Ruth Padel is a Visiting Professor of Poetry at King's College London, acclaimed poet, and author. Her work bridges classical scholarship, conservation science, and literary creativity. Education: D.Phil in Classics from University of Oxford (Greek tragedy and medicine). Research: Poetry composition, Darwinian studies, conservation narratives, and classical reception in contemporary culture. Current projects explore Beethoven/Schubert biographies in verse and migration ecology. Awards & Leadership: First Prize in National Poetry Competition; chaired judging panels for T.S. Eliot Prize and Forward Prize. Fellow of Royal Society of Literature and Zoological Society of London. Public Engagement: Frequent broadcaster (BBC Radio 3/4); international festival appearances including Jaipur Literature Festival and Edinburgh Festival.
David A. Foster is a Professor in the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Florida, affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. His research integrates thermochronology, structural geology, and petrology to investigate tectonic and magmatic processes, with a recent focus on enhanced weathering of basaltic rocks for carbon sequestration. He leads the Thermochronology Lab, providing analytical services for mineral separation, Ar/Ar dating, and thermal modeling. Research interests span: Tectonics & Geodynamics : Orogenic collapse, terrane accretion, and supercontinent cycles. Thermochronology : Application of temperature-sensitive isotopic systems to crustal evolution. Surface Processes : Links between tectonic uplift, erosion, and carbon capture via rock weathering. His publications emphasize regional tectonics (e.g., Andes, Appalachians, Cordillera), utilizing geochronology, isotope geochemistry, and structural analysis. Recent work explores collisional orogens, basin provenance, and magmatic arcs, with recurring themes of extensional collapse and paleogeographic reconstructions. Educational contributions include co-authoring the comprehensive textbook Geology of National Parks , now in its 8th edition, which synthesizes geological features of U.S. national parks in the context of plate tectonics and landscape formation.
apl. Prof. Dr. habil. Thomas Seifert is an extraordinary professor in the Professorship for Mineral Deposits and Petrology at the Faculty of Geosciences, Geotechnics and Mining of Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg. His academic career spans over three decades with significant contributions to economic geology and mineral deposit research. Since 2011, he has served as an apl. Professor for Geology and Metallogeny of mineral resource deposits, and since 2012 has been in charge of the Professorship for Lagerstättenlehre (mineral deposit science) and Petrology at TUBAF. Seifert's research focuses on metallogeny of Sn-W-Mo-Li-In polymetallic deposits, hydrothermal Au and Ag polymetallic mineralization, Archaean Lithium-Cesium-Tantalum pegmatites, petrology of lamprophyres and related rocks, and Large Igneous Provinces. His work bridges theoretical understanding with practical mineral exploration, particularly for critical raw materials essential for modern technology. His extensive field experience includes research in Germany, Australia, Zimbabwe, Russia, China, Canada, and the United States. His recent publications demonstrate a strong emphasis on critical metal exploration, particularly tin, lithium, indium, and other strategic elements. His research combines detailed mineralogical, geochemical, and geochronological studies to understand the formation processes of economically important deposits. The articles reveal his expertise in both European Variscan deposits and Archaean cratonic settings, with particular attention to the Erzgebirge region of Germany and comparable deposits worldwide. Seifert has received the Julius-Weisbach-Preis in 2009, recognizing his contributions to geoscience. He maintains active memberships in key professional societies including the Society of Economic Geologists (since 1996), International Association for the Genesis of Ore Deposits (since 1993), and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften (since 2002). His collaborative research extends across international boundaries, working with institutions in Australia, Zimbabwe, Czech Republic, Sweden, and other countries. His work on iron oxide-apatite deposits, critical metal enrichment in skarn systems, and Ni-Cu-PGE sulfide mineralization demonstrates the breadth of his research interests and their relevance to modern mineral exploration challenges.
Michael Pyrcz is a Professor in the Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering and holds the rank of Associate Professor in the Jackson School of Geosciences at the University of Texas at Austin. He is the recipient of the B. J. Lancaster Professorship in Petroleum Engineering and the George H. Fancher Centennial Teaching Fellowship in Petroleum Engineering. His research focuses on subsurface data analytics, geostatistics, and machine learning applications in energy systems and CO2 sequestration. Pyrcz teaches widely, including through online lectures and GitHub workflows, and has authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications and a textbook on spatial data analytics. His work integrates machine learning with geoscience challenges, such as uncertainty quantification in reservoir modeling and CO2 storage site evaluation. He leads initiatives in energy data analytics through the Freshman Research Initiative and collaborates with industry on workflow development. Key research areas include generative AI for subsurface models, stochastic methods for fracture networks, and anomaly detection in geologic monitoring. Education: Background in petroleum engineering and geosciences (details not explicitly provided). Grants/Advising: Extensive industry collaboration and mentorship roles at Chevron prior to UT Austin. Labs/Teams: Maintains active GitHub repositories (GeostatsGuy), YouTube lecture series (GeostatsGuyLectures), and social media outreach (X/GeostatsGuy).
John Stolz is Professor of Environmental Microbiology and Director of Environmental and Energy Engineering at Duquesne University's School of Science and Engineering. His NASA-trained research examines microbial metal reduction, modern stromatolite ecosystems, and shale gas extraction impacts. His lab investigates arsenic/selenium biotransformation pathways, microbial communities in Shark Bay stromatolites, and environmental impacts of unconventional energy development. Recognized with multiple excellence awards including the Nobel J. Dick Endowed Chair. Over 150 publications explore microbial respiration mechanisms, biogeochemical cycling, and environmental bioremediation. Current grants support water quality testing near shale gas operations.
Dr. Saman Razavi is an Associate Professor at the University of Saskatchewan, holding dual appointments in the School of Environment and Sustainability (SENS) and the Department of Civil, Geological and Environmental Engineering in the College of Engineering. He is a member of the Global Institute for Water Security and leads the Razavi EnviroFutures Lab. His research focuses on hydrological modeling, water resources management, climate change impacts, and the integration of machine learning with environmental science. Dr. Razavi has earned a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Waterloo. Education: PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Waterloo MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Amirkabir University, Iran BS in Civil Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology Research interests include hydrologic model development, optimization, uncertainty quantification, climate change analysis, and socio-hydrological modeling. He emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to address water challenges through integrated frameworks that bridge natural science, engineering, and socio-economic factors. Award: Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize from ASCE (2024) Advising & Grants: Dr. Razavi leads the Integrated Modelling Program for Canada under Global Water Futures, focusing on transboundary water systems. His work involves developing decision-support tools for flood/drought management and climate adaptation. Labs/Teams: The Razavi EnviroFutures Lab advances research on water-human systems, leveraging AI and big data to enhance resilience against water-related hazards. Current projects include flood-prone area mapping, drought prediction, and socio-hydrological modeling in transboundary basins.
Jan Martin Nordbotten is a full-time Professor at the Department of Mathematics, University of Bergen (UiB), with adjunct positions at Princeton University and NORCE. His research focuses on applied mathematics, particularly in porous media, CO2 storage, fluid dynamics, and interdisciplinary applications in hydrology, biomedicine, and ecology. He completed his PhD at UiB in 2004 and became Norway's third youngest professor in 2007. His work emphasizes numerical methods, multiscale modeling, and experimental validation. Affiliations: UiB (full-time), Princeton (adjunct), NORCE (adjunct) Research Group: Center for Sustainable Subsurface Resources Research interests span mathematical modeling of subsurface processes, including flow in fractured media, geomechanics, and phase-field fracture. Notable contributions include analytical and numerical solutions for CO2 leakage, multiphase flow, and development of tools like DarSIA for image processing in porous media. Publications highlight advancements in mixed-dimensional models, finite element methods, and experimental validation of CO2 storage forecasts. His work bridges theoretical mathematics with practical applications in energy and environmental systems.
David Zakharov is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences at Western Michigan University (WMU), specializing in petrology, stable isotope geochemistry, and water-rock interaction. His research focuses on the geochemical co-evolution of Earth’s crust and hydrosphere, particularly through igneous and metamorphic processes, with projects targeting Archean subaerial magmatism, Precambrian chert geochemistry, and fluid circulation in oceanic crust. At WMU, Zakharov established a stable isotope lab in January 2023, equipped with advanced instrumentation including a Thermo EA Isolink, Renishaw Raman microscope, and CO2 laser. His lab conducts high-precision triple O-isotope (δ¹⁸O, δD, Δ¹⁷O) analyses, geochronology, and SIMS measurements, collaborating on studies such as the 2025 Chemical Geology paper on exceptionally low δ¹⁸O zircon values and the 2024 Chemical Geology paper on experimental olivine-water reactions. He has presented at major conferences like Goldschmidt 2024 and AGU Fall Meeting 2022. Zakharov’s research integrates fieldwork, laboratory experiments, and analytical techniques to reconstruct ancient environmental conditions, such as seawater chemistry and hydrological cycles. His lab has hosted distinguished lecturers and workshops, including a 2024 SIMS Workshop at UCLA. Current projects involve PhD students Israr Hussain, Afrid Abdaly Sheik, and Zack Stevens, with recent publications highlighting reactive fluid dynamics, silicification processes, and isotopic constraints on early Earth environments.
Associate Professor Judy Hart is a materials scientist at the School of Materials Science & Engineering, UNSW Sydney , specializing in the development of semiconducting materials for renewable energy applications. Her work integrates computational (DFT) and experimental approaches to understand composition-property relationships in systems like solid solutions , heterostructures , and doped materials for photocatalysis and solar cells . She leads projects funded by ARC Discovery and Linkage grants , including work on photo-electro-catalysis systems and stabilizing ceramic materials . Education: PhD in Materials Engineering (Monash University, 2007), BEng (Materials) (Monash, 2002) Professional Experience: Senior Lecturer (UNSW, 2017–), Lecturer (UNSW, 2013–2017), University of Bristol (2007–2012) Research Interests Her research focuses on designing materials for renewable energy , particularly photoelectrochemical water splitting and organic oxidation reactions . Key areas include Density Functional Theory (DFT) , defect engineering , band gap tuning , and nanostructured materials . She investigates ferroelectric polarization effects , metal oxide heterostructures , and stability of battery components , with applications in hydrogen production , CO2 conversion , and advanced battery materials . Scientific Awards Ramsay Memorial Fellowship (University of Bristol, 2007–2009) Teaching Contributions She is co-author of the 1st Australian & New Zealand edition of "Materials Science and Engineering: An Introduction" , and teaches courses on computational materials science , corrosion-resistant surfaces , mechanical behavior of metals , and materials design .
Dr. Zhigang Peng is a Professor in the School of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences at Georgia Institute of Technology, part of the College of Sciences. His research focuses on seismicity dynamics, fault zone imaging, and data science applications in geophysics. He holds a Ph.D. in Geological Sciences from the University of Southern California (2004), an M.S. in Electrical Engineering (2002), and a B.S. in Geophysics from the University of Science and Technology of China (1998). Dr. Peng’s work spans seismological studies of earthquake triggering mechanisms, fault zone structures, and deep-focus earthquakes. He has pioneered dense seismic array techniques to image fault systems and employs machine learning for event detection and phase picking. His recent projects include analyzing the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake sequence in Türkiye and the 2024 Noto earthquake in Japan. He leads initiatives like the Center for Collective Impact in Earthquake Science (C-CIES), promoting inclusive scientific collaboration. Research Highlights: Fault zone imaging, dynamic triggering, AI-driven seismology Labs: ES&T 2235 (Seismology Lab), ES&T 2256 (Office) His awards include the 2002 AGU Outstanding Student Paper Award. He actively contributes to earthquake hazard assessment, nuclear explosion monitoring, and volcano-seismic interactions, with over 150 peer-reviewed publications.
Dr. Beata Gorczyca is a Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Manitoba, affiliated with the Price Faculty of Engineering. Her research focuses on potable water treatment, with expertise in solid/liquid separation, chlorine disinfection by-products control, and fractal analysis of materials. She leads a research group collaborating with Canadian water utilities like Portage la Prairie and Pembina Valley Water Co-op. Education: PhD in Chemical Engineering (2000, University of Toronto), M.Sc. in Civil Engineering (1992, University of Toronto), B.Sc. in Geological Engineering (1986, AGH University, Poland). Active roles: Member of the Particle Specialist Group at the International Water Association, keynote speaker at conferences. Research interests include water purification processes, membrane filtration, and bioremediation. Her work addresses challenges in high-DOC and high-hardness water treatment, with contributions to nanofiltration fouling mechanisms and microbial remediation solutions. She has supervised numerous graduate students and is involved in advancing water treatment technologies through interdisciplinary collaborations.
Daniel E. Horton is an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth, Environmental & Planetary Sciences at Northwestern University's Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, where he leads the Climate Change Research Group (CCRG). His interdisciplinary work bridges atmospheric science, environmental health, and geoscience through advanced modeling techniques. Education: Ph.D. in Geological Sciences from University of Michigan B.S. in Atmospheric Science from Texas A&M University B.S. in Physics from Tulane University Horton's research spans extreme weather events, near-term societal impacts of climate change, geologic climate evolution, and exoplanet habitability. His group integrates atmospheric, biospheric, cryospheric, hydrospheric, and lithospheric processes using numerical models, environmental observations, and machine learning. Recent work emphasizes environmental justice through neighborhood-scale air quality analysis and transportation electrification impacts. Analysis of his 10 most recent publications (2022-2023) reveals three dominant research thrusts: (1) urban air quality modeling with WRF-CMAQ systems focusing on racial disparities in pollution exposure, (2) transportation electrification impacts on public health and equity, particularly for heavy-duty vehicles, and (3) hydrological extremes including precipitation variability and post-wildfire debris flows. Machine learning applications are increasingly prominent across all research areas. Scientific Awards: NSF CAREER Award (2023) for research on air quality, public health, and equity implications of transportation electrification Horton secured a $600,000 NSF grant supporting both research and educational initiatives, including after-school sustainability programming for Chicago middle schools. His Climate Change Research Group actively recruits graduate students for projects at the intersection of climate science and societal impacts, with strong collaborations across environmental health, urban planning, and engineering disciplines. Current work emphasizes equity-centered climate solutions through fine-scale spatial analysis of pollution and health outcomes.
Simon Carn is a Professor in the Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences at Michigan Technological University, specializing in satellite-based monitoring of volcanic degassing and atmospheric pollution. His work leverages NASA satellite constellations to quantify sulfur dioxide emissions and their climate impacts. Education: PhD in Volcanology from Cambridge University MS in Volcanology and Magmatic Processes from Université Blaise Pascal BA in Earth Sciences from Oxford University Research Focus: Carn pioneers the use of space-borne sensors like OMI and TEMPO to measure volcanic SO 2 , ozone, and other trace gases. His research bridges satellite observations with climate modeling to understand sulfate aerosol formation, volcanic cloud transport, and anthropogenic pollution sources. Key methodologies include DOAS/FTIR remote sensing, satellite-ground data validation, and aviation hazard mitigation systems. Publication Trends: Recent work (2023-2025) centers on high-cadence monitoring via geostationary satellites (TEMPO, DSCOVR/EPIC), analysis of major eruptions (Hunga Tonga, Raikoke), and extending 20+ years of global SO 2 records. Research emphasizes volcanic-climate interactions, eruption response protocols, and quantifying underreported passive degassing that affects climate models.
Professor Dörthe Tetzlaff is a leading figure in ecohydrology, serving as Head of Department (A1) Ecohydrology at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) and as Full Professor of Ecohydrology at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Geography Department. She also holds an Honorary Professorship at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. Her work bridges theoretical hydrology with practical applications for water security and environmental management. Professor Tetzlaff's research focuses on ecohydrological processes, particularly using stable water isotopes to understand water cycling, catchment functioning, and landscape connectivity. Her work spans from pristine natural systems to complex urban environments, with particular emphasis on drought resilience, water security, and nature-based solutions. She has pioneered tracer-aided modeling approaches to quantify water storage, fluxes, and ages across the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum. Her publication record shows a clear trend toward increasingly sophisticated integration of multi-tracer approaches with ecohydrological modeling, with recent work focusing on urban systems, drought impacts, and nature-based solutions. The publications demonstrate expertise across hydrology, biogeochemistry, and ecological applications, with strong methodological development in isotope hydrology and modeling techniques. Polubarinova-Kochina Hydrologic Sciences Mid-Career Award of the American Geophysical Union AGU (2024) Water Resource Prize of the Rüdiger Kurt Bode Foundation (2024) Member of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities (2023) Fellow of The European Academy of Sciences (2022) Fellow of the Geological Society of America GSA (2020) Professor Tetzlaff actively supervises numerous PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, with her group focusing on cutting-edge ecohydrological research. She leads multiple significant research projects including WETSCAPES2.0, ECCO, ISO-SCALE, and BiNatUr, which address critical questions about water security, climate change impacts, and nature-based solutions in urban environments. Her work is supported by substantial funding from various national and international sources. She leads the Ecohydrology research group at both IGB and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, which employs an integrative approach combining field measurements, isotope techniques, and advanced modeling to understand water dynamics across diverse landscapes. The group collaborates extensively with international partners across Europe, North America, and Asia, contributing to global understanding of hydrological processes.
Taylor Perron is the Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he also serves as the EAPS Undergraduate Officer. His research program at MIT spans multiple interdisciplinary areas within Earth and planetary sciences, with strong connections to the MIT-WHOI Joint Program in Oceanography/Applied Ocean Science and Engineering. Dr. Perron's academic background includes an AB in Earth and Planetary Sciences and Archaeology from Harvard University (1999) and a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley (2006), followed by postdoctoral work at Harvard. His leadership roles at MIT have included serving as chair of the Program in Geology, Geochemistry, and Geobiology, and as Associate Department Head for Education. His research focuses on three interconnected areas: Landscape Evolution, Planetary Surfaces, and the Human Landscape. Within Landscape Evolution, he investigates dynamic river networks, climate-landscape interactions, grain-scale sediment transport mechanics, and the connections between landscape evolution and biological diversification. His Planetary Surfaces research examines river systems on Mars and Titan, using spacecraft data to understand extraterrestrial hydrological processes. The Human Landscape component explores archaeological applications of geomorphology, particularly in the Amazon basin. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on comparative planetary hydrology, with significant work on Earth, Mars, and Titan. His research increasingly integrates field observations, mathematical modeling, and remote sensing to address questions about landscape evolution across different planetary environments and timescales, with growing attention to anthropogenic impacts on Earth's surface processes. Scientific Awards & Honors: MacArthur Fellowship (2021) James B. Macelwane Medal, American Geophysical Union (2014) Fellow, American Geophysical Union (2014) Editorial Committee Member, Annual Review of Earth & Planetary Sciences (2017-present) Dr. Perron has established a productive research group that collaborates across disciplines and institutions, including significant partnerships with WHOI, NASA missions, and archaeological teams. His work bridges fundamental questions about planetary evolution with practical implications for understanding climate change impacts on Earth's surface systems.
