Dr. Derald G. Smith

Academic Interests: Fluvial, Deltaic, and Tidal Estuarine depositional systems; some Quaternary research on paleo environment reconstructions of glacial lakes.
Primary Methodologies: Electrical Resistiviy Ground Imaging (ERGI), Ground penetrating radar (GPR), vibracoring, lithostratigraphy, and landform interpretation from aerial photographs.

Brief Biography:

Date and place of birth: June 18, 1939; Polson, Montana, U.S.A.
Married, wife: Nancy
Canadian citizen
Active downhill ski racer (1957-64)
BA and MA degrees from the University of Montana at Missoula (1965 and 1966)
Faculty member at Southern Colorado University, Pueblo (1966-67)
Graduate studies at McGill University (1967-68)
Juneau Icefield Research Project, Juneau Icefield, Alaska (1968)
Graduate student at The Johns Hopkins University (1968-71)
PhD degree from the Johns Hopkins University (1973)
Faculty member at the University of Calgary since 1971
Outside interests, active participation in downhill skiing, river trips by kayak or by zodiac boat, running, mountain hiking + biking and bird watching

Back to Top

Major research projects and funding over the past 10 years:

1996-1998: Developing underwater ground penetrating radar (GPR) to better detect sediment thickness and depth to bedrock beneath river channels: geotechnical information for construction of river pipeline crossings. (a collaborative research and development grant with Nova Corporation, Surface Search Ltd. and NSERC) $154,000
1995-2000: Ground penetrating radar applications in geomorphology, sedimentology, fluvial valley-fill reconstructons and paleo environment reconstructions. Funding source NSERC$223,000
1993-1995: Sedimentology of barriers and strandplains, coastal Washington and Oregon, U.S.A. (a collaborative research and development grant with Amoco Canada Ltd, CanadianHunter Exploration Ltd, Norcen Energy Resources Ltd. PanCanadian Petroleum Ltd. and Petrel-Robertson Ltd. and NSERC) $30,500
1992-1995: Radar facies sedimentology of fluvial, deltaic and coastal depositional systems. Further development of vibracoring technology. Holocene lake reconstructons in the foothills and mountains of Alberta and Montana. Funding source: NSERC $150,600
1989-1992: Reconstructions of large paleo glacial lake systems: Lake Invermere, BC; Lake Mackenzie, NWT; and Lake McConnell, Mackenzie Basin. Reconstruction of the northwestoutlet and paleoflood form glacial Lake Agassiz. Funding source: NSERC $180,000
1990: Purchase of a Ground Penetrating Radar System; a pulse EKKO IV with the following MHz antennae frequncies: 200, 100, 50, 25, 12.5. System has both 400 and 1000v transmitters. Funding Sources: NSERC and many other sources $51,000 and $25,000
1986-1989: Sedimentology of Channel Point Bar Deposits; Ecuador, South America, San Francisco California, Willapa River Washington, Northern Alberta and N.W.T. Total funding, Funding Sources: NSERC, $90,000

Back to Top

Awards and Recognition over the past 30 years

1997: Faculty of Social Sciences Research Fellowship Award (award to cover teaching time will be taken during winter semester 1998)
1997: Faculty of Social Sciences Distinguished Researcher Award
1996: Faculty of Social Sciences Distinguished Researcher Award
1993: Petrel-Robertson Research Award in the Earth Science.
1992: Faculty of Social Sciences Distinguished Teacher Award.
1991: Tracks Award, Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists.
1990: Northern Studies Fellowship, Arctic Institute of North America (Fall Semester)
1986-1989: National Science and Engineering Research Council, Earth Science Grant Selection Committee.
1981: Link Award, Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists.
1968-71: Gillman Scholarship (3 yrs), The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore.
1968: National Science Foundation Scholarship, Juneau Icefield Research Project, Michigan State University.

Back to Top

Professonal Organization Memberships:

International Association of Sedimentologists (IAS)
Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists (SEPM)
Geological Society of America (GSA)
Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists (CSPG)
Canadian Geomorphology Research Group (CGRG)
Canadian Quaternary Association (Canqua)
Arctic Institute of North American (AINA)
Canadian Geographic Society
National Geographic Society

Back to Top

Contact:
Derald Smith

Director of Earth Science Program

Department of Geography

University of Calgary

Earth Science 926

Calgary, Alberta

T2N 1N4

email: dgsmit@ucalagry.ca

Disclaimer: These are NOT official pages maintained by the University of Calgary. All views and opinions expressed herein are those of Derald Smith, and not necessarily those of the University.

Back to Top