Thompson, George A.
Abstract/Contents
- Abstract
- George A. Thompson, Otto N. Miller Professor of Earth Sciences and Dean of the School of Earth Sciences, Emeritus, begins his interview describing his early life in Swissvale, Pennsylvania, his family, and early inclinations toward science. He continues on to his time as an undergraduate and master’s student at Penn State and MIT respectively, his work with the U.S. Geological Survey in West Texas, and his time spent in the navy before coming to Stanford to pursue his PhD under the mentorship of Professor Aaron Waters. Thompson also discusses his early teaching experiences at Stanford and the atmosphere of the newly formed Geophysics Department. Thompson goes on to describe going back to work with the U.S. Geological Survey in Nevada after graduating and later returning to Stanford as a professor. He further discusses his approach to teaching and his role in shaping the School of Earth Sciences as chair of the Department of Geophysics and Department of Geology. He notes his interactions with the administration after succeeding Allan Cox as dean of the School of Earth Sciences, appointing and evaluating junior faculty, and working with university donors such as Cecil Green. Thompson also discusses Earth Sciences’ connections with the oil industry and his memories of the Loma Prieta earthquake. He speaks of the consolidation of departments and changes in the School of Earth Sciences under new dean Gary Ernst. He then delves into his research in transition between the Sierra Nevada and the basin ranges, his time at Lamont Geological Observatory of Columbia University, fieldwork experiences in New Zealand, and the evolution of the disciplines of geology and geophysics. He describes his time on the USGS Advisory Panel and discusses issues of nuclear waste disposal and fracking. Thompson reflects on his involvement with geophysics and geology organizations, including the Geological Society of America and American Geophysical Union, and speaks about the notable awards he has received in his career. Thompson concludes the interview by discussing his family life, forestry work, and continued involvement at Stanford as an emeritus professor.
Description
| Type of resource | mixed material |
|---|---|
| Date created | January 27, 2016 |
Creators/Contributors
| Author | Thompson, George A. | |
|---|---|---|
| Contributing author | Fetter, Alexander L. | |
| Publisher | Stanford Historical Society |
Subjects
| Subject | George Thompson |
|---|---|
| Subject | Stanford Historical Society |
| Subject | oral histories |
| Subject | interviews |
| Subject | higher education |
| Subject | professors |
| Subject | universities and colleges > administration |
| Subject | universities and colleges > faculty |
Bibliographic information
| Related item |
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| Location | https://purl.stanford.edu/zx136zr6277 |
Access conditions
- Use and reproduction
- The materials are open for research use and may be used freely for non-commercial purposes with an attribution. For commercial permission requests, please contact the Stanford University Archives (universityarchives@stanford.edu).
- Copyright
- Copyright © The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University. All rights reserved.
Preferred citation
- Preferred Citation
Thompson, George A. (2016).
Oral History. Stanford Historical Society Oral History Program Interviews (SC0932).
Department of Special Collections & University Archives, Stanford University Libraries,
Stanford, Calif. Available at: https://purl.stanford.edu/zx136zr6277
Collection
Stanford Historical Society Oral History Program interviews, 1999-2022
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