James Head

James W. Head is the Louis and Elizabeth Scherck Distinguished Research Professor of Geological Sciences at Brown University’s Department of Earth, Environmental & Planetary Sciences. His primary research focuses on planetary evolution, with emphases on volcanism, tectonism, and crustal formation across terrestrial planets and icy satellites. He has contributed to major space missions including Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) and Chang’e-5 lunar sample analysis.

Key research themes include Martian climate evolution, volcanic processes on the Moon and Venus, and icy moon geology. His work integrates field studies in Antarctica, seafloor analysis, and planetary data interpretation. Notable achievements include identifying young volcanic structures on the Moon and elucidating Mars’ hydrological history.

Dr. Head leads interdisciplinary exploration mission design efforts, such as the Hadley Max lunar mission concept, emphasizing in-situ resource utilization and myco-architecture for sustainable habitats. He has received prestigious awards including the Penrose Medal (2015) and AGU Fellowship (1997). His research spans over 1,920 publications with an h-index of 148, reflecting global leadership in Earth and planetary sciences.