Maurice Edwin Tucker (born 6 November 1946) is a leading British sedimentologist, specialising in the field of carbonate

sedimentology Sedimentology encompasses the study of modern sediments such as sand, silt, and clay, and the processes that result in their formation (erosion and weathering), transport, deposition and diagenesis. Sedimentologists apply their understanding of mo ...

, more commonly known as limestones. From 1993 to 2011 he held the position of Professor of Geological Sciences at the University of Durham, and from 1998 to 2011 was Master of

University College, Durham , motto_English = Not for ourselves alone , scarf = , established = , principal = Wendy Powers , vice_principal = Ellen Crabtree , undergraduates = 698 , postgraduates = 153 , coordinates = , location_map = Durham , map_size ...

Education

Tucker graduated with a First Class Honours

degree Degree may refer to: As a unit of measurement * Degree (angle), a unit of angle measurement ** Degree of geographical latitude ** Degree of geographical longitude * Degree symbol (°), a notation used in science, engineering, and mathematics ...

in geology from the University of Durham (

) in 1968. This was followed by a

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in sedimentology from the University of Reading in 1971.

Career

Following lecturerships at the

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and

Cardiff University , latin_name = , image_name = Shield of the University of Cardiff.svg , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms of Cardiff University , motto = cy, Gwirionedd, Undod a Chytgord , mottoeng = Truth, Unity and Concord , established = 1 ...

, he moved to

Newcastle University Newcastle University (legally the University of Newcastle upon Tyne) is a UK public university, public research university based in Newcastle upon Tyne, North East England. It has overseas campuses in Singapore and Malaysia. The university is ...

in 1975. In 1982 he was appointed

lecturer Lecturer is an List of academic ranks, academic rank within many universities, though the meaning of the term varies somewhat from country to country. It generally denotes an academic expert who is hired to teach on a full- or part-time basis. T ...

in geology at

Durham University , mottoeng = Her foundations are upon the holy hills (Psalm 87:1) , established = (university status) , type = Public , academic_staff = 1,830 (2020) , administrative_staff = 2,640 (2018/19) , chancellor = Sir Thomas Allen , vice_chan ...

and became Reader in 1988. He was made a professor in 1993. Tucker's research interests focus on the properties of sedimentary rocks, particularly limestones, their formation and usefulness as an oil reservoir. He has written or edited more than eight books, including the standard undergraduate text ''Sedimentary Petrology'', and ''Carbonate Sedimentology''. He has served as President of the International Association of Sedimentologists and was awarded the prestigious Coke Medal of the Geological Society of London in 1994. He has also acted as the external examiner for the Earth Sciences degree at the University of Oxford. In addition, he has served as Staff Treasurer for the

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of the University of Durham since the end of the 1990s.

University College, Durham

Maurice Tucker was Master of

from 1998 to 2011, and in the last formal dinner of the Easter Term 2010 his portrait by Andrew Ratcliffe was unveiled, to be hung in the Great Hall. The portrait features a fossil that he found at the age of 7 in the family back garden at Newbury Park, which began his fascination with geology. As an undergraduate student he himself was a member of the college between 1965 and 1968. He was awarded college colours for representing Castle at table tennis. He is well acquainted with the traditions of the students within the college, and is highly respected by Castlemen, with many of his youthful escapades spoken of as myth within college. In the Epiphany term of 2009 he took part in the Lumley Run, never having completed it as a student, completing it in 1 hour 22 minutes. While Master, he inhabited the entirety of the large house at the base of the Keep, along with his wife – regularly entertaining students in his garden in the summer months. He was known as being a staunch supporter of the JCR and MCR, and maintained a strong involvement with them. On the occasion of his retirement in the summer of 2011, the MCR renamed their common room (previously the William St Calais room) the Maurice E Tucker room in his honour.

References

External links

Durham University: Department of Earth Sciences

Geological Society of London

Maurice Tucker's home page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tucker, Maurice 1946 births Living people 21st-century British geologists Alumni of University College, Durham Academics of Durham University Academics of Newcastle University Academics of Cardiff University Place of birth missing (living people) Masters of University College, Durham 20th-century British geologists