.org/membership/50Yearfellows.asp Geological Society of America 50+ years] . Retrieved May 26, 2008.
* [http://www.ucalgary.ca/pubs/calendar/2008/who/HonoraryDegreeRecipients2.htm University of Calgary Honorary Degree List] . Retrieved May 26, 2008.
* [http://www.geoscied.org/awards/neale.htm International Geoscience Education Organization] . Retrieved May 26, 2008.

External links

* [http://www.gac.ca/MEDALS/neale.html The E.R. Ward Neale Medal]