James W. Head
James W. Head III | |
|---|---|
| Born | James William Head III August 30, 1941 |
| Alma mater | Washington and Lee University (B.S.), Brown University (Ph.D.) |
| Known for | Geological evolution of planetary surfaces, Apollo program contributions |
| Awards | Penrose Medal (2015), Shoemaker Distinguished Lunar Scientist Medal (2013), Norman L. Bowen Award (2013) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Planetary geology, volcanology, comparative planetology |
| Institutions | Brown University |
James W. Head III (born August 30, 1941) is the Louis and Elizabeth Scherck Distinguished Professor of Geological Sciences at Brown University. He is a renowned planetary geologist specializing in the study of volcanic, tectonic, and glacial processes that shape planetary surfaces. Head has been instrumental in advancing planetary science through his work with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Apollo program, international space missions, and comparative planetology research.
Early life and education
[edit]James W. Head III was born on August 30, 1941. He earned his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree from Washington and Lee University in 1964 and completed his Ph.D. in Geological Sciences at Brown University in 1969.[1]
Career
[edit]Head began his career at Bellcomm, Inc., where he contributed to NASA's Apollo program by analyzing potential lunar landing sites, training astronauts in geological fieldwork, and studying returned lunar samples.[2] In 1973, he joined the faculty at Brown University, where he has since supervised nearly 40 Ph.D. students.[3]
Head has been involved in numerous international space missions as an investigator, including:
- NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO)
- ESA's Mars Express mission
- NASA’s MESSENGER mission to Mercury[4]
Research contributions
[edit]Head's research focuses on the geological processes that shape planetary surfaces, such as volcanism, tectonism, impact cratering, and glaciation. His fieldwork includes studies on active volcanoes in Hawaii and Mount St. Helens, deep-sea volcanic deposits via submersible dives, and cold-climate processes during five field seasons in Antarctica.[2]
He has published over 750 scientific papers and book chapters on planetary geology.[4] His work has significantly advanced understanding of the Moon's geological history and the evolution of other planetary bodies like Mars, Venus, Mercury, and icy moons.[3]
Awards and honors
[edit]Head has received numerous prestigious awards for his contributions to geology and planetary science:
- Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (1993)
- Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2006)
- The G.K. Gilbert Award from the Geological Society of America (2002)
- The Runcorn-Florensky Medal from the European Geosciences Union (2010)
- The Norman L. Bowen Award from the American Geophysical Union (2013)[1]
- The Shoemaker Distinguished Lunar Scientist Medal from NASA (2013)[4]
- Penrose Medal from the Geological Society of America (2015)[2]
Legacy
[edit]James W. Head III is widely regarded as a pioneer in planetary geology for integrating terrestrial geological insights into planetary science. His work with NASA's Apollo program laid the foundation for modern lunar exploration strategies.[2] He continues to collaborate internationally on space missions with agencies such as ESA, NASA, Russia’s Roscosmos, and China’s Lunar Exploration Program.[4]
External links
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "Jim Head III '64 To Receive the Penrose Medal for Work in Planetary Geology". Washington and Lee University. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "2015 Penrose Medal - James W. Head". Geological Society of America. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
- ^ a b "James W. Head III". The Planetary Society. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "James W. Head III". Watson Institute for International Studies. Retrieved April 2, 2025.