Oral history of British science

Vine, Fred (Part 12 of 12). An Oral History of British Science.

  • Add a note
    Log in to add a note at the bottom of this page.
  • All notes
  • My notes
  • Hide notes
Please click to leave a note

The British Library Board acknowledges the intellectual property rights of those named as contributors to this recording and the rights of those not identified.
Legal and ethical usage »

Tags (top 25):
(No tags found for this item)

What is this? Log in to add a term that describes this item and help make it easier to find.

  • Type

    sound

  • Duration

    00:39:28

  • Shelf mark

    C1379/25

  • Subjects

    Geology

  • Recording date

    2011-01-28

  • Recording locations

    Interviewees home, Norwich

  • Interviewees

    Vine, Frederick, 1939- (speaker, male)

  • Interviewers

    Merchant, Paul (speaker, male)

  • Abstract

    Part 12: Story of development of research through 1970s and 1980s, at SES, UEA, including involvement in International drilling project on TM. Comments on service as Dean of SES (1977-1980). Mentions work with RK. Comments on reasons for not wishing to continue to focus on oceanic magnetic anomalies; tendency to seek new fields. Description of work with physicist Russell Ross, UEA on electrical conductivity of crustal rocks; work with Alan Smith [AS] and research student on relations between palaeomagnetic data and AS’s continental fit reconstructions. Mentions project on Red Sea stratigraphy with Jill Harwood, UEA. [11:11] Story of second appointment as Dean of SES, UEA (1993-1998). Comments on trend for early retirement in 1990s; reasons for own early retirement, 1998, including anticipation of historical interest in PT. Mentions published articles on PT and ophiolites, obituaries, DNB (Dictionary of National Biography) entries; recent participation in four projects: NLS interview, proposed Korean television broadcast, Hank Frankel’s unpublished history of CD (for Cambridge University Press) and Geological Society’s ‘Bullard Video’. [16:57] Comments on post-retirement walking holidays with wife. [17:55] Comments on geological content of these holidays. [19:13] Comments on ways in which story of development of PT is told in different books, including Bill Glen’s ‘The Road to Jaramillo’ (1982), J Oliver’s ‘Shock and Rocks: seismology and the Plate Tectonics revolution’ (1996) and CUP published book [HE Le Grand 1998 Drifting Continents and Shifting Theories], Bill Menard’s ‘The Ocean of Truth’, Naomi Oreskes’ [NOR] ‘Plate Tectonics’. [23:00] Comments on differences between British and US versions of PT story, including possible neglect of Australian contributions. [23:54] Comments on lack of own autobiographical writing, beyond chapter in NOR’s ‘Plate Tectonics’. [24:59] Positive comments on thoroughness of Hank Frankel’s unpublished account. [27:42] Comments on development of interest in history and biology in retirement, in relation to perceived gaps in childhood education. [32:19] Comments on engagement with science in retirement. Story of writing of third edition of undergraduate textbook ‘Global Tectonics’. [35:50] Comments on remaining questions/mysteries in understanding of crust and mantle. [37:31] Comments on intentions concerning own archive of papers.

  • Description

    Interview with geologist Professor Fred Vine.

  • Related transcripts

    Professor Fred Vine interviewed by Dr Paul Merchant: full transcript of the interview

  • Related links

    Visit this interviewee's page on the 'Voices of Science' web resource

  • Metadata record:

    View full metadata for this item