Runcorn's PhD led to his interest in
palaeomagnetism, the study of the magnetism of rocks, which he pursued first at the Geophysics Department at the
University of Cambridge and later at
Newcastle University, where he was appointed to the chair of Physics in 1956. At Newcastle, Runcorn developed a strong research group in
geophysics, and made substantial contributions to various fields, including convection in the Earth and Moon, the shape and magnetic fields of the Moon and planets,
magnetohydrodynamics of the
Earth's core, changes in the length of the day,
polar wandering,
continental drift and
plate tectonics. After his retirement in 1988 he continued to be active in various lines of research until his untimely death in San Diego in 1995.
Awards and honours Runcorn received many honours, including
Fellowship of the
Royal Society in 1965, the
Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) and the
Fleming medal of the
American Geophysical Union (AGU). He was also a member of the
Pontifical Academy of Sciences. In 1970 he was awarded the
Vetlesen Prize, widely considered the highest honor in geology. In 1981, Runcorn became a founding member of the
World Cultural Council. He served as the Sydney Chapman Endowed Chair in Physical Sciences at the University of Alaska from 1989 to 1995. In 2007 the RAS named an award – for the year's best PhD thesis in geophysics – the
Keith Runcorn Prize in his honour.
Refereed journal publications • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Popularizations • • •
Edited books • • •
Continental drift (1962), S.K. Runcorn. • •
International dictionary of geophysics : seismology, geomagnetism, aeronomy, oceanography, geodesy, gravity, marine geophysics, meteorology, the earth as a planet and its evolution (1967), ed. • •
Methods in palaeomagnetism: Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Study Institute on Palaeomagnetic Methods (1967), edited by D.W. Collinson, K.M. Creer, S.K. Runcorn • •
Earth Sciences (1971), S.K. Runcorn •
Implications of continental drift to the earth sciences (1973) NATO Advanced Study Institute, D.H. Tarling and S.K. Runcorn •
Mechanisms of continental drift and plate tectonics (1980) edited by P. A. Davies and S. K. Runcorn •
Magnetism, planetary rotation, and convection in the solar system : retrospect and prospect : in honour of Prof. S.K. Runcorn (1985) edited by W. O'Reilly, S. K. Runcorn • ==Death==