David McCurdy Baird

David McCurdy Baird (July 28, 1920 – September 10, 2019) 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 (1941 to 1943), McGill University (1943 to 1946), Mount Allison University (1946 to 1947), and the University of New Brunswick (1947 to 1952). 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 in Ottawa. 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.