Janet Vida Watson
Encyclopedia
Professor Janet Vida Watson FRS
FGS
(1923–1985) was a British geologist. She was the first woman to become president of the Geological Society of London
.
, London. Her parents were David M. S. Watson FRS, a vertebrate
paleontologist and professor of zoology
and comparative anatomy
in the University of London
, and Katharine M. Parker, who did research in embryology
before marrying. Watson grew up with her sister Katharine Mary in South Hampstead and attended the local school, before going to Reading University to read General Science. She graduated with a first class honours degree in biology and geology in 1943.
before deciding to become a geologist. She applied to Imperial College in 1945, completing her BSc in Geology in 1947, again getting a first class degree. After her second graduation, the then head of department, Herbert Harold Read
, took her on as his student and set her to work on the migmatite
s of Sutherland
. She then began to work on the Lewisian complex
of NW Scotland together with John Sutton, another of Read's research students. The two completed their PhD theses in 1949 followed by a wedding and honeymoon in the Channel Islands
, which explains a joint publication on the geology of Sark
a few years later.
After the award of their PhDs, they both joined the staff at Imperial College. They published their thesis work in a paper in 1951, that had a major impact on the study of Precambrian
basement complexes, by showing that it was possible to understand their metamorphic
and structural
development as a series of discrete orogenic
events that could be discerned in the field. They proposed that an older Archaean Scourian complex, had been partially reworked by a younger paleoproterozoic
Laxfordian orogenic event, as shown by its effect on a set of dolerite dyke
s, known as the Scourie dykes. Subsequent fieldwork, metamorphic studies and radiometric dating
has refined their chronology but supported their original hypothesis.
They continued to work together on other aspects of the precambrian geology of Scotland, including the Moine
, Dalradian and Torridonian
. John Sutton became head of department at Imperial College in 1964 and from then on their joint publications became less frequent. Watson published an introductory text book Beginning geology with her former PhD supervisor H.H.Read in 1966, followed by Introduction to Geology: Volume 1 Principles in 1968 and Introduction to geology Volume2 Earth history: Part 1 Early Stages of Earth History and Part 2 Later Stages of Earth History in 1975.
In 1975 Watson was appointed to a personal chair as research professor of geology. She continued to work on the problems of the precambrian in Scotland but also published on ore genesis and regional geochemistry
. She served as president of the Geological Society from 1982–1984, the first woman to hold that post.
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
FGS
Geological Society of London
The Geological Society of London is a learned society based in the United Kingdom with the aim of "investigating the mineral structure of the Earth"...
(1923–1985) was a British geologist. She was the first woman to become president of the Geological Society of London
Geological Society of London
The Geological Society of London is a learned society based in the United Kingdom with the aim of "investigating the mineral structure of the Earth"...
.
Early life
She was born 1 September 1923 in HampsteadHampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
, London. Her parents were David M. S. Watson FRS, a vertebrate
Vertebrate
Vertebrates are animals that are members of the subphylum Vertebrata . Vertebrates are the largest group of chordates, with currently about 58,000 species described. Vertebrates include the jawless fishes, bony fishes, sharks and rays, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds...
paleontologist and professor of zoology
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
and comparative anatomy
Comparative anatomy
Comparative anatomy is the study of similarities and differences in the anatomy of organisms. It is closely related to evolutionary biology and phylogeny .-Description:...
in the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, and Katharine M. Parker, who did research in embryology
Embryology
Embryology is a science which is about the development of an embryo from the fertilization of the ovum to the fetus stage...
before marrying. Watson grew up with her sister Katharine Mary in South Hampstead and attended the local school, before going to Reading University to read General Science. She graduated with a first class honours degree in biology and geology in 1943.
Career
After graduation, she tried working at the National Institute for Research in Dairying looking at chicken growth and later teaching biology at Wentworth School, BournemouthBournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
before deciding to become a geologist. She applied to Imperial College in 1945, completing her BSc in Geology in 1947, again getting a first class degree. After her second graduation, the then head of department, Herbert Harold Read
Herbert Harold Read
Herbert Harold Read FRS, FRSE, FGS, was a British geologist and Professor of Geology at Imperial College...
, took her on as his student and set her to work on the migmatite
Migmatite
Migmatite is a rock at the frontier between igneous and metamorphic rocks. They can also be known as diatexite.Migmatites form under extreme temperature conditions during prograde metamorphism, where partial melting occurs in pre-existing rocks. Migmatites are not crystallized from a totally...
s of Sutherland
Sutherland
Sutherland is a registration county, lieutenancy area and historic administrative county of Scotland. It is now within the Highland local government area. In Gaelic the area is referred to according to its traditional areas: Dùthaich 'IcAoidh , Asainte , and Cataibh...
. She then began to work on the Lewisian complex
Lewisian complex
The Lewisian complex or Lewisian Gneiss is a suite of Precambrian metamorphic rocks that outcrop in the northwestern part of Scotland, forming part of the Hebridean Terrane. These rocks are of Archaean and Paleoproterozoic age, ranging from 3.0–1.7 Ga. They form the basement on which the...
of NW Scotland together with John Sutton, another of Read's research students. The two completed their PhD theses in 1949 followed by a wedding and honeymoon in the Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
, which explains a joint publication on the geology of Sark
Sark
Sark is a small island in the Channel Islands in southwestern English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. It is a royal fief, geographically located in the Channel Islands in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, with its own set of laws based on Norman law and its own parliament. It has a population...
a few years later.
After the award of their PhDs, they both joined the staff at Imperial College. They published their thesis work in a paper in 1951, that had a major impact on the study of Precambrian
Precambrian
The Precambrian is the name which describes the large span of time in Earth's history before the current Phanerozoic Eon, and is a Supereon divided into several eons of the geologic time scale...
basement complexes, by showing that it was possible to understand their metamorphic
Metamorphism
Metamorphism is the solid-state recrystallization of pre-existing rocks due to changes in physical and chemical conditions, primarily heat, pressure, and the introduction of chemically active fluids. Mineralogical, chemical and crystallographic changes can occur during this process...
and structural
Structural geology
Structural geology is the study of the three-dimensional distribution of rock units with respect to their deformational histories. The primary goal of structural geology is to use measurements of present-day rock geometries to uncover information about the history of deformation in the rocks, and...
development as a series of discrete orogenic
Orogeny
Orogeny refers to forces and events leading to a severe structural deformation of the Earth's crust due to the engagement of tectonic plates. Response to such engagement results in the formation of long tracts of highly deformed rock called orogens or orogenic belts...
events that could be discerned in the field. They proposed that an older Archaean Scourian complex, had been partially reworked by a younger paleoproterozoic
Paleoproterozoic
The Paleoproterozoic is the first of the three sub-divisions of the Proterozoic occurring between . This is when the continents first stabilized...
Laxfordian orogenic event, as shown by its effect on a set of dolerite dyke
Dike (geology)
A dike or dyke in geology is a type of sheet intrusion referring to any geologic body that cuts discordantly across* planar wall rock structures, such as bedding or foliation...
s, known as the Scourie dykes. Subsequent fieldwork, metamorphic studies and radiometric dating
Radiometric dating
Radiometric dating is a technique used to date materials such as rocks, usually based on a comparison between the observed abundance of a naturally occurring radioactive isotope and its decay products, using known decay rates...
has refined their chronology but supported their original hypothesis.
They continued to work together on other aspects of the precambrian geology of Scotland, including the Moine
Moine Supergroup
The Moine Supergroup is a sequence of Neoproterozoic metamorphic rocks that form the dominant outcrop of the Scottish Highlands between the Moine Thrust Belt to the northwest and the Great Glen Fault to the southeast. The sequence is metasedimentary in nature and was metamorphosed and deformed in a...
, Dalradian and Torridonian
Torridonian
In geology, Torridonian describes a series of Neoproterozoic arenaceous sedimentary rocks, extensively developed in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland, and particularly in the district of upper Loch Torridon, a circumstance which suggested the name Torridon Sandstone, first applied to these rocks...
. John Sutton became head of department at Imperial College in 1964 and from then on their joint publications became less frequent. Watson published an introductory text book Beginning geology with her former PhD supervisor H.H.Read in 1966, followed by Introduction to Geology: Volume 1 Principles in 1968 and Introduction to geology Volume2 Earth history: Part 1 Early Stages of Earth History and Part 2 Later Stages of Earth History in 1975.
In 1975 Watson was appointed to a personal chair as research professor of geology. She continued to work on the problems of the precambrian in Scotland but also published on ore genesis and regional geochemistry
Geochemistry
The field of geochemistry involves study of the chemical composition of the Earth and other planets, chemical processes and reactions that govern the composition of rocks, water, and soils, and the cycles of matter and energy that transport the Earth's chemical components in time and space, and...
. She served as president of the Geological Society from 1982–1984, the first woman to hold that post.
Awards
- Lyell Fund - awarded jointly with John Sutton 1954
- Bigsby MedalBigsby MedalThe Bigsby Medal is a medal of the Geological Society of London established by John Jeremiah Bigsby. It is awarded for the study of American geology and recipients must be under 45 years of age.-Bigsby Medalists:List of Medallists...
- awarded jointly with John Sutton 1965 - Lyell MedalLyell MedalThe Lyell Medal is a prestigious annual scientific medal given by the Geological Society of London, equal in status to the Murchison Medal, awarded on the basis of research to an Earth Scientist of exceptional quality...
- awarded 1973 - Clough MedalRoyal Society of EdinburghThe Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
- awarded 1979 - Royal SocietyRoyal SocietyThe Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
- elected as fellow 1979, member of the council and vice-president until her death