David McCurdy Baird
David McCurdy Baird was a Canadian geologist, photographer, and academic. He was the older brother of Dr. Kenneth Baird.Early life and education
Baird was born in Fredericton, New Brunswick in July 1920. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1941 from the University of New Brunswick, a Master of Science degree in 1943 from the University of Rochester, and a Ph.D. in 1947 from McGill University.Career and later life
Baird held many university teaching positions including the University of Rochester, McGill University, Mount Allison University, and the University of New Brunswick. From 1952 to 1958, he was a Provincial Geologist for the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. At the same time, he was a Professor of Geology at Memorial University of Newfoundland and was head of the department from 1954 to 1958. In 1958, he joined the University of Ottawa as a Professor of Geology and Chairman of the Department where he would remain until 1966.
From 1966 to 1981, he was the founding Director of the Canada Science and Technology Museum. From 1981 to 1986, he was the founding Director of the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology. In 1986, he was appointed Director of the Rideau Canal Museum in Smiths Falls, Ontario.
He was the author of numerous books including Beauty in the Rocks: The Photography of David M. Baird, Northern Lights: Lighthouses of Canada, Jasper National Park: Behind the mountains and glaciers, A guide to geology for visitors to Canada's national parks, and Our Earth in Continuous Change.
In 1986, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada for his "life-long contribution to science education in Canada". In 1986, he was awarded the Royal Canadian Geographical Society's Massey Medal. In 1958, he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and was awarded the Society's Bancroft Award in 1970. He died in September 2019 at the age of 99.
