de Boer Honored by GSC

Jelle Zelinga de Boer, Harold T. Stearns Professor of Earth Science, emeritus, was selected by the Geological Society of Connecticut (GSC) as the recipient of its 2015 Joe Webb Peoples Award, in recognition of de Boer’s many contributions to the understanding of the geology of Connecticut. de Boer accepted the award at the society’s annual meeting on Nov. 13 at Central Connecticut State University.

“It was Joe Webb who brought me to Connecticut in 1963 and kept me at Wesleyan,” said de Boer in his acceptance speech, mentioning the personal letter Webb Peoples sent in response to de Boer’s letter of inquiry that year. “In the following decade I was approached by several institutions to join them and teach geophysics, but every time Joe Webb asked, what do they have to offer that we don’t have here? Wesleyan had and has an ideal working environment with great colleagues, excellent undergraduates and a vibrant graduate program! I stayed!”

The Joe Webb Peoples Award is presented annually by the GSC to recognize those who have contributed to the understanding of the geology of Connecticut through scholarship, education and service. The award is named for Dr. Joe Webb Peoples, who chaired Wesleyan’s Geology Department from 1935 until his retirement in 1975, and who was instrumental in establishing Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill, Conn.