| Description | Oral history interview: David Bell interviewed by Nina Morgan about his life and geological career, carried out as part of a History of Geology Group (HOGG) project originating around the time of the bicentenary of the Society.
Recording location: University College, Oxford
Duration: 01:24:52
Birth and family background, mining in local area, schooling, studying Geology at Oxford University after switching from History (1952-1956) (00:37-13:18); postgraduate research relating to Skye, including field work and mapping (1956-1959), meeting and marrying wife (1958), working with Bill [Lawrence] Wager, methods used in rock analysis at the time (13:19-34:41); working for the Colonial Geological Survey on the Solomon Islands (1959-1961), participating in mineral exploration and mapping there, resigning due to wife's malaria, and being offered a job in Oxford by Wager (34:42-47:23); working at Oxford as a demonstrator, researcher and occasional lecturer (1961-1964), continuing to work in Oxford with Stephen Moorbath, going on an expedition to Skaergaard, Greenland, and petrology and vulcanology in the 1970s (47:24-01:09:39); various positions held at Oxford over the years, both within the University and the College (University College), retirement (2000) and continued involvement with the University, friendship with Stephen Moorbath, current research in vulcanology, and interest in the Bronze Age (01:09:40-01:21:27); the use of technology in the study of geology, and changes in the study of geology at Oxford (01:21:28-01:21:52).
[Recording stops mid-sentence.] |