William Sefton Fyfe

William Sefton Fyfe, C.C., F.R.S., F.R.S.C., Acad. Sci. Brasil

Doctor of Science

Canada?s foremost practicing earth scientist is Dr. William Sefton Fyfe, Professor Emeritus, and until recently, Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Western Ontario.

Born in New Zealand, he excelled in both chemistry and geology. In the early 1950?s, he received his Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Otago, New Zealand. From there his studies took him to the University of California at Berkeley where he continued his work in geochemistry. In 1966, he became Royal Science Professor of Geology at the University of Manchester, England, and Visiting Professor of Geology at the Imperial College of Science and Technology, University of London. Six years later, he moved to Canada to become the Chairperson of the Department of Geology at the University of Western Ontario where he soon launched the Surface Research Centre.

Dr. Fyfe?s name has become widely recognized I the global earth science community for his accomplishments in geochemistry, mineralogy, petrology, mineral deposits and environmental geology. For the past 40 years, he has worked tirelessly to increase scientific accessibility to average citizens. His community involvement, such as taking advantage of every opportunity to speak about the plight of the planet to fellow scientists, students, seniors and children, has helped to spur the worldwide earth movement. Dedicated to the raising of public consciousness about science and technology, his expertise has helped preserve natural environments from the jungles of Brazil to the desert sands of Saudi Arabia.