Earth and Planetary Sciences

Department Chair: Raymond E. Arvidson

Home Page: http://epsc.wustl.edu/ Location: Earth & Planetary Sciences Bldg. Telephone: (314) 935-5610

The Earth and planetary sciences are among the most exciting and rapidly changing scientific enterprises. We live in a culture that is strongly dependent on natural resources and advanced technology; at the same time we seek a sustainable environment. You will find that the diverse disciplines included in Earth and planetary sciences combine the excitement of planetary exploration, the reward of utilization, and the knowledge needed for wise management of our natural resources. You can expand your horizons by taking learning beyond the classroom through field trips, hands-on research, and fieldwork. Study the Mississippi and Missouri River systems and the New Madrid fault, visit the volcanoes of Hawaii, the dunes of the Mojave Desert, the lead mines of the Ozark Mountains, or the caverns of Missouri.

Earth and planetary sciences explores an exciting, multidisciplinary study of the structure, composition, and evolution of the Earth and other planets. Areas of study available range from the Earth's solid iron inner core to the crust, oceans, atmosphere, and even interstellar space. In the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, you will participate in an integrated program of instruction and research that explains Earth as a planet and makes direct use of knowledge gained by exploring the solar system. You will join faculty and students involved in both fundamental research in the earth sciences and equivalent studies of the Moon, Mars, Venus, satellites of the outer planets, and cosmic dust.

News Stories & Tip Sheets:

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Developing 'next generation of creative thinkers' Free science camp for middle schoolers from traditionally underrepresented populations June 12, 2009 -- WUSTL Photo Services WUSTL's ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp Download Washington University in St. Louis will host its third ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp June 14-26. The Danforth Campus will welcome 48 middle schoolers from traditionally underrepresented populations who are academically qualified, recommended by their teachers and genuinely interested in math and science. The free residential camp gives students a first-hand experience with experiments, role models and innovative programs to encourage their continued participation in math and science courses in school. A special "ExxonMobil Media Day" will be held from 9:30-11:30 a.m. June 17 at the Mallinckrodt Center, lower level. Campers will work side by side with scientists to complete an engineering challenge.

'Big Ideas' What everyone should know about Earth sciences summarized in free NSF-funded e-booklet June 5, 2009 -- If you're clueless about petrology, paleobiology and plate tectonics, the National Science Foundation and the Earth Science Literacy Initiative (ESLI) have just released a free pamphlet offering a concise primer on what all Americans should know about the Earth sciences. "The Earth Science Literacy framework document of 'Big Ideas' and supporting concepts was a community effort representing the current state-of-the-art research in Earth sciences," said Michael E. Wysession, Ph.D., chair of ESLI and associate professor of earth and planetary sciences in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis.

New spin on laser-flash analysis Technique measures heat transport in the Earth's crust March 30, 2009 -- David Kilper/WUSTL Photo Services Download Putting a new spin on an old technique, Anne M. Hofmeister, Ph.D., research professor of earth and planetary sciences in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, has revolutionized scientists' understanding of heat transport in the Earth's crust, the outermost solid shell of our planet.

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Faculty Experts:

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Robert Criss Professor of Earth & Planetary Science Criss Criss specializes in hydrogeology, the geology of water and systems of water. Much of his work has an environmental slant. He investigates the transport of aqueous fluids in environments such as rivers, cool potable groundwater systems essential to civilization, and deeper, hotter hydrothermal systems. ... Expertise: Geology, hydrogeology, floods, river systems, dams Direct contact: (314) 935-7441 / criss@wustl.edu

Ramanath Cowsik Professor of Physics in Arts and Sciences Ramanath Cowsik Download Ramanath Cowsik's research interests are in the fields of astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology and non-accelerator particle physics. His scientific contributions include establishing the highest observatory in the world in Hanle, Ladakh, in the Himalayas at an altitude of 15,000 ft. for astronomy in ... Expertise: astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology, non-accelerator particle physics, high-energy astrophysics, dark matter, neutrinos, … Direct contact: (314) 935-4493 / cowsik@wuphys.wustl.edu

Charles M. Hohenberg Professor of Physics in Arts & Sciences Hohenberg's area of specialization focuses on noble gases, and he has established a laboratory at Washington University for that purpose. He developed a new type of mass spectrometer that defines the state of the art noble gas mass spectrometry. Combining nearly perfect ion optics with the ultimate ... Expertise: noble gases, mass spectrometer, meteorites, noble gas mass spectrometry Direct contact: (314) 935-6266 / cmh@wuphys.wustl.edu

Victor Wickerhauser Professor of Mathematics in Arts & Sciences Victor Wickerhauser, Ph.D., professor of mathematics, is an expert in wavelet analysis, a sophisticated kind of harmonic analysis that is integral in analyzing and compressing data — video, sound or photographic, for instance — for a wide range of applications. Expertise: wavelet analysis, harmonic analysis, compressed data, audio data, video data, fingerprinting analysis Direct contact: (314) 935-6771 / victor@wustl.edu

Ernst K. Zinner Research Professor of Physics in Arts and Sciences The research interests of Ernst Zinner are centered on the study of primitive meteorites and interplanetary dust, particularly their record of the nucleosynthesis of elements in stars and the formation of the solar system. The most important information is contained in presolar grains that condensed ... Expertise: astrophysics, space physics, high-energy physics, interplanetary environments, primitive meteorites, nuclear particle tracks, interplanetary dust, … Direct contact: (314) 935-6240 / ekz@wustl.edu

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Related News Clips:

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Show More Clips

U.S. Astronauts Might Hitch Rides on Chinese Spacecraft Space.com April 17, 2009 -- The U.S. and China are exploring new ways to bridge U.S. moon exploration plans with China. Includes comments from WUSTL earth and planetary sciences professor Ray Arvidson.

What lies in store for the Mars rovers? MSNBC.com and 1 others March 31, 2009 -- Their 90-day warranty expired awhile ago, but NASA's twin Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity are still trundling along the Martian surface en route to their next destinations more than five years after landing on the red planet. But just how long they can keep going is anyone's guess. WUSTL earth and planetary sciences professor Ray Arvidson comments.

Earth's Crust Melts Easier Than Previously Thought ScienceDaily.com and 1 others March 24, 2009 -- A study just published in Nature has found that the Earth's crust melts easier than previously thought. This finding provides insight into how magmas are formed and will lead to better models of continental collision and the formation of mountain belts. The NSF study was co-authored by WUSTL earth and planetary sciences professor Anne Hofmeister.

Southern Mo. targeted for uranium drilling Associated Press and 70 others Feb. 3, 2009 -- According to one geologist, southeast Missouri could hold one of the biggest deposits of undiscovered uranium in the U.S. Includes comments by WUSTL earth and planetary sciences professor Bob Criss.

As Ice Melts, Antarctic Bedrock Is On The Move SpaceDaily.com Dec. 30, 2008 -- Scientists have discovered that as ice melts away from Antarctica, parts of the continental bedrock are rising in response - and other parts are sinking. These results come from POLENET, a growing network of GPS trackers and seismic sensors implanted in the bedrock beneath the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. WUSTL is one of the partners.