Biography
- Dr. David A. Spencer is a Geologist by profession,
an accomplished Mountaineer, Science Writer, National Standard
Athlete, Scholar, Researcher and Educator. Born in Stepney ('within
the sound of [St. Mary Le Bow in the City of London] Bow Bells'
and therefore a Cockney), London (Great Britain) on 7 November,
1963, David Anthony Spencer is the second son of the late Henry
William George Spencer and Veronica Clare Bonanno. He is a British
and Italian citizen, currently resident in London, UK.
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- Dr. Spencer has been active in academic Universities
on four continents around the world for over 18 years. His Primary
Education began at Marion Richardson Primary School (Stepney,
London, Great Britain) from 1971-1975 and his Secondary/Tertiary
Education was completed at Raine's Foundation Grammar School
(Stepney, London, Great Britain) from 1975-1982. He received
his Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc (Hons) Exon)
Degree in Geology from the University of Exeter, Great Britain
in 1986. He attained his Master of Science (MSc Lond)
Degree (in Structural Geology and Rock Mechanics) and his Diploma
of Imperial College (DIC) Degree (in Structural Geology
and Rock Mechanics) at the Royal School of Mines, Imperial College
of Science and Technology (now Science, Technology and Medicine),
University of London, Great Britain in 1988. He completed his
Doctor of Natural Sciences (DrScNat ETHZ) Degree in 1993
at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH-Zurich) under
the supervision of Prof. Dr. J.G. Ramsay CBE FRS. He was also
awarded the Licentiateship of the City & Guilds in Science
Laboratory Technology in 1999.
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- His academic career continued in 1986, when
he was a Visiting Scientist at the University of Beijing, Peoples
Republic of China and Leader of the Exeter University Geological
Expedition to China. In 1988, he moved to Switzerland where he
was a Pre-Doctoral Research Fellow (1988-1989), Research and
Teaching Assistant / Doctoral Research Fellow (1989-1992) and
Visiting ETH Doctoral Research Fellow (1992-1993) at the Swiss
Federal Institute of Technology (Zurich, Switzerland). After
completion of his Doctorate degree, he was a Visiting Post-Doctoral
Research Fellow (1993-1994), Post-Doctoral Research Fellow (1994-1997)
and Visiting Post-Doctoral Research Fellow (1997) at the Swiss
Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland undertaking
research on a project "Collision zone tectonics in orogenic
syntaxial regions and the along strike evolution of the Indus
Suture in NE Pakistan" which was funded by the Swiss
National Science Foundation. He was a Visiting Lecturer at the
University of the Punjab (Lahore, Pakistan) in 1995, presenting
a National Training Course on "Collisional Tectonics
in Modern and Ancient Orogenic Belts". In 1996, he was
a Visiting Scientist at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo,
Japan. In 1997, he was awarded a Senior Research Fellowship from
the Swiss National Science Foundation where he was accepted to
carry out research, for specific periods ranging from 3- 12 months,
at the University of Cambridge (UK), Massachusetts Institute
of Technology (USA), Stanford University, California (USA), Tokyo
Institute of Technology (Japan), University of Maine (USA) and
the University of California, Santa Barbara (USA). The project
"Analysis of a Unique Progressive Metamorphic Sequence"
involved research in the Himalayas of Pakistan and India. He
was a Research Assistant Professor and Lecturer in Structural
Geology at the University of Maine (USA) from 1997-1998. In the
official University of Maine student evaluations, required for
every formal course, Prof. Spencer received an unprecedented
100% 'Excellent' evaluation rating for his teaching. He is also
a Visiting Professor at the University of the Punjab (Lahore,
Pakistan) from 1997-2000, the first foreign academic to be appointed
to this position at this University. In 2001, he was appointed
a Honorary Associate Professor of Albert Schweitzer International
University in Geneva, Switzerland and from 2002-2003 he worked
at his alma mater, Raine's Foundation School (London,
Great Britain) as a Gifted & Talented Mentor (Manager of
the Distance Learning provision), a Learning Mentor and Learning
Support Assistant in the Behaviour Unit. He also acted as the
school's Publicity Officer and Development Officer.
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- His professional career has included working
experience in the Insurance, Mineral Exploration, Hydrogeological
and Hydrocarbon industries. From 1982-1983, he worked in the
Insurance Claims Broker Department of Winchester Bowring Limited
(London, Great Britain), spearheading the reorganisation and
computerisation of the Bowring International Insurance Limited
archive system due to the new development in the number of asbestosis
claims linked to 60-100 year old insurance policies. He was a
Platinum Exploration Geologist at Impala Platinum Limited (General
Mining Union Corporation Limited) in the Eastern Bushveld Complex,
Republic of South Africa (1986-1987) where he carried out the
research and motivation of an exploration project that included
ground acquisition, exploration drilling, collection and interpretation
of geological data on the known platinum-bearing horizons in
the Bushveld Complex, namely the Merensky Reef and the UG 2 Chromitite
Layer. From 1992-1994, he was a Hydrogeological Consultant working
in the Alaminos district, Philippines where he carried out a
reconnaissance geological survey and supervised a test geophysical
survey. From 1998-2000, he has been active in the upstream oil
industry. He has developed extensive knowledge in the European
Hydrocarbon industry with a strong record of insight and innovation
to problematic oil reservoirs. He was appointed Staff Geologist/Reservoir
Development Structural Geologist in the Section for Reservoir
Geology and Geophysics, Department of Reservoir Development at
Saga Petroleum ASA in Norway, analysing the Structural Geology
of the North Sea Hydrocarbon reserves (1998-1999). From 1999-2000,
he worked in the Section for Wells and Productivity, Department
of Petroleum Technology and Drilling at Saga Petroleum ASA, analysing
the influence of fractures and faults on well productivity. He
was further appointed Project Manager for numerous research-oriented
projects such as the Stress-Controlled Fault Modeling of a North
sea oilfield and the Deformation of the Upper Draupne Sandstone
of a North sea oilfield. In 2000, he set up Spencer Structural
Consultants and became a Structural Geology Consultant analyzing
the detailed Structural Geology, around offshore hydrocarbon
deposits along the Norwegian Continental Margin to determine
how to most economically recover the hydrocarbons in the field.
In 2003, he was appointed Senior Reservoir Geologist at Roxar
Software Solutions, Roxar Limited (London, Great Britain), a
leading international service provider of products and solutions
for optimising production and maximising recovery from oil and
gas reservoirs. His professional services in development and
exploration included Software Development, Demonstrations, Support,
Training and Consultancy.
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- He was honoured with the 1996 "Outstanding
Young Scientist" Award from the Swiss Federal Institute
of Technology (ETH-Zürich) and has received numerous scholarships
and awards for his geological research. These include the Imperial
College/Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Scholarship (1988-89),
Geochron Research Award (1991), the Swiss Academy of Natural
Sciences Travel Scholarship (1992), the Huber-Kudlich Foundation
Travel Award (1992), the Staub Award (Publication Award from
the ETH) and the Huber-Kudlich Foundation Visiting Lectureship
(1996). Dr. Spencer has also been awarded a three year Post-Doctoral
Research Fellowship and a two Year Senior Post-Doctoral Research
Fellowship by the Swiss National Science Foundation. Further
awards have been made to him from the European Commission (Training
and Mobility of Researchers) in 1999 and an Educational Training
Award from Saga Petroleum ASA.
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- He has given scientific lectures at numerous
universities and has developed a strong publication record during
his professional career, with over 200 scientific papers, articles,
abstracts and reports (consultant, expedition & research).
He regularly publishes in overseas publications. He has also
made over 150 scientific presentations of his research to professional
groups at International Scientific Conferences and Universities
in Europe, Asia, Africa and the USA. Dr. Spencer has several
special areas of research and scholarly interest. He is an internationally
known expert on the Geology of the Himalayas and has earned an
international reputation for his cutting edge interdisciplinary
work. He is often called on to make presentations at professional
conferences all over the world. He has been successful at grant
writing, obtaining grant support for various research projects
over the years of his career. During his academic career, he
has been awarded collaborative Research Grants, Sponsorship and
Contracts of over 1.3 million Swiss Francs. He is often called
on to review grants for federal agencies in his field, and also
regularly reviews manuscripts for professional journals and publication
houses. In the arena of public service, Dr. Spencer has been
elected onto various committees as diverse as the International
Relations Development Sub-Committee of the Nepal Geological Society
to the Chairmanship of the International Committee of the American
Institute of Chemists. He is presently Associate Editor of "The
Professional Geologist", the Journal of the American Institute
of Professional Geologists. In 2002, he was appointed Foundation
Governor (representing the Bishop of Stepney) to Raine's Foundation
School in London (2002-2006) and elected a Trustee of The Raine's
Foundation (2002-2006).
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- Dr. Spencer is Professionally Certified in
five different disciplines and has the right to use the following
designatory letters: CGeol (Chartered Geologist), EurGeol (European
Geologist), AIPG-CPG (Certified Professional Geologist), AAPG-CPG
(Certified Petroleum Geologist), PrSciNat (Professional Natural
Scientist), PGeo (Professional Geologist), CHGeol (Certified
Swiss Geologist), CIPES (Certified Independent Professional Earth
Scientist), CPhys (Chartered Physicist), EurPhys (European Physicist),
CChem (Chartered Chemist), EurChem (European Chemist), CSci (Chartered
Scientist), ARSGS (Professional Associateship of the Royal Scottish
Geographical Society) and RegSciTech (Registered Science Technician).
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- He has right to use the following Post Nominal
Designatory Letters which have been granted by Professional/
Study/ Occupational Associations and Learned Societies as a visible
endorsement of his professional knowledge, skills, experience,
high standards of professional conduct and personal integrity:
FGS (Fellow of the Geological Society), FGAC (Fellow of the Geological
Association of Canada), FGSInd (Fellow of the Geological Society
of India), FGSSA (Fellow of the Geological Society of South Africa),
MInstPet (Member of the Institute of Petroleum), MEI (Member
of the Energy Institute), MSPE (Member of the Society of Petroleum
Engineers), MIMM (Corporate Member of the Institution of Mining
and Metallurgy), MAIME (Member of the American Institute of Mining,
Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers), MSAIMM (Member of the
South African Institution of Mining and Metallurgy), MCIM (Individual
Member of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum),
FMinSoc (Fellow of the Mineralogical Society of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland ), MRSC (Member of The Royal Society of
Chemistry), MACS (Member of the American Chemical Society), FAIC
(Fellow of the American Institute of Chemists), MInstP (Corporate
Member of the Institute of Physics), FRAS (Fellow of the Royal
Astronomical Society), FRGS (Fellow of the Royal Geographical
Society (with the Institute of British Geographers), FAGS (Fellow
of the American Geographic Society), LFIBA (Life Fellow of the
International Biographical Association), MOIF (Member of the
Order of International Fellowship), IOM (Member of the International
Order of Merit), LFWLA (Life Fellow of the World Literary Academy),
DDG (Deputy Director General (America Division) of the International
Biographical Centre), AdVSci (Scientific Adviser to the Director
General, International Biographical Centre), LFWIA (Life Fellow
of the World Institute of Achievement), FABI (Life Fellow of
the American Biographical Institute), LFABI (Life Fellow of the
American Biographical Institute Research Association), DG (Lifetime
Deputy Governor of the American Biographical Institute Research
Association), CG (Continental Governor of the American Biographical
Institute), OIA (Member of the Order of International Ambassadors,
American Biographical Institute), FAOE (Founding Member of the
American Order of Excellence). MRI (Member of the Royal Institution
of Great Britain), MISTC (Member of the Institute of Scientific
and Technical Communicators), MIScT (Corporate Member of the
Institute of Science Technology), FRSA (Fellow of the Royal Society
of Arts), FLS (Fellow of the Linnean Society of London), CompBCS
(Companion of the British Computer Society), MIEnvSc (Member
of the Institution of Environmental Sciences), FIEC (Fellow International
of the Explorers Club), FInstCPD (Founding Fellow of The Institute
of Continuing Professional Development), MNYAS (Member of the
New York Academy of Sciences), AdAIS (Adjunct Member of the International
Academy of Sciences), AISano (Member of the International Scientific
College), SocAcad (Active Member of the European Academy of Sciences
and Arts. He is also a member of numerous other Professional
Associations, Study Associations, Learned Societies and Occupational
Associations.
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- Dr. Spencer's Biography has been listed in
numerous publications including Debrett's People of Today, Who's
Who in the World, Who's Who in America, Who's Who in Switzerland,
Who's Who in the East, Who's Who in European Research and Development,
Who's Who in Science and Engineering, Who's Who of Professionals,
International Who's Who of Professional Educators, Dictionary
of International Biography, International Who's Who of Contemporary
Achievement, Personalities of the World, International Who's
Who of Twentieth Century Achievement, International Authors and
Writers Who's Who, International Who's Who of Intellectuals,
2000 Outstanding Scientists of the 20th Century, Who's Who in
the City, The Geoscientist Directory, The Swiss Geoweb Database,
International Directory of South Asian Scholars, Directory of
European Geologists, International Five Thousand Personalities
of the World, World Who's Who Hall of Fame, Two Thousand Outstanding
People of the 20th Century, International Book of Honor, The
First Five Hundred, The Director General's Honours List, Millennium
Hall of Fame, Five Hundred Leaders of Influence, Order of International
Fellowship Official Register, Register of Certified Professional
Geologists, Directory of Geographers, Register of Chartered Physicists,
Register of European Physicists, Five Thousand Personalities
of the World, Register of Charter Geologists, 2000 Outstanding
People of the 20th Century, Register of European Chemists, Leading
Intellectuals of the World, Official Register of the International
Order of Merit, The First Five Hundred at the New Millennium,
International Directory of Distinguished Leadership, 2000 Outstanding
Scholars of the 20th Century, Great Minds of the 21st Century,
Who's Who in the 21st Century, 2000 Outstanding Intellectuals
of the 21st Century, The Contemporary Who's Who, Five Hundred
Founders of the 21st Century, 1000 World leaders of Scientific
Influence, Leading Intellectuals of the World, Five Hundred Leaders
of Influence, Directory of Himalayan Researchers, Directory of
Professional Natural Scientists, Register of Certified Professional
Geologists, Who's Who of Chartered Geologists, Who's Who of Mineral
Engineering, Register of Certified Swiss Geologists, 1000 Leaders
of World Influence, Directory of Professional Geologists, 2000
Outstanding Scientists of the 21st Century, Who is Who?, Professional
Register of Geological and Earth Scientists and Directory of
Consultants, Who's Who of Swiss Scientists living abroad, 2000
Outstanding Scholars of the 21st Century, City of London Directory
& Livery Companies Guide, Register of Certified Petroleum
Geologists, Directory of Certified Independent Professional Earth
Scientists, The International Biographical Association Directory
and Who's Who of Fellows in the World Literary Academy. He holds
a Honorary Appointment as Member of the American Biographical
Institute Research Board of Advisors (International Division)
and is an International and National Adviser of the American
Biographical Institute Research Association. He was further appointed
as an Honorary Member of the International Biographical Centre
Advisory Council. Dr. Spencer has been honoured with numerous
biographical awards including the International Cultural Diploma
of Honor, International Man of the Year (ABI), Medal of
Honour, Outstanding Achievement Medal, The Key Award for Achievement
in Research, Millennium Medal of Honor, World Lifetime Achievement
Award, Millennium Hall of Fame Statue (to honour Prominent Citizens
of the Twentieth Century), Outstanding Scientist of the 20th
Century Medal, Outstanding Achievement Medal, Leading
Intellectual of the World Medal, Medal of Honour as International
Man of the Year (IBC), Millennium Medal and Outstanding Scholar
of the 20th Century Medal.
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- He is further certified in the administering
of First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. He is the holder
of a lapsed Private Pilot's Licence and passed the Advanced Driving
Test set by the Institute of Advanced Motorists. He was granted
the right to Armorial Bearings by Letters Patent under the hands
and seal of the Garter King of Arms (delegated by Queen Elizabeth
II) on 7th November, 2000 by the College of Arms (London, UK).
Dr. Spencer is a Freeman (2001) then Liveryman (2001) of The
Worshipful Company of Scientific Instrument Makers, London, UK
and received the Freedom of the City of London in 2001.
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- He was the Founder, Co-ordinator and Moderator
of the Himalayan Network (HimNet) mailing list for Himalayan
researchers (1994-1996) and European Regional Editor of the scientific
magazine Himalayan Notes (1994- 1997). He enjoys Mountaineering
and has completed ascents of the Matterhorn (4478 m), Mont Blanc
(4807 m), Mönch (4099 m), Jungfrau (4158 m) as well as numerous
5,000-6,500 m Himalayan peaks in Pakistan. In spring 1997, he
reached the summit of the world's 6th highest mountain, Cho Oyu
(8201m), without the use of supplemental oxygen. In spring 2000,
he climbed to the south summit of the world's highest mountain,
Mount Everest (8848m). He also plays guitar, enjoys long distance
walking, campanology (Bell ringing), flying, reading travel books,
skiing, Family History Research and travelling (he has visited
over 50 countries). He has completed the London Marathon (1983),
the British Triathlon Championships (1984) and has participating
in many endurance sports such as the Karrimor International Mountain
Marathon (1984), the Dartmoor 100 Mile Walk in 48 Hours (1984),
the Pennine Way (240 miles, Solo, Winter in 14 Days, 1984) and
a Lands End to John O' Groats Cycle Ride (1,200 miles) in 14
Days (1983). Two sports have taken him up to national standards
of recognition. He is addicted to 3 things: listening to the
BBC World Service, reading the Times (of London) Newspaper and
watching EastEnders (a soap drama about the East End of London).
His personal philosophy is "Faber suae quisque Fortunae"
("Everyone is the maker of their own destiny").
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