North York in Toronto, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
J. Tuzo Wilson
Photographed By Anton Schwarzmueller, January 18, 2016
1. J. Tuzo Wilson Marker
Inscription.
J. Tuzo Wilson. .
J. Tuzo Wilson (1908-1993) . J. Tuzo Wilson, the world-renowned Canadian geophysicist, served as Director General of the Ontario Science Centre from 1974 to 1985. He was instrumental in developing the theory of Plate Tetonics in the 1960s. This theory describes the formation, motion and destruction of the Earth's crust, the origin of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, and the growth of mountains. Dr. Wilson's signficant contributions to this theory revolutionized Earth Sciences. He proposed the existence of transform faults to explain the numerous narrow fracture zones and earthquakes along oceanic ridges. He also showed that rising magma plumes beneath the Earth's crust could create stationary hot spots, leading to the formation of mid-plate volcanic chains like the Hawaiian Islands. , The first graduate of geophysics from the University of Toronto in 1930, Dr. Wilson went on to study at Cambridge and Princeton, earning his doctorate in 1936. After spending two years with the Geological Survey of Canada and almost a decade with the Canadian Military Engineers, he accepted the position of Professor of Geophysics at the University of Toronto in 1946. Internationally recognized for his major contributions as a research scientist, educator and visionary, Dr. Wilson received many prestigious awards, including the Vetlesen Prize, the Earth Sciences equivalent of the Nobel Prize.
J. Tuzo Wilson (1908-1993)
J. Tuzo Wilson, the world-renowned Canadian geophysicist, served as Director General of the Ontario Science Centre from 1974 to 1985. He was instrumental in developing the theory of Plate Tetonics in the 1960s. This theory describes the formation, motion and destruction of the Earth's crust, the origin of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, and the growth of mountains. Dr. Wilson's signficant contributions to this theory revolutionized Earth Sciences. He proposed the existence of transform faults to explain the numerous narrow fracture zones and earthquakes along oceanic ridges. He also showed that rising magma plumes beneath the Earth's crust could create stationary hot spots, leading to the formation of mid-plate volcanic chains like the Hawaiian Islands.
The first graduate of geophysics from the University of Toronto in 1930, Dr. Wilson went on to study at Cambridge and Princeton, earning his doctorate in 1936. After spending two years with the Geological Survey of Canada and almost a decade with the Canadian Military Engineers, he accepted the position of Professor of Geophysics at the University of Toronto in 1946. Internationally recognized for his major contributions as a research scientist, educator and visionary, Dr. Wilson received many prestigious
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awards, including the Vetlesen Prize, the Earth Sciences equivalent of the Nobel Prize.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1974.
Location. 43° 43.008′ N, 79° 20.315′ W. Marker is in Toronto, Ontario. It is in North York. Marker is at the intersection of Don Mills Road and Saint Dennis Drive on Don Mills Road. Marker is at the front entrance plaza of the Ontario Science Centre. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 770 Don Mills Road, Toronto ON M3C1T3, Canada. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Anton Schwarzmueller, January 18, 2016
2. J. Tuzo Wilson Marker & Geodetic Monument
Marker facing skyward at right.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 24, 2022. It was originally submitted on January 18, 2016, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. This page has been viewed 443 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on January 18, 2016, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.
