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Anthony Hallam | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1933-12-23)23 December 1933 Leicester, UK |
| Died | 23 October 2017(2017-10-23) (aged 83) Birmingham, England |
| Alma mater | University of Cambridge |
| Known for | Geology of theJurassic |
| Awards | 1990Lyell Medal of theGeological Society of London;Lapworth Medal of thePalaeontological Association;Leopold-von-Buch-Plakette,German Geological Society |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Palaeontology andstratigraphy |
| Institutions | University of Birmingham |
| Doctoral advisor | William Joscelyn Arkell |
Anthony Hallam, akaTony Hallam, (23 December 1933 – 23 October 2017) was a Britishgeologist,palaeontologist andwriter. Hisresearch interests concentrated on theJurassic Period, with particular reference tostratigraphy,sea level changes andpalaeontology. He was also interested inmass extinctions, especially the endTriassic event.
Born in Leicester and having attended local schools, Hallam won an exhibition toSt John's College, Cambridge, graduating with a doublefirst class degree in geology in 1955. He remained atCambridge University as researcher under the supervision of the lateWilliam Joscelyn Arkell, widely regarded as the expert on the Jurassic Period at that time. Histhesis involved the study of the alternatinglimestone –shale rhythms of theLower Jurassic ofSouthern England. He also published work on theevolution ofGryphaea, an extinct species ofoyster. He was awarded aPhD in 1959 for a thesis entitled "Stratigraphical studies in some Liassic rocks".
Following a period aslecturer at theUniversity of Edinburgh (1958–67), Hallam moved to theUniversity of Oxford aslecturer ingeology. He was also aFellow ofNew College, Oxford. It was during this time that he continued his research into the controversial evolution ofGryphaea, publishing several papers with the lateStephen Jay Gould.
Hallam was appointed Lapworth Professor of geology at theUniversity of Birmingham in 1977. This prestigious chair was named in honour ofCharles Lapworth, the first Professor of geology at that university. Following retirement in 1999, Hallam remained atBirmingham University asprofessor emeritus.
He directly supervised over 35 graduate research students, including Bruce Sellwood (1967–70) and Geoff Townson (1968–71).
He has written over 200 research papers and is the author or editor of more than twelve books, includingJurassic Environments,Great Geological Controversies andCatastrophes and Lesser Calamities: The Causes of Mass Extinctions.
He was awarded theLyell Medal by theGeological Society of London in 1990.[1] In 2007, he was awarded theLapworth Medal, by thePalaeontological Association, that Society's highest award.[2]
Hallam was a very active researcher, undertaking field trips and attending conferences well into retirement. In his spare time he enjoyed watching football, the arts, cinema and travel.
