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Daniel Francis Merriam (February 2, 1927 – April 26, 2017) was an American geologist best known for fostering the development of quantitative modeling in geology after the advent of digital computers. He first joined the Kansas Geological Survey in 1953, initially working under the direction Raymond C. Moore to have a more accurate knowledge about the geology of the state. His fascination with the new possibilities offered by computers started ten years later while working with John W. Harbaugh at Stanford University as Visiting Research Scientist. In the following seven years, he was active organizing colloquia and as editor of the Computer Contributions, who saw 50 publications in the series by pioneers in the new field. Merriam accepted the position of Chairman of the Department of Geology at Syracuse University in 1971 and moved to the same position at Wichita State University in 1981, coming back to the Kansas Geological Survey in 1991 to retire in 1997, remaining as an Emeritus Scientist.

Consistent with his interest to promote the use of computers in geology, Dan was instrumental in founding the International Association for Mathematical Geology (IAMG) in 1968, serving as its second Secretary General (1972–1976) and third President (1976–1980). In 1969, he started for the Association what is today the Mathematical Geosciences journal and in 1975 Computers & Geosciences jointly with IAMG and Pergamon Press. He received the William Christian Krumbein Medal in 1982 in appreciation for his services to the IAMG and the profession and a festschrift in 1993. In 1992, the Geological Society (London) presented him the William Smith Medal.

Education

• BS in geology, 1949,University of Kansas
• MS in geology, 1953, University of Kansas
• MSc in geology, 1969, Leicester University
• PhD, 1961, University of Kansas
• DSc, 1975, Leicester University

Selected bibliography

• Daniel F. Merriam, and John C. Davis, eds. (2001). Geologic Modeling and Simulation: Sedimentary Systems. Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, 352 p.
• Andrea Förster and Daniel F. Merriam, eds. (1999). Geothermics and Basin Analysis. Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, 240 p.
• Andrea Förster and Daniel F. Merriam, eds. (1996). Geologic Modeling and Mapping. Pergamon Press, 334 p.
• Jan Harff and Daniel F. Merriam, eds. (1993). Computerized Basin Analysis: The Prognosis of Energy and Mineral Resources. Plenum Press, 340 p.
• Hans Kürzl and Daniel F. Merriam, eds. (1992). Use of Microcomputers in Geology. Plenum Press, 285 p.
• Daniel F. Merriam, ed. (1988). Current Trends in Geomathematics. Plenum Press, 334 p.
• Daniel F. Merriam, ed. (1981). Computers Applications in the Earth Sciences: An Update of the 70s. Plenum Press, 385 p.
• Daniel F. Merriam, ed. (1976). Quantitative Techniques for the Analysis of Sediments: A Symposium
• Daniel F. Merriam, ed. (1976). Random Processes in Geology. Springer-Verlag, 168 p.
• Daniel F. Merriam, ed. (1969). Mathematical Models of Sedimentary Processes. Plenum Press, 271 p.
• Daniel F. Merriam, ed. (1970) Geostatistics: A Colloquium. Plenum Press, 177 p.
• Daniel F. Merriam, ed. (1969). Computer Applications in the Earth Sciences. Plenum Press, 282 p.
• John W. Harbaugh and Daniel F. Merriam (1968). Computer Applications in Stratigraphic Analysis. John Wiley & Sons, 282 p.
• Daniel F. Merriam (1963). The Geologic History of Kansas. Bulletin 162, State Geological Survey of Kansas, University of Kansas Publications, 317 p.

References

1. "The Geological Society of London - Daniel Francis Merriam 1927-2017".
2. Davis, John C. (1982). "Association announcements". Journal of the International Association for Mathematical Geology. 14 (6): 679–681. doi:10.1007/BF01033889. S2CID 198195190.
3. http://iamg.org/documents/Newsletters/NewslettersHSP/newsletter_54.pdf Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine
4. "KGS--Staff List--A to Z". www.kgs.ku.edu. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
5. "Historical List of Councilors and Officers of IAMG - IAMG". iamg.org. Archived from the original on 22 August 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
6. "Officers and council of the IAMG and their current addresses". Journal of the International Association for Mathematical Geology. 1: 127. 1969. doi:10.1007/BF02047078. S2CID 198199030.
7. Merriam, D.F. (1975). "Editorial". Computers & Geosciences. 1 (1–2): 1. Bibcode:1975CG......1....1M. doi:10.1016/0098-3004(75)90002-3.
8. http://www.iamg.org/images/File/documents/bios/Krumbein%20recipients%20pdfs/1981Merriam.pdf Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine
9. Computers in Geology: 25 Years of Progress. International Association for Mathematical Geology Studies in Mathematical Geology. Oxford University Press. 4 November 1993. ISBN 9780195085938. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
10. "The Geological Society of London - William Smith Medal". www.geolsoc.org.uk. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
11. Harbaugh, John Warvelle (2001-08-31). Geologic Modeling and Simulation - Sedimentary Systems - Daniel F. Merriam - Springer. Springer. ISBN 9780306466755. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
12. Geothermics in Basin Analysis - Andrea Förster - Springer. Computer Applications in the Earth Sciences. Springer. 1999. ISBN 9780306461255. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
13. Geologic Modeling and Mapping - Andrea Förster - Springer. Computer Applications in the Earth Sciences. Springer. 1996. ISBN 9780306452932. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
14. Computerized Basin Analysis - The Prognosis of Energy and Mineral - Jan Harff - Springer. Computer Applications in the Earth Sciences. Springer. 1993. ISBN 9781461362227. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
15. Use of Microcomputers in Geology - Hans Kürzl - Springer. Computer Applications in the Earth Sciences. Springer. 1992. ISBN 9780306443107. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
16. Current Trends in Geomathematics - Daniel Merriam - Springer. Computer Applications in the Earth Sciences. Springer. 1988. ISBN 9781468470468. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
17. Computer Applications in the Earth Sciences - An Update of - Daniel F. Merriam - Springer. Springer. 1981. ISBN 9781468477344. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
18. Elsevier. "Quantitative Techniques for the Analysis of Sediments - 1st Edition". store.elsevier.com. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
19. Random Processes in Geology - Daniel F. Merriam - Springer. Springer. 1976. ISBN 9783540072775. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
20. Mathematical Models of Sedimentary Processes - An International - D. Merriam - Springer. Computer Applications in the Earth Sciences. Springer. 1972. ISBN 9781468419979. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
21. Geostatistics - A Colloquium - D. Merriam - Springer. Current Ornithology. Springer. 1970. ISBN 9781461571056. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
22. Computer Applications in the Earth Sciences - An International - Daniel Merriam - Springer. Springer. 1969. ISBN 9781461586357. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
23. Harbaugh, J. W. Merriam, D. F. (24 July 1968). "Computer Application in Stratigraphic Analysis". John Wiley and Sons. Retrieved 24 July 2017 – via Amazon.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
24. "KGS--Geologic History of Kansas". www.kgs.ku.edu. Retrieved 24 July 2017.

• 1927 births
• 2017 deaths
• American geologists
• Wichita State University faculty
• University of Kansas alumni
• Alumni of the University of Leicester
• Syracuse University faculty