| Authorised form of name | Allen; John Robert Lawrence (1932 - 2020); geologist |
| Dates | 1932 - 2020 |
| Nationality | British |
| Place of birth | Birmingham, England |
| Date of birth | 25/10/1932 |
| Date of death | 18/10/2020 |
| Occupation | Geologist |
| Research field | Geology |
| Sedimentology |
| Archaeology |
| Geoarchaeology |
| Activity | Education:
University of Sheffield, BSc in Geology (1955), DSc, Hon LLD; University of Reading, PhD (thesis not submitted for examination)
Career:
University of Reading, Martin Lees Research Fellowship (1958); lecturer in geology (1961-1967); reader in geology (1967-1972); Personal Professorship of Geology (1972-2001); Director, Postgraduate Research Institute in Sedimentology, University of Reading (1988-2001); Emeritus Professor (2001-2020)
Memberships:
FSA (1991)
Medals/Awards:
The Lyell Medal of the Geological Society of London 1980; The Twenhofel Medal of the Society for Sedimentary Geology SEPM 1987; The G. K. Warren Prize of the US National Academy of Sciences 1990; The Sorby Medal of the International Association of Sedimentologists (IAS) 1994; The Penrose Medal of the Geological Society of America 1996
|
| Membership category | Fellow |
| Date of election | 15/03/1979 |
| Age at election | 46 |
| RSActivity | Committee and panels:
International Networks Committee (2005-2006); Royal Society Research Grants Scheme, Board D (Chair 1997-1999, 2002-2004); Royal Society Research Grants Scheme, History of Science Board (2002-2004) |
| PublishedWorks | https://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n81082008 |
| OtherInfo | John Allen made many contributions to quantitative sedimentology, particularly in experimental sedimentation (dynamical significance of current structures), alluvial sedimentation (low- and high-sinuosity streams) and deltaic sedimentation (large deltas formed under conditions of high energy).
His outstanding work was notable for the way in which it is brought to bear on problems concerning the origin, transport, depositional environments and tectonic significance of the Old Red Sandstone. His three textbooks are widely used in the earth sciences and his many critical reviews have stimulated other workers. Overall, his integrated approach profoundly influenced sedimentary research and thereby a broad area of geology.
After his retirement, John collaborated and published extensively with archaeologists in Britain on the identification and use of geological materials in past societies and the exploitation of the Severn Estuary by humans.
Professor John Allen FRS died on 18 October 2020. |
| Source | Sources:
Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_R._L._Allen (accessed 12 November 2020)
Royal Society profile, https://royalsociety.org/people/john-allen-10983/ (accessed 12 November 2020)
Reading University staff profile, http://www.reading.ac.uk/archaeology/about/staff/j-r-l-allen.aspx (accessed 12 November 2020)
References:
Paul Wright and Susan Marriott-Wright, Obituary for John Allen, Society for Sedimentary Geology, 2020 https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjz49eo5v_sAhX3WRUIHVeNDQsQFjAAegQIAxAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sepm.org%2Fdownload%2FJohn%2520Robert%2520Lawrence%2520Allen.pdf%2F2394&usg=AOvVaw1pdHFtRoxwTRtsoYSt0MO7 (accessed 12 November 2020)
Notes:
Middle name previously entered into the database as 'Laurence', a mistake transposed from the original election certificate. Colleagues and other documents provided by Professor Allen, confirm that the correct spelling of his mddle name is Lawrence. |
| Virtual International Authority File | http://viaf.org/viaf/51753063 |
| Code | NA3938 |
Archives associated with this Fellow
| RefNo | Title | Date |
| PIF/A/31 | Personal information file: John Robert Laurence Allen | 1978-1979 |
| EC/1979/01 | Allen, John Robert Lawrence: certificate of election to the Royal Society | |
| JRLA | Papers of John Robert Lawrence Allen, geologist and archaeologist | 1950s-2010s |