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TEACHING EARTH SCIENCES ● Volume 30 ● Number 1, 2005 A Presentation to David Thompson From Ian Ray, a local geology teacher: ‘David has been an enormous influence on so many teachers in the Midlands and north west and so it is difficult to do full justice to so great a contribution to geological education in the region as David’s.’ From Professor Mike Brooks, Ex- Chair of ESTA, and Cathie Brooks, ex-Professional Officer for Geology at WJEC: ‘We both acknowledge the huge debt of gratitude we all owe to David for his immense contribution to geological education.’ From Alan Morgan, Secretary and Treasurer of the International Geoscience Education Organisation: ‘There are small groups of geoscience educators in every country who believe that our future lies in better education of students, greater communication to the public at large through outreach activities and better communication with politicians. Our subject area is vitally important for the well-being of society on the world stage. David Thompson has been one such leader.’ After thirty seven years as a Council member, first of the Association of Teachers of Geology and later of the Earth Science Teachers’ Association, David Thompson has decided to step down. During his time on ESTA Council, David has made a fantastic contribution to ESTA and to the cause of Earth science education in the UK and across the world, and so ESTA decided that this moment should be recognised formally. Thus, at the recent Christmas Social event of the North Staffordshire Group of the Geologists’ Association (NSGGA), held in the Department of Earth Sciences and Geography at Keele University on 9th December 2004, David was presented with a geological map of part of the North Stafford area dating from 1864, together with a folder of letters from people in this country and overseas who wanted to celebrate the occasion. Dr Peter Floyd, Chair of the (NSGGA), first welcomed all visitors to the event, who included a wide range of David’s colleagues from the University Geology and Education Departments, Professor Luis Marques from Aviero University in Portugal, Susan Brown from the Geologists’ Association and Members of ESTA. Then Chris King gave a brief summary of David’s contribution to Earth Science education over many years, as follows. Much of David’s background was taken from a piece published in Teaching Earth Sciences in 1989 by Mike Collins, John Reynolds and Alastair Fleming to mark the end of his Presidency of ESTA in that year, before he became an Honorary Life member of ESTA in 1990. ● David came to Keele as an undergraduate from Manchester Central Boys’ High School ● He graduated and spent two years as a meteorologist in the RAF ● He began teaching at North Manchester High School for Boys ● While teaching, he undertook a research MSc into the Triassic rocks of the Cheshire Basin ● He was a founder member the Association From Shankar, a leading light of geoscience education in India: ‘You richly deserve this honour and recognition for all that you had done to the cause of Earth Science Education.’ From John Macadam, ESTA member and freelance consultant: ‘So many of us are in your debt. I feel privileged to have been one of your missionaries – or was it mafia – sent out to spread geology as a science – or was it the science – in schools.’ Sheet 72 NW – Stafford Solid edition, hand coloured, one inch to one mile, Old Series Geological Map published by the Geological Survey of Great Britain. The base map is a quarter sheet of the Ordnance Survey first edition topographic map issued in 1837, with railways inserted to May 1890. The Geological edition was first published in January 1857, with additional information added in March 1864. After further revisions, the Old Series Sheet 72 NW was replaced by the colour-printed New Series Sheet 123, Stoke-upon-Trent, in two editions: 1902 [Drift] and 1906 [Solid]. The Cheadle Coalfield had its own Special Sheet, published in 1903 [Solid]. www.esta-uk.org 6
TEACHING EARTH SCIENCES ● Volume 30 ● Number 1, 2005 of Teachers of Geology (ATG) at Keele in 1967. ATG later became ESTA and David has been a Council member of ATG and ESTA until now – 37 years ● David had moved to the Education Department in Keele in 1972 – succeeding one of the founding fathers of the NSGGA – John Myers. ● He became assistant Editor and then Editor of the ATG Journal – then virtually single handed he edited and produced the Journal, 4 issues per year, for 8 years. ● He was ESTA President between 1987 and 1989 at the same time as he was Chair of the NSGGA (having previously been NSGGA Secretary for 11 years). ● He was a member of the Geological Society Education Committee, and served as Chairman between 1980 and 1982. ● He was involved with A-level Examination Boards, first with the Joint Matriculation Board (JMB), later to become the Northern Examination and Assessment Board (NEAB). Later, he became reviser for the Welsh Joint Education Committee Board (WJEC) which he continues to this day. ● At GCSE level, he also served on Associated Examinations Board (AEB) Advisory Committee and on the West Midlands Examinations Board Examinations Council. ● He has been Associate Editor of Geology Today and Chair of the Committee. ● He was convenor of the schools section of the first International Geoscience Education Conference (GeoSciEdI) in Southampton 1993, that has since been followed by three more successful international conferences. ● He retired from Keele in 1996 and handed over his work in training science and geology teachers to Chris King. ● David is a keen cricketer and footballer. ● He is a keen geologist and expert on the local Triassic rocks. ● He is a keen historian of geology and geology education. ● But above all – he is a keen educator – handing on the wealth of his educational experience to many trainee teachers and colleagues in this country and abroad over many years. Friends and colleagues who were unable to attend the presentation sent letters of congratulation and highlights from some of these appear below. There is still room in the folder for more letters, so if you would like to The map carries the following inscription: Presented to David Thompson. For his enormous contribution to the Earth Science Teachers’ Association and to Earth Science education in the UK and abroad over several decades. From all his colleagues and friends in ESTA. December 2004. write or email a letter or note to Chris, he will ensure that it finds its way into David’s folder (Education Department, Keele University, ST5 5BG, eseu@keele.ac.uk). John Reynolds read highlights of letters from ESTA and Geologists’ Association members (Peter Kennett, Ian Ray, Graham Worton, Roger Trend, Mike Brooks, Chris Wilson, John Macadam, Eric Robinson) and Chris read highlights of letters from other colleagues of David (Peter Warren, Vic Mayer, Alan Morgan, John Carpenter, Shankar, Glenn Vallender, Nir Orion). The map was presented to David by Professor Peter Styles, President of the Geological Society. David responded with a short speech thanking everyone for their kindness. Thanks to Martin Whiteley, Dave Williams, John Reynolds and Bernadette Callan for their work behind the scenes and to NSGGA for hosting ESTA’s event. Reference Collins, M., Fleming, A. & Reynolds, J. (1989) David Thompson – an appreciation. Teaching Earth Sciences, 14.2, 42. From John Carpenter, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Geological Sciences of the University of South Carolina: ‘I have always had the greatest respect for your contributions to geoscience/Earth science education, not just in the UK, but world-wide.’ ‘But beyond your work, I respect you also as a person. You have always shown me the greatest kindness and for that I am certainly appreciative.’ From Vic Mayer, Professor Emeritus at the Ohio State University: ‘He is richly deserving of this award for his service to Earth science teaching, not only in England but worldwide. He has had a tremendous influence on Earth science teaching through his professional contributions but especially through the professional friends that he has made in many nations and the effect that he has had on these people.’ From Glenn Vallender, a teacher in New Zealand: ‘It was in November 1985 that I first met you although your reputation had gone well before you as the foremost educationalist in teacher training for the Earth Sciences.’ From Professor Nir Orion of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel: ‘For more than two decades people have come to you from all over the world, like pilgrims, to learn from you about Earth science education.’ ‘You succeeded not only in influencing my mind, but many others worldwide too. Your kindness, warmth and unique personality are imprinted in our hearts. You touched us all David and we love you.’ From Dr. Roger Trend, ex-Editor of Teaching Earth Sciences: ‘Thank you for your total dedication and your unstinting and scholarly commitment to geoscience education in all its facets, especially research, and for continuing to be such an inspiring mentor.’ 7 www.esta-uk.org
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