{{Short description|British sedimentologist}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}} {{Use British English|date=April 2013}} {{Infobox scientist | name = Maurice Tucker | birth_name = Maurice Edwin Tucker | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1946|11|6}} | fields = Carbonate sedimentology | workplaces =[[Durham University]]<br>[[Newcastle University]] | alma_mater =[[University College, Durham]] }}
'''Maurice Edwin Tucker''' (born 6 November 1946) is a British sedimentologist, specialising in the field of [[carbonate]] [[sedimentology]], more commonly known as [[limestones]]. From 1993 to 2011 he held the position of [[Professor]] of Geological Sciences at the [[Durham University|University of Durham]], and from 1998 to 2011 was Master of [[University College, Durham]].
==Education== Tucker graduated with a [[First Class Honours]] [[academic degree|degree]] in [[geology]] from the [[Durham University|University of Durham]] ([[University College, Durham]]) in 1968. This was followed by a [[PhD]] in sedimentology from the [[University of Reading]] in 1971.
==Career== Following lecturerships at the [[University of Sierra Leone]] and [[Cardiff University]], he moved to [[Newcastle University]] in 1975. In 1982 he was appointed [[lecturer]] in [[geology]] at [[Durham University]] and became [[Reader (academic rank)|Reader]] in 1988. He was made a [[professor]] in 1993.
Tucker's research interests focus on the properties of [[sedimentary]] rocks, particularly [[limestones]], their formation and usefulness as an [[oil reservoir]]. He has written or edited more than eight books, including the standard [[undergraduate]] text ''Sedimentary Petrology'', and ''Carbonate Sedimentology''.
He has served as President of the International Association of Sedimentologists and was awarded the prestigious Coke Medal of the [[Geological Society of London]] in 1994. He has also acted as the external examiner for the [[Earth Sciences]] degree at the [[University of Oxford]].
In addition, he has served as Staff Treasurer for the [[Assassin (game)|Assassins' Guild]] of the [[University of Durham]] since the end of the 1990s.
==University College, Durham==
Maurice Tucker was Master of [[University College, Durham]] from 1998 to 2011, and in the last formal dinner of the Easter Term 2010 his portrait by Andrew Ratcliffe was unveiled, to be hung in the Great Hall. The portrait features a [[fossil]] that he found at the age of 7 in the family back garden at Newbury Park, which began his fascination with [[geology]]. As an undergraduate student he himself was a member of the college between 1965 and 1968. He was awarded [[Blue (university sport)#Durham University|college colours]] for representing Castle at [[table tennis]]. He is well acquainted with the traditions of the students within the college, and is highly respected by Castlemen, with many of his youthful escapades spoken of as myth within college. In the Epiphany term of 2009 he took part in the [[Lumley Castle|Lumley]] Run, never having completed it as a student, completing it in 1 hour 22 minutes. While Master, he inhabited the entirety of the large house at the base of the Keep, along with his wife – regularly entertaining students in his garden in the summer months. He was known as being a staunch supporter of the JCR and MCR, and maintained a strong involvement with them. On the occasion of his retirement in the summer of 2011, the MCR renamed their common room (previously the [[William de St-Calais|William St Calais]] room) the Maurice E Tucker room in his honour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dur.ac.uk/castle.mcr/tucker.html|title=University College MCR Maurice E. Tucker Room|publisher=University College Middle Common Room|accessdate=7 September 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628060856/http://www.dur.ac.uk/castle.mcr/tucker.html|archivedate=28 June 2011}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.dur.ac.uk/earth.sciences/ Durham University: Department of Earth Sciences] * [http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/ Geological Society of London] * [http://www.dur.ac.uk/m.e.tucker/ Maurice Tucker's home page]
{{s-start}} {{s-aca}} {{succession box | before=[[Edward Salthouse]] | title=[[University College, Durham#Masters|Master of University College, Durham]] | years=1998–2011 | after=[[Eva Schumacher-Reid]] }} {{s-end}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tucker, Maurice}} [[Category:1946 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:21st-century British geologists]] [[Category:Alumni of University College, Durham]] [[Category:Academics of Durham University]] [[Category:Academics of Newcastle University]] [[Category:Academics of Cardiff University]] [[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:Masters of University College, Durham]] [[Category:20th-century British geologists]]