Earth and Planetary Sciences

Media Assistance: Tony Fitzpatrick Senior Science Editor tony_fitzpatrick@wustl.edu (314) 935-5272

Department Chair: Raymond E. Arvidson (arvidson@wunder.wustl.edu)

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:

Showing Stories 1 through 3 of 77.  - Show More

Water everywhere Lower Midwest braces for floods (http://news-info.wustl.edu/tips/page/normal/11925.html) June 16, 2008 -- Residents of the central and southern Midwest are crossing their fingers, saying their prayers, planning evacuations, and in some cases filling sandbags in preparation for the excessive water Image courtesy of NOAA WUSTL geologist Robert Criss warns of "serious water" that could give some areas their second worst flood on record. ravishing communities in Iowa and Wisconsin. "The flood wave is propagating down the Mississippi River towards St. Louis at about the pace of a brisk walk," said Robert E. Criss, Ph.D., professor of earth and planetary sciences in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis. "Some areas north of St. Louis in Missouri and southern Iowa are bracing for the second worst flood in their history. This is serious water."

Math and science can be fun! Summer science camp develops the minds of young Einsteins (http://news-info.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/11885.html) June 10, 2008 -- If a young Albert Einstein could have picked a summer activity he may have opted to participate in the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp at Washington University in St. Louis, June 16-27. An exciting two-week adventure filled with field trips and science experiments, the summer camp proves that math and science can entice a crew of middle school students and lead them to rewarding opportunities.

"Dig Czar" Washington University plays key role in Mars mission (http://news-info.wustl.edu/tips/page/normal/11875.html) June 9, 2008 -- Image courtesy of NASA The Phoenix Mars Lander on the northern Mars plains, searching for evidence of ice and water. Among the many Phoenix Mars Mission workers are Raymond E. Arvidson, Ph.D., the WUSTL chair of earth and planetary sciences, a computer specialist and four WUSTL students. Their goal is to infer from images and other data the geological history of the landing site and to imply some theories about current and past climate on Mars. Will they find ice?

Showing Stories 1 through 3 of 77.  - Show More

Faculty Experts:

Showing Experts 1 through 5 of 10.  - Show More

Ramanath Cowsik Professor of Physics in Arts and Sciences (http://news-info.wustl.edu/sb/page/normal/483.html) 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 (http://news-info.wustl.edu/sb/page/normal/479.html) 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 (http://news-info.wustl.edu/sb/page/normal/518.html) 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 (http://news-info.wustl.edu/sb/page/normal/486.html) 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

Bruce Fegley Professor of Planetary Geochemisrty and Cosmochemistry (http://news-info.wustl.edu/sb/page/normal/491.html) Bruce Fegley, Ph.D., professor of earth and planetary sciences, specializes in Venus and the early solar system. Fegley and Senior Research Scientist Katharina Lodders, Ph.D., and technical staff, graduate students, and undergraduates form the Planetary Chemistry Laboratory in the Department of Earth ... Expertise: chemical processes in the early solar system, planeary surfaces, planetary atmospheres, Venus, Jovian planets, solar nebula, Magellan, … Direct contact: (314) 935-4852 / bfegley@levee.wustl.edu

Showing Experts 1 through 5 of 10.  - Show More

Related News Clips:

Showing Clips 1 through 5 of 55.  - Show More

Show More Clips

NASA waiting on first chemical analysis of Martian soil Computerworld (MA) and 1 others June 26, 2008 -- NASA scientists are eagerly awaiting the first test results to come down from a wet chemistry lab on the Phoenix Mars Lander that yesterday analyzed its first bit of Martian soil. Includes comments by WUSTL earth and planetary sciences professor Ray Arvidson on the work of the lander's robotic arm.

Mississippi River Reclaims Floodplain in Parts of Missouri NPR: All Things Considered and 1 others June 24, 2008 -- KWMU's Adam Allington reports on failed levees and flooding in the Midwest and the questions being raised about the efforts to contain the Mississippi River. WUSTL hydrologist Bob Criss says unchecked development on the Mississippi floodplain is a continuing problem.

NASA's Phoenix Lander finds ice on Mars Telegraph.co.uk (UK) June 23, 2008 -- The Mars Phoenix Lander has found ice on the surface of the Red Planet raising hopes of finding evidence of life forms. The proof came in a series of pictures sent back by Phoenix of a trench it dug with its robotic arm at the arctic circle of Mars, showing dice-sized chunks of white material that are seen to melt away over the course of several days. WUSTL earth and planetary sciences professor Ray Arvidson comments. He is the lead scientist for Phoenix's Robotic Arm.

Ice on Mars! Now you see it, now you don't MSNBC.MSN.com June 20, 2008 -- The scientists behind NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander mission now know that they had their first close-up look at Martian ice — because it has vanished from the picture. NASA scientist and WUSTL earth and planetary sciences professor Ray Arvidson comments.

Midwest Floods Dredge Up Dispute The Wall Street Journal June 19, 2008 -- Since the historic flood of 1993, nearly 30,000 homes have been built on land that was underwater around the Mississippi and Missouri rivers near St. Louis. WUSTL earth and planetary sciences professor Robert Criss argues that development along the rivers is worsening the effect of floods.

Contact Information Contact Information • Raymond E. Arvidson Department Chair arvidson@wunder.wustl.edu (314) 935-5609 (314) 935-4998 (fax) Related Information Related Groups: