David McCurdy Baird

David McCurdy Baird
Born	July 28, 1920 (1920-07-28) (age 91) Fredericton, New Brunswick
Fields	Geology
Alma mater	University of New Brunswick University of Rochester McGill University

David McCurdy Baird, OC, FRSC (born July 28, 1920) is a Canadian geologist, photographer, and academic.

Biography

Born in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Baird received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1941 from the University of New Brunswick, a Master of Science degree in 1943 from the University of Rochester, and a Ph.D. in 1947 from McGill University.^[1]

Baird held many university teaching positions including the University of Rochester (1941 to 1943), McGill University (1943 to 1946), Mount Allison University (1946 to 1947), and the University of New Brunswick (1947 to 1952). From 1952 to 1958, he was a Provincial Geologist for the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. At the same time, he was a Professor of Geology at Memorial University of Newfoundland and was head of the department from 1954 to 1958. In 1958, he joined the University of Ottawa as a Professor of Geology and Chairman of the Department where he would remain until 1966.^[1]

From 1966 to 1981, he was the founding Director of the Canada Science and Technology Museum. From 1981 to 1986, he was the founding Director of the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology. In 1986, he was appointed Director of the Rideau Canal Museum in Smiths Falls, Ontario.^[1]

He is the author of numerous books including Beauty in the Rocks: The Photography of David M. Baird (2006, ISBN 1894898370), Northern Lights: Lighthouses of Canada (1999, ISBN 1894073096), Jasper National Park: Behind the mountains and glaciers (1977, ISBN 0888301308), A guide to geology for visitors to Canada's national parks (ISBN 0770510108), and Our Earth in Continuous Change (1973, ISBN 0070773947).

In 1986, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada for his "life-long contribution to science education in Canada".^[2] In 1986, he was awarded the Royal Canadian Geographical Society's Massey Medal. In 1958, he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and was awarded the Society's Bancroft Award in 1970.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Canadian Who's Who 1997 entry
2. ^ Order of Canada citation

Persondata
Name	Baird, David McCurdy
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	July 28, 1920
Place of birth	Fredericton, New Brunswick
Date of death
Place of death