Henry William Menard
Encyclopedia
Henry William Menard was an American
geologist
.
in 1942 and 1947, having served in the South Pacific during World War II
as a photo interpreter. In 1949, he completed a Ph.D. in marine geology
at Harvard University
. Menard is perhaps best known for his promotion of the theory of plate tectonics
before it was widely accepted in the scientific community. Menard served many roles during his career as a marine geologist. Field worker, theorist, educator, popularizer, entrepreneur and statesman.
Menard's historical and sociological writings are respected by historians of science. Menard began his professional career in 1949, in the Sea Floor Studies Section of San Diego's Navy Electronics Laboratory. He joined the Scripps Institution of Oceanography
(SIO) in 1955 as associate professor of geology. Menard's field work was extensive, involving 1,000 aqua-lung
dives and 20 oceanographic expeditions from 1949 until 1978 when he became Director of the U.S.G.S
. His research focused on the morphology
of the ocean floor. During the 1950s, Menard also started a scuba-diving business with a few colleagues that included consulting for AT&T on the laying of cable.
He became a full professor of the University of California, San Diego
in 1961. Two years were spent at
Churchill College (1962 and 1970-71). Following a year in Washington, D.C.
as technical advisor in the Office of Science and Technology
(1965-66), Menard served as Director of the University of California
's Institute of Marine Resources.
's tenth Director but remained only through the balance of the Carter administration. Menard had been a marine geologist with the Naval Electronics Laboratory
in San Diego for several years and then had become a member of the faculty of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography
. In 1965-66, he was associated with the Office of Science and Technology
in the White House. A member of the National Academy of Sciences
, Menard was a recognized worldwide authority in marine geology
and oceanography
and had discovered notable topographic and structural features of the sea floor that laid much of the foundation of the plate-tectonics revolution in geology. After his return to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography
in 1981, Menard continued to teach, write, and do research.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
geologist
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
.
Life and career
He earned a B.S. and M.S. from the California Institute of TechnologyCalifornia Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
in 1942 and 1947, having served in the South Pacific during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a photo interpreter. In 1949, he completed a Ph.D. in marine geology
Marine geology
Marine geology or geological oceanography involves geophysical, geochemical, sedimentological and paleontological investigations of the ocean floor and coastal margins...
at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. Menard is perhaps best known for his promotion of the theory of plate tectonics
Plate tectonics
Plate tectonics is a scientific theory that describes the large scale motions of Earth's lithosphere...
before it was widely accepted in the scientific community. Menard served many roles during his career as a marine geologist. Field worker, theorist, educator, popularizer, entrepreneur and statesman.
Menard's historical and sociological writings are respected by historians of science. Menard began his professional career in 1949, in the Sea Floor Studies Section of San Diego's Navy Electronics Laboratory. He joined the Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California, is one of the oldest and largest centers for ocean and earth science research, graduate training, and public service in the world...
(SIO) in 1955 as associate professor of geology. Menard's field work was extensive, involving 1,000 aqua-lung
Aqua-lung
Aqua-Lung was the original name of the first open-circuit free-swimming underwater breathing set in reaching worldwide popularity and commercial success...
dives and 20 oceanographic expeditions from 1949 until 1978 when he became Director of the U.S.G.S
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
. His research focused on the morphology
Geomorphology
Geomorphology is the scientific study of landforms and the processes that shape them...
of the ocean floor. During the 1950s, Menard also started a scuba-diving business with a few colleagues that included consulting for AT&T on the laying of cable.
He became a full professor of the University of California, San Diego
University of California, San Diego
The University of California, San Diego, commonly known as UCSD or UC San Diego, is a public research university located in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, United States...
in 1961. Two years were spent at
Churchill College (1962 and 1970-71). Following a year in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
as technical advisor in the Office of Science and Technology
Office of Science and Technology
The Office of Science and Technology , later named the Office of Science and Innovation, was a non-ministerial government department of the British government between 1992 and 2007....
(1965-66), Menard served as Director of the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
's Institute of Marine Resources.
USGS career
In April 1978, H. William Menard became the United States Geological SurveyUnited States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
's tenth Director but remained only through the balance of the Carter administration. Menard had been a marine geologist with the Naval Electronics Laboratory
Naval Electronics Laboratory
The U.S. Navy Electronics Laboratory was created in 1945, with the consolidation of the Navy Radio and Sound Lab and its wartime partner, the University of California Division of War Research...
in San Diego for several years and then had become a member of the faculty of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California, is one of the oldest and largest centers for ocean and earth science research, graduate training, and public service in the world...
. In 1965-66, he was associated with the Office of Science and Technology
Office of Science and Technology
The Office of Science and Technology , later named the Office of Science and Innovation, was a non-ministerial government department of the British government between 1992 and 2007....
in the White House. A member of the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
, Menard was a recognized worldwide authority in marine geology
Marine geology
Marine geology or geological oceanography involves geophysical, geochemical, sedimentological and paleontological investigations of the ocean floor and coastal margins...
and oceanography
Oceanography
Oceanography , also called oceanology or marine science, is the branch of Earth science that studies the ocean...
and had discovered notable topographic and structural features of the sea floor that laid much of the foundation of the plate-tectonics revolution in geology. After his return to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California, is one of the oldest and largest centers for ocean and earth science research, graduate training, and public service in the world...
in 1981, Menard continued to teach, write, and do research.
Awards and honors
- 1968 - elected to the National Academy of SciencesUnited States National Academy of SciencesThe National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
- Penrose Medal from the Geological Society of AmericaGeological Society of AmericaThe Geological Society of America is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of the geosciences. The society was founded in New York in 1888 by Alexander Winchell, John J. Stevenson, Charles H. Hitchcock, John R. Proctor and Edward Orton and has been headquartered at 3300 Penrose...
- 1985 - William Bowie Award from the American Geophysical Union
Publications
- "Marine Geology of the Pacific", 1964
- "Anatomy of an Expedition", 1969
- "Science: Growth and Change", 1971 ISBN 0674792807
- "Geology, Resources, and Society", 1974 ISBN 0716702606
- "Ocean Science", 1978 ISBN 0716700131
- "Islands", 1986 ISBN 0716750171
- "Ocean of Truth: A Personal History of Global Tectonics", 1986 ISBN 0691084149
External links
- Portrait of William Menard from U.S. Geological Survey Museum Collection
- Photograph of Dr. Henry William Menard from U.S. Geological Survey Photographic Library (Portraits Collection)
- Photograph of Henry William Menard from U.S. Geological Survey History (USGS: The Survey at 100)
