| Description | General, scientific correspondence of Dan McKenzie, Senior Assistant in Research (SAR), Department of Geodesy and Geophysics, University of Cambridge, England, January-December 1972.
The file includes various invitations for McKenzie to attend symposia, conferences or write articles, requests for preprints of his published papers, but also:
JANUARY-MARCH 1972
Nigel Weiss, Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge, England, discussing the equations in a joint paper [possibly McKenzie, D and J Roberts & N O Weiss, "Numerical models of convection in the Earth's mantle", 'Tectonophysics', vol 19 (1973) pp89-103], 18 January 1972; Max Wyss, Institute of Geophysics, University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico, experiencing financial problems which may prevent him attending a discussion meeting the following May, 18 January 1972; letter to the editor of 'Nature', from the French palaeontologist Bernard Sige, criticising the paper, Jardine, N & D McKenzie, "Continental drift and the dispersal and evolution of organisms", 'Nature', vol 234 (1972), pp20-24, 6 Feb 1972; Dr Helga Besler, Geographisches Institut der Universitat Stuttgart, Germany, praising McKenzie's lecture given to the congress in Frankfurt, 13 March 1972; 'Manooch' [Manouchehr Takin], Geological Survey of Iran, McKenzie's arrival in the country, 19 March 1972; Judith Bronowski, Encyclopaedia Britannica Educational Corporation, West Coast Production Division, Los Angeles, California, USA, wishing to use an early computer animation produced for the BBC production 'The Drifting of the Continents' and seeks a further explanation of McKenzie's analogy between plate tectonics and ice floes, both for an educational programme she is organising, 20 March 1972;
APRIL 1972
John Sclater, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, USA, maps for use in their joint paper, 4 April 1972; K D Scott, General Manager, W F Sprengnether Instrument Co Inc, St Louis, Missouri, USA, on the company's range of portable seismometers, 28 March 1972, with brief copy reply from McKenzie requesting a price list, 5 April 1972; Peter 'Pete' Molnar, Institute of Geophysics & Planetary Physics, University of California, San Diego, USA, requesting earthquake data, 10 April 1972; Hari Narain, National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, India, wondering if McKenzie would be interested in participating in the British Council/Indian Council for Scientific and Industrial Research scientist exchange programme, with a tentative itinerary suggesting places he may visit whilst in India, 20 April 1972; Anthony 'Tony' Laughton, National Institute of Oceanography, Godalming, Surrey, England, republishing their joint paper [republished as Laughton, A S and J G Sclater & D McKenzie, "The structure and evolution of the Indian Ocean", Proceedings of the 24th International Geological Congress, Montreal, Section 8, (1972), pp65-73], 24 April 1972; Catharine D Wilder, Assistant Editor, 'American Scientist', New Haven, Connecticut, USA, suggesting revisions to McKenzie's paper "Plate tectonics and sea-floor spreading" [published in the 'American Scientist' vol 60 (1972) pp425-435], 19 April 1972, with short copy reply from McKenzie, 24 April 1972; Bruce P Luyendyk, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Massachusetts, USA, asking if McKenzie would like to join his institution's staff and listing the benefits, 20 March 1972, with copy reply from McKenzie turning down the offer as he is happy with his present situation, but it may change depending on who Sir Teddy Bullard's successor is, 24 April 1972; Arthur E Maxwell, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Massachusetts, USA, also offering McKenzie a job at his institution, 27 March 1972, with brief copy reply from McKenzie refusing but still keen to continue visiting during the summer in order to work with John Sclater, 24 April 1972; David 'Dai' Davies, Seismic Discrimination Group, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Lincoln Laboratory, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, wishing to recruit McKenzie's student Bob North, 24 April 1972; copy letter from McKenzie to Hari Narain, National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, India, keen to participate in the British Council/Indian Council for Scientific and Industrial Research scientist exchange programme, 25 April 1972; James N Brune, Professor of Geophysics, Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, La Jolla Laboratories, University of California, San Diego, California, USA, has just returned from a research cruise in the Gulf of California and want preprints of their joint paper [McKenzie, D & J N Brune, "Melting on fault planes during large earthquakes", 'Geophysical Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society', vol 29 (1972) pp65-78], 25 April 1972; M N A Peterson, co-Principal Investigator, Deep Sea Drilling Project, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, USA, announcing phase three of the project with a tentative schedule for the D/V GLOMAR CHALLENGER, 26 April 1972*;
MAY 1972
Kurt Lambeck, Observatoire de Paris, Section d'Astrophysique, France, discussing the calculations in his latest paper, 8 March 1972, and a brief letter forwarding an additional paper, 12 April 1972, with copy reply from McKenzie suggesting changes, 2 May 1972; copy letter to Professor Peter G Martin, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Surrey, England, responding to comments [probably relating to McKenzie's paper "Continental drift and the dispersal and evolution of organisms", ibid], 4 May 1972; Catharine D Wilder, Assistant Editor, 'American Scientist', further revisions to McKenzie's paper "Plate tectonics and sea-floor spreading", ibid, 15 May 1972; John Sclater, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, problems with reconstructing continents [pre-continental drift], 17 May 1972; Nicholas Quennell, Landscape and Environmental Planning, New York, USA, is working on a project in Rancho San Diego and needs to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement, seeks McKenzie's views on the possibility of earthquake hazards in the area, 5 May 1972, with copy reply from McKenzie suggesting designs to buildings to allow for seismic activity, and Clarence Allen to act as consultant, 17 May 1972; Anton Ziolkowski, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, irritated by the apparent 'lazy' moral approach of some scientists who publish too frequently but contribute very little in way of content, 19 May 1972; copy letter to Anthony 'Tony' Laughton, National Institute of Oceanography, Godalming, Surrey, England, forwarding computer programs and manuals with additional suggestions, 26 May 1972;
JUNE 1972
Edmund D Gill, Deputy Director, National Museum of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia, requesting a reprint of one of McKenzie's papers and wondering if the unexpected fossils and rocks to be found in Victoria can be explained by Australia's reconstructed position near the South Pole during the Lower Cretaceous, 1 June 1972; copy letter to Arthur E Maxwell, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, pleased that he can still visit the institution during the summer and briefly discussing Sclater's and his latest interest in Gondwanaland and its breakup, 5 June 1972; copy letter to Cinna Lomnitz, Professor of Seismology, Institute of Geophysics, University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico, thanking Lomnitz for a copy of his latest paper, but asking for clarification on certain points concerning deep earthquakes beneath South America, 5 June 1972; Bruce P Luyendyk, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, on arrangements for McKenzie's proposed summer 1973 visit to his institution, 7 June 1972; Peter 'Pete' Molnar, Institute of Geophysics & Planetary Physics, University of California, inviting McKenzie to participate in the second annual IGPP-Caltech summer seminar where the topic will be 'hot spots', 7 June 1972; Bjorn Gjevik, Institutt for Geofysikk, Unversitetet I Oslo, Norway, has been granted a year's sabbatical and wishes to spend it at Cambridge with McKenzie, 13 April 1972, with copy reply from McKenzie describing his current research with Nigel Weiss on non-linear convection using finite difference methods, but suggesting that Gjevik be better suited to the Mathematical Department instead, 9 June 1972; Cinna Lomnitz, Professor of Seismology, Institute of Geophysics, University of Mexico, agreeing that he is also puzzled by the results of his work on subduction zones, 9 June 1972; John Sclater, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, on the birth of his latest child, and research on the palaeobathymetry of the oceans, 11 June 1972; list of earthquake data from Iran, Turkey and Greece, 1970-1972; copy letter to Peter 'Pete' Molnar, Institute of Geophysics & Planetary Physics, University of California, is not interested in the IGPP summer seminar but suggests two key problems he has with 'hot spots', 19 June 1972; Peter 'Pete' Molnar, Institute of Geophysics & Planetary Physics, University of California, responding to McKenzie's comments on 'hot spots', 23 June 1972; Robert 'Bob' Whitmarsh, National Institute of Oceanography, Godalming, Surrey, England, asking for help using the computer programs which McKenzie has sent, 29 June 1972;
JULY 1972
Copy letter from McKenzie to Peter 'Pete' Molnar, Institute of Geophysics & Planetary Physics, University of California, defends his viewpoint stating that his cautiousness on some subjects is influenced by his involvement in plate tectonics and that very little modern geophysics is undertaken in Britain, 3 July 1972; Institute for Scientific Information, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, offering a new computer based science citation index, with examples, 3 July 1972; draft manuscript letter from McKenzie to Dr Krishnamurti, requesting more information on Krishnamurti's published paper on convection fluids, [n.d.]; copy letter from McKenzie to David 'Dai' Davies, Seismic Discrimination Group, MIT, commenting that Davies' latest paper is convincing seismologists of the truth of 'hot spots', 12 July 1972, with reply from Davies, agreeing with McKenzie's points and offering his own opinions that it is not so clear cut, 17 July 1972; Robert 'Bob' Whitmarsh, National Institute of Oceanography, wanting McKenzie's input concerning ways that the Deep Sea Drilling Project can obtain more international support, 21 July 1972; Austin B Stokoe, McKenzie's old physics master at Westminster School, wondering if he would have a talk with his nephew who wishes to study at Cambridge, 26 July 1972; postcard from Peter 'Pete' Molnar, Guatemala, apologising for putting McKenzie on the defensive in his last letter, with postscript by Tanya Atwater briefly describing their trip, 26 [July 1972]; David 'Dai' Davies, Seismic Discrimination Group, MIT, encouraging McKenzie to visit and work at MIT and bring his mechanism program with him, 28 July 1972; postcard from Clarence Allen, Sofia, Bulgaria, briefly describing his findings on historic earthquakes in the region, 28 July [1972];
AUGUST 1972
A E Cawkell, Director, Institute for Scientific Information (ISI), European Branch, Uxbridge, England, giving detailed feedback on the use of the citation indexing system in locating articles on plate tectonics, 3 August 1972; Catharine D Wilder, Assistant Editor, American Scientist, 8 August 1972, forwarding a letter from Roy J Krusberg, Winder, Georgia, USA, to the editors of American Scientist in response to McKenzie's paper "Plate tectonics and sea-floor spreading" [ibid], proposing that magnetic field directions do not change and suggesting that palaeomagnetic readings are merely due to polar wandering, 2 August 1972, with copy reply from McKenzie explaining why this theory is incorrect, [21 August 1972]; John Sclater, [Scripps Institution of Oceanography], describing the heat flow measurements that were taken during the latest cruise research trip to the Galapagos Islands, their joint paper on gravity, has enjoyed working with McKenzie and would like to continue to do so, is planning a project to digitise the world's ocean depths to great accuracy once he gets to MIT, 10 August [1972]; Donald O Walter, Associate Professor of Physiology and Associate Research Anatomist, Brain Research Institute, Center for the Health Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, USA, praising McKenzie's paper ["Plate tectonics and sea-floor spreading", ibid] and wondering if the theory of the 'hydration of rocks' is the mechanism of continental drift, 15 August 1972, with copy reply from McKenzie explaining why it is unlikely to be the case, 21 August 1972; Wally Johnson, Bureau of Mineral Resources Geology and Geophysics, Canberra, Australia, is about to embark on 12 months' study leave and wishes to visit McKenzie in Cambridge to discuss the geotectonics of the Bismark Sea area, 14 August 1972, with copy reply from McKenzie agreeing, 21 August 1972;
SEPTEMBER 1972
Richard St John Lambert, Chairman, Department of Geology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, to Dr Geoffrey C P King, Department of Geodesy and Geophysics, University of Cambridge, England, seeking information on the Anatolian fault system, 1 September 1972, with rough draft of a reply on reverse by R G Bilham recommending McKenzie, [n.d.]; copy letter from McKenzie to John Maddox, Editor of 'Nature', London, England, complaining that a confidential referee report by McKenzie of a paper by Carl Bowin was sent to the author, 22 September 1972; George T Moore, Research Geologist, Chevron Oil Field Research Company, La Habra, California, USA, requesting copies of the magnetic and gravity data from the Atlantic and Indian Oceans which he believes Cambridge University holds, 15 September 1972, with copy reply from McKenzie stating that the departmental policy is to supply information on an exchange basis only, for instance reflection profiles across continental margins on the Indian and North Atlantic Oceans which is sorely lacking, 22 September 1972; copy of a memorandum from John S Tchalenko, Engineering Seismology, Imperial College, London, England, to the editor of the 'Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America', criticising the paper Nowroozi, A, "Focal mechanism of earthquakes in Persia, Turkey, West Pakistan and Afghanistan and plate tectonics of the Middle East" which appeared in volume 62 of the journal, 20 September 1972, with copy reply from McKenzie describing the findings of his research work on the Doruneh fault, 26 September 1972;
OCTOBER 1972
Bob North, Seismic Discrimination Group, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Lincoln Laboratory, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, has secured funding to remain at MIT, his current research, 2 October 1972; Edward 'Ted' Irving, Chairman, Canadian Sub-committee for Geodynamics, Department of Energy Mines and Resources, Ottawa, Canada, forwarding comments on McKenzie's latest paper [not included], 4 October [1972]; Lane Johnson, Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of California, Berkeley, USA, inviting McKenzie to spend the next academic year at his institution, with a description of the staff and students, 29 September 1972, with copy reply from McKenzie declining the offer, 4 October 1972; letters between A E Cawkell, Director, Institute for Scientific Information (ISI), European Branch, and McKenzie concerning a new citation index Cawkell is promoting, McKenzie is unhappy with the product and will not recommend it, 14 July-18 October 1972; Nigel Weiss, Max Planck-Institut für Physik und Astrophysik, Munich, Germany, suggesting changes to the draft of their joint paper, 18 October 1972; Dave Gubbins, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, USA, has been talking to Bill Farrell about strain measurements and is keen that McKenzie forward him the data and computer program he was working on at Cambridge, 19 October 1972; John Sclater, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, reorganisation of staff within the Department of Earth and Planetary Science at MIT, and is keen that the faculty hire more practical geophysicists, suggesting suitable candidates such as Tanya Atwater, Jean Francheteau and Dan Karig, thinks the likelihood of one of them being hired will improve if McKenzie writes a letter supporting this position, 24 October [1972], with manuscript draft from McKenzie detailing his opinion on the matter, [n.d.]; typescript abstract of unknown paper on the subject of convection, [n.d.]; D S Fahrney, Secretary, Committee on Science and the Arts, The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, is making an examination of scientists' contribution to continental drift theory, and seeks McKenzie's opinion on the work of Keith Runcorn, 26 October 1972; Robert Clarke Speed, Department of Geological Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA, is recruiting a new member of staff and wonders if McKenzie can recommend any recent graduates, 20 October 1972, with copy reply from McKenzie suggesting Barry Parsons, David Gubbins and Robert North, 25 October 1972; John S Tchalenko, Imperial College London, wishing to quote McKenzie in a revised memorandum [attached] to the editor of the 'Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America', which criticises the paper "Focal mechanism of earthquakes in Persia, Turkey, West Pakistan and Afghanistan and plate tectonics of the Middle East", ibid, 4 & 25 October 1972, with manuscript draft of reply and solution from McKenzie, [n.d.];
NOVEMBER 1972
"Geological Data Files. Survey of International Activity. Report of COGEODATA, Committee on Storage, Automatic Processing and Retrieval of Geological Data of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS)", 'CODATA Bulletin', November 1972; Brian Harland, Department of Geology, Sedgwick Museum, University of Cambridge, England, his current post and his experience in geophysics and geoscience, 3 November 1972; John Sclater, MIT, asking if McKenzie or Teddy Bullard will write a letter to Dr H Guyford Stever the Director of the National Science Foundation, Washington D C, USA, to complain that the NSF is considering decommissioning the research oceanographic ship ELTANIN, 6 November 1972, and enclosing copies of two letters Sclater and John Edmond have written on the matter, 2-3 November 1972, with copy reply from McKenzie refusing, 10 November 1972; letters concerning McKenzie having to withdraw from the British Council/Indian Council for Scientific and Industrial Research scientist exchange programme which was due to take place in December 1972 to January 1973 as the British Council will not pay his wife's travel expenses, 8 May-16 November 1972; Anton Ziolkowski, MIT, asks if McKenzie will act as his referee as he plans to study at business school, 19 November 1972; Ken Hsu, Professor of Geology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland, has guessed that McKenzie refereed his latest paper and thanks him for his support, organising a plate tectonic conference in Zurich, hopes to meet McKenzie in January, 15 November 1972, with copy reply from McKenzie, 24 November 1972; John Sclater, MIT, finally forwarding McKenzie the latest draft of their joint paper on bathymetry and gravity, latest plan for protesting at the planned decommissioning of the ELTANIN, housing arrangements for McKenzie's stay at MIT, 27 November 1972;
DECEMBER 1972
Frances Delany, Executive Secretary, Inter-Union Commission on Geodynamics, Paris, France, seeking McKenzie's opinion on a proposed survey of fields of scientific research by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the International Council for Scientific Unions (ICSU), 28 November 1972, with copy reply from McKenzie, 1 December 1972; letters concerning the renting of an apartment (with plan attached) for McKenzie's stay at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 28 November-12 December 1972; Richard 'Dick' Von Herzen, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, schedule for the CHAIN research cruise to the South Atlantic the following year, 17 November 1972, with copy reply from McKenzie, 21 December 1972; Richard B McConnell, Sussex, England, his work on the East African Rift System and his theory that it was laid down in the early Precambrian, 17 December 1972, with copy reply from McKenzie describing his thoughts on the subject, 21 December 1972; John Sclater, MIT, the present situation at the institution now that the faculty has hired Pete Molnar and Tanya Atwater, 27 December [1972]. |