Ken Coles

Ken Coles is a Professor at Indiana University of Pennsylvania's Department of Anthropology, Geospatial and Earth Sciences within the Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. He serves as Director of the IUP Planetarium. His academic background includes BS and MS degrees from the California Institute of Technology (Geology), followed by MPhil and PhD from Columbia University (Geology). He holds Indiana and Massachusetts teaching certifications. Professional interests focus on planetary geology, asteroid astrometry, eclipse phenomena, and astronomy education.

Teaching responsibilities include courses like Exploring the Universe, Geophysics, Planetary Geology, and field seminars in Newfoundland. His research contributions span planetary mapping standards, Mars geology, and public outreach strategies for astronomical events. Recent works include the award-winning 2019 Mars atlas and collaborative studies on Bennu's asteroid anatomy.

• Education:
  • PhD in Geology, Columbia University
  • MPhil in Geology, Columbia University
  • MS in Geology, California Institute of Technology
  • BS in Geology, California Institute of Technology

Awards: 2020 PROSE Award from the Association of American Publishers for his Mars geology work.

His planetarium leadership emphasizes bridging academic research with public engagement through innovative outreach programs and eclipse education initiatives.