Michele Cooke

Last updated
Michele L. Cooke
Alma mater Stanford University, Princeton University
Scientific career
FieldsGeomechanics
Institutions University of Massachusetts Amherst

Michele Cooke is an American geoscientist and professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. [1] Cooke is known for her research on earthquakes and her activism in support of other deaf and hard-of-hearing scientists.

Contents

Early life

Michele Cooke was born partially deaf and thus initially struggled in school, with her reading and speaking skills behind. After a kindergarten teacher noticed this issue and recommended testing, Cooke was eventually required to wear hearing aids and have speech therapy. Cooke attended public school until middle school, when her mother switched her to Stuart Country Day School, an all-girls Catholic school in Princeton, New Jersey, for a more intimate school experience. Since graduate school, Michele Cooke has used FM (frequency modulated) systems, oral interpreters, CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation), as well as ASL interpreters once her signing skills improved.

Education

Michele Cooke, completed her Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) in Geological Engineering in 1989 at Princeton University. She then went onto Stanford University to earn her Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) and obtain her degree in Civil Engineering in 1991.Through her studies at Stanford University, Cooke finished her Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Sciences, which was dedicated to structural geology and geomechanics in 1996. She investigated fault mechanics alongside crustal deformation patterns as part of her doctoral research, and this work became essential for creating her contributions to earthquake science and geomechanical modeling. [2] [3]

Career

Research

Cooke is a professor in the department of geosciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst; she has worked at UMass since 1999. [4] She researches earthquakes, fracture mechanics, and fault growth. [5] Cooke is often quoted in (and occasionally writes) articles about earthquakes and faults. [6]

Michele Cooke was featured in a live science article called The Faults That Ruptured in Twin California Quakes Are Very, Very Weird, Geologists Say. Her contribution included a discussion about the unusual earthquakes in Southern California in July 2019. [7] Cooke's research centers on the mechanical behavior of fault systems, in Southern California. She makes use of numerical modeling to examine how fault geometry inspiring earthquake mechanics on slip distributions. Through studying the San Gorgonio Pass region introducing the non-planar faults that have a strain, therefore refining seismic hazard models. The particular models are often validated where in the scope of paleoseismic, geomorphic, and GPS data, assembling her work in interdisciplinary fields, geophysics and structured geology.

As a team with geologists, sedimentologists, and geomorphologists, Cooke's contributions gave a new insight on how faults evolve through time and its processes on earthquake frequency repetition. Her research objective is to improve the seismic hazard assessments in techtonically active regions in insightful analysis. Fault interactions and strain accumulation merging with her notable publications such as a published study in Tectonophysics investigating slip rate sites in the San Gorgonio Pass region. An offering on a new perspective into mechanic areas where complex faults have mathematical underpinnings. [8]

Cooke published an article on Massive Science: Here’s how earthquakes rocked Puerto Rico into another emergency. Her analysis was of the earthquakes that struck Puerto Rico in January 2020. [9]

A study cited by The Weather Channel used data from GPS stations placed throughout California's main fault lines to observe small or 'deep creep' ground movement, and Cooke and her team used that data to show how strain occurring in such fault lines moves away from growing tectonically active regions in the crust. This phenomenon involves the aseismic slip of fault segments that can pass shear stress to relieve tectonic stress without causing earthquakes that are noticeable. Such 'creeps' are important to detect and analyze as they may influence how and when seismic events happen. Cooke desires to improve the monitoring network and detection techniques, so that the behavior of faults may be better understood for the purposes of more accurate predictions of earthquake occurrences and hazard levels. [10]

Grants

Cooke successfully obtained research grants through multiple organizations such as National Science Foundation (NSF), United States Geological Survey (USGS), and Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC). Her research work concentrated on tectonic studies, fault mechanism analysis and seismic hazard predictions while she also applies her skills to geoscience education development. Cooke won an important NSF CAREER award in 2004 which supported her work until 2008 and she has maintained ongoing funding for investigations about fault system evolutions as well as stress transfer mechanisms and off-fault strains. Her international research obtained support from the DAAD program when she conducted research at GFZ Potsdam in Germany. [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23]

Teaching and advocacy

Michele Cooke is recognized for her advocacy in science, particularly for the deaf and hard-of-hearing in academics. Cooke's work includes public writing, curriculum development, and mentoring that aims to foster inclusivity in geoscience education. Her works are widely published in outlets such as Nature Geoscience, Eos, and Inside Higher Ed. This led to initiatives like the National Science Foundation that support Cooke's research on improving access to geoscience for people with disabilities. [24] [25]

From the University of Massachusetts Amherst, she established graduate curricula that promote equity in classroom environments. This experience granted Cooke multiple scholarships that support internal workshops within allyship and accessible pedagogy. Furthermore, Cooke has led multiple leadership positions in graduate education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She was passionate and served as the Graduate Program Director of Admissions since 2017 to 2021. Cooke has worked to implement more inclusive and equitable admissions practices which included advocating for the removal of GRE requirements that had biases affecting students with learning difficulties. [26] [27]

Cooke is partially deaf and advocates for better accessibility for other deaf scientists. In geoscience education, she believes that all academic support should be a more inclusive environment, particularly in STEM. She prefers ‘partially deaf’ over ‘deaf’ or ‘hard of hearing’. This is due to her working with those in the hearing world, teaching hearing students, working with hearing colleagues, as well as having a hearing family. [28] After receiving from UMass College of Natural Science Outstanding Researcher award, Laura Fattaruso filmed Michele's acceptance speech on deaf gain, [29] which describes the benefits or values of being deaf or hard-of-hearing. Michele also published her acceptance speech, so it is accessible for people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. [30] Cooke also co-directs a blog by and for deaf and hard-of-hearing academics, The Mind Hears. Her dedication has helped inform new policies around peer mentorships in both institutional and academic networks.

As a leader in shaping discourse around disability in academics. Cooke has played a leading role in STEM fields. In her publications such as "After GRExit: Reducing Bias in Geoscience Graduate Admissions" (Eos, 2022) and "Writing Reference Letters for People with Disabilities" (Inside Higher Ed, 2022), as well with contributions to the Nature Geoscience article "Beyond Recruitment: First-Year Graduate Courses Foster Inclusion". Cooke co-authors in scientific articles that capture the scientific rigor from presentations of the deaf scientists in the field. [31] [32]

Professional affiliations

Cooke has been involved in various scientific organizations, such as the American Geophysical Union [33] and the Geological Society of America [34] where she has been a part of the tectonophysics and structural geology division since the 1990s. Since 2020, Cooke has been a part of the American Association for the Advancement of Science [35] as well as the Statewide California Earthquake Center [36] and the Seismological Society of America. [37]

Publications

Cooke has been consulted numerous times on matters about seismography and geophysics, [38] [7] [10] [39] as well as existing in academia while deaf. [29] [40] [30] In addition to her consultations, she has published talk and advice pieces. [41] [42] She is also a prolific researcher who has added to the knowledge base of geosciences, seismography, fault mechanics, deep creep, tectonic movement, and more. [43]

Honors and awards

References

  1. ↑ UMass Amherst. 1997. "Be Bold. Be True. Be You". Last Modified June 2023.
  2. ↑ ORCID. "Michele Cooke (0000-0002-4407-9676)". orcid.org. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
  3. ↑ "UMass Geomechanics". www.geo.umass.edu. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
  4. ↑ "CV". www.geo.umass.edu. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
  5. 1 2 "CNS Honors : College of Natural Sciences : UMass Amherst". www.umass.edu. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  6. ↑ [./Http://www.jstor.org/stable/24146424 Feldman, Allan, Michele L. Cooke, and Mary S. Ellsworth. “THE CLASSROOM SANDBOX: A Physical Model for Scientific Inquiry.” The Science Teacher 77, no. 9 (2010): 58–62.]
  7. 1 2 Byrner, Jeanna (7 July 2019). "The Faults That Ruptured in Twin California Quakes Are Very, Very Weird, Geologists Say". livescience.com. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
  8. ↑ Cooke, M. L., Marshall, S. T., & Owen, S. E. (2023). "Mechanical Analysis of Fault Slip Rate Sites within the San Gorgonio Pass Region, Southern California USA." Tectonophysics.
  9. ↑ Cooke, Michele (8 January 2020). "Here's how earthquakes rocked Puerto Rico into another emergency". massivesci.com. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
  10. 1 2 "Geologists Detect Unexpected 'Deep Creep' Beneath California's Deadliest Faults". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
  11. ↑ Cooke, Michele L. 1998–1999. “Seismic Potential of LA Basin Faults Using Models.” U.S. Geological Survey, National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program. $40,000.
  12. ↑ Cooke, Michele L. 2004–2007. “CAREER: Response of Fault Systems to Tectonic Regime Shifts.” NSF Tectonics, Award EAR-0349070. $473,223.
  13. ↑ Cooke, Michele L. 2022–2023. “Estimating Stress State along the San Jacinto and Southern San Andreas Faults on the Eve of Past Ground Rupturing Earthquakes.” Southern California Earthquake Center (NSF & USGS). Award #22030. $31,256.
  14. ↑ Cooke, Michele L. 2022. “Visiting Researcher Fellowship at GFZ Potsdam.” Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD). €2150.
  15. ↑ Cooke, Michele L. 2019–2020. “Sensitivity of Regional Interseismic Deformation.” Southern California Earthquake Center (NSF & USGS). Award #19158. $24,000.
  16. ↑ Cooke, Michele L. 2018–2019. “Kinematic Compatibility of Fault Geometry and Slip Rates.” Southern California Earthquake Center (NSF & USGS). Award #18200. $20,000.
  17. ↑ Cooke, Michele L. 2017–2018. “Stressing Rates and Off-Fault Seismicity in the Southern San Andreas Region.” Southern California Earthquake Center (NSF & USGS). Award #17173. $25,000.
  18. ↑ Cooke, Michele L., co-PI Susan Owen. 2005. “Mechanical Models of Active Faulting in Ventura Basin.” USGS NEHRP, Award 05HQGR0064. $19,000.
  19. ↑ Cooke, Michele L. 2008–2011. “San Gorgonio Knot: Analog and Numerical Investigations.” NSF Tectonics, Award EAR-0738887. $192,823.
  20. ↑ Cooke, Michele L. 2011–2012. “How Does Damage Affect Rupture Propagation?” Southern California Earthquake Center. $33,000.
  21. ↑ Cooke, Michele L. 2012–2013. “Workshop on San Gorgonio Pass Fault Rupture Likelihood.” Southern California Earthquake Center. $10,000.
  22. ↑ Cooke, Michele L. 2017. “Earthquake Gates Incubator Workshop.” Southern California Earthquake Center. $15,000.
  23. ↑ Cooke, Michele L. 2017–2020. “Evolving Work Budget of Fault Linkage in Accretionary Systems.” National Science Foundation, Award EAR-1650368. $299,414.
  24. ↑ Cooke, Michele L., Celia R. Child, Elizabeth C. Sibert, Christoph von Hagke, and Stephanie G. Zihms. 2020. "Caption This! Best Practices for Live Captioning Presentations." Eos 101.
  25. ↑ Cooke, Michele L. 2022. "Writing Reference Letters for People with Disabilities." Inside Higher Ed, February 8, 2022
  26. ↑ Cooke, M. L. (2022). "After GRExit: Reducing Bias in Geoscience Graduate Admissions." Eos.
  27. ↑ Cooke, M. L. (2021). "Writing Reference Letters for People with Disabilities." Inside Higher Ed.
  28. ↑ "Blog Team". The Mind Hears. 2018-08-01. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
  29. 1 2 "Deaf Gain – Dr. Michele Cooke". YouTube. 15 October 2018. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
  30. 1 2 Cooke, Michele (2018-10-11). "What is my deaf way of science?". UMass Magazine. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
  31. ↑ Cooke, Michele L., Hannah Baranes, Isla S. Castaneda, Jonathan D. Woodruff, and David F. Boutt. 2022. "After GRExit: Reducing Bias in Geoscience Graduate Admissions." Eos 103.
  32. ↑ Cooke, Michele L., Mya Breitbart, Emily H.G. Cooperdock, Naomi Levin, Nathan Niemi, Chris Bell, and Karen Viskupic. 2021. "Beyond Recruitment: 1st Year Graduate Courses Foster Inclusion." Nature Geoscience 14: 812–814.
  33. ↑ "AGU – American Geophysical Union". www.agu.org. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
  34. ↑ "Committees". www.geosociety.org. Archived from the original on 2024-12-04. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
  35. ↑ "Michele Cooke, University of Massachusetts at Amherst". EurekAlert!. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
  36. ↑ "cooke | Statewide California Earthquake Center". central.scec.org. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
  37. ↑ "Seismological Society of America | Advancing earthquake science worldwide". www.seismosoc.org. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
  38. ↑ "Can We Tell If Faults Grew During or Between Earthquakes?". Eos. October 2019. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
  39. ↑ "EGCS Scientists Provide Context for York, Maine Earthquake : College of Natural Sciences : UMass Amherst". www.umass.edu. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  40. ↑ "Deaf With a Capital D : College of Natural Sciences : UMass Amherst". www.umass.edu. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  41. ↑ Cooke, Michele (2023-12-31), "32 The Best Place for My Hearing Aids Is on My Desk" , Uncharted, Columbia University Press, pp. 273–278, doi:10.7312/baye20362-039, ISBN   978-0-231-55515-9 , retrieved 2025-04-24
  42. ↑ Eodice, Michele; Geller, Ellen; Lerner, Neal (2017). The Meaningful Writing Project: Learning, Teaching and Writing in Higher Education. Utah State University Press. doi:10.7330/9781607325802. ISBN   978-1-60732-580-2.
  43. ↑ Schultz, Richard A.. Geologic Fracture Mechanics. United States: Cambridge University Press, 2019.
  44. ↑ Cooke, Michele L.; Toeneboehn, Kevin; Hatch, Jennifer L. (2020-06-01). "Onset of slip partitioning under oblique convergence within scaled physical experiments". Geosphere. 16 (3): 875–889. Bibcode:2020Geosp..16..875C. doi: 10.1130/GES02179.1 . ISSN   1553-040X.
  45. ↑ Cooke, M. L.; Beyer, J. L. (2018-09-16). "Off-Fault Focal Mechanisms Not Representative of Interseismic Fault Loading Suggest Deep Creep on the Northern San Jacinto Fault". Geophysical Research Letters. 45 (17): 8976–8984. Bibcode:2018GeoRL..45.8976C. doi:10.1029/2018GL078932. ISSN   0094-8276.
  46. ↑ Cooke, Michele L.; Reber, Jacqueline E.; Haq, Saad (2016-12-01). "Physical Experiments of Tectonic Deformation and Processes: Building a Strong Community". GSA Today: 36–37. doi:10.1130/GSATG303GW.1.
  47. ↑ Cooke, Michele L.; Madden, Elizabeth H. (September 2014). "Is the Earth Lazy? A review of work minimization in fault evolution" . Journal of Structural Geology. 66: 334–346. Bibcode:2014JSG....66..334C. doi:10.1016/j.jsg.2014.05.004.
  48. ↑ Cooke, Michele L.; Schottenfeld, Mariel T.; Buchanan, Steve W. (June 2013). "Evolution of fault efficiency at restraining bends within wet kaolin analog experiments" . Journal of Structural Geology. 51: 180–192. Bibcode:2013JSG....51..180C. doi:10.1016/j.jsg.2013.01.010.
  49. ↑ Cooke, Michele L.; van der Elst, Nicholas J. (January 2012). "Rheologic testing of wet kaolin reveals frictional and bi-viscous behavior typical of crustal materials". Geophysical Research Letters. 39 (1). Bibcode:2012GeoRL..39.1308C. doi:10.1029/2011GL050186. ISSN   0094-8276.
  50. ↑ Cooke, Michele; Islam, Fariha; McGill, George (September 2011). "Basement controls on the scale of giant polygons in Utopia Planitia, Mars". Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets. 116 (E9). Bibcode:2011JGRE..116.9003C. doi:10.1029/2011JE003812. ISSN   0148-0227.
  51. ↑ Cooke, Michele L.; Dair, Laura C. (2011-04-21). "Simulating the recent evolution of the southern big bend of the San Andreas fault, Southern California". Journal of Geophysical Research. 116 (B4). Bibcode:2011JGRB..116.4405C. doi:10.1029/2010JB007835. ISSN   0148-0227.
  52. ↑ Cooke, Michele L.; Marshall, Scott T. (November 2006). "Fault slip rates from three-dimensional models of the Los Angeles metropolitan area, California". Geophysical Research Letters. 33 (21). Bibcode:2006GeoRL..3321313C. doi:10.1029/2006GL027850. ISSN   0094-8276.
  53. ↑ Cooke, Michele L.; Simo, J.A.; Underwood, Chad A.; Rijken, Peggy (February 2006). "Mechanical stratigraphic controls on fracture patterns within carbonates and implications for groundwater flow" . Sedimentary Geology. 184 (3–4): 225–239. Bibcode:2006SedG..184..225C. doi:10.1016/j.sedgeo.2005.11.004. ISSN   0037-0738.
  54. ↑ Cooke, Michele L.; Murphy, Susan (October 2004). "Assessing the work budget and efficiency of fault systems using mechanical models". Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. 109 (B10). Bibcode:2004JGRB..10910408C. doi:10.1029/2004JB002968. ISSN   0148-0227.
  55. ↑ Cooke, Michele L.; Kameda, Ayako (July 2002). "Mechanical fault interaction within the Los Angeles Basin: A two-dimensional analysis using mechanical efficiency". Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. 107 (B7): 2146. Bibcode:2002JGRB..107.2146C. doi:10.1029/2001JB000542. ISSN   0148-0227.
  56. ↑ Cooke, Michele L.; Underwood, Chad A. (February 2001). "Fracture termination and step-over at bedding interfaces due to frictional slip and interface opening" . Journal of Structural Geology. 23 (2–3): 223–238. Bibcode:2001JSG....23..223C. doi:10.1016/s0191-8141(00)00092-4. ISSN   0191-8141.
  57. ↑ Cooke, M. L.; Mollema, P. N.; Pollard, D. D.; Aydin, A. (January 1999). "Interlayer slip and joint localization in the East Kaibab Monocline, Utah: field evidence and results from numerical modelling" . Geological Society, London, Special Publications. 169 (1): 23–49. Bibcode:1999GSLSP.169...23C. doi:10.1144/gsl.sp.2000.169.01.03. ISSN   0305-8719.
  58. ↑ Cooke, Michele L. (1997-10-10). "Fracture localization along faults with spatially varying friction" . Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. 102 (B10): 22425–22434. Bibcode:1997JGR...10222425C. doi:10.1029/97jb01829. ISSN   0148-0227.
  59. ↑ Cooke, M.L.; Pollard, D.D. (March 1997). "Bedding-plane slip in initial stages of fault-related folding". Journal of Structural Geology. 19 (3–4): 567–581. Bibcode:1997JSG....19..567C. doi: 10.1016/s0191-8141(96)00097-1 . ISSN   0191-8141.
  60. ↑ Cooke, Michele L.; Pollard, David D. (1996-02-10). "Fracture propagation paths under mixed mode loading within rectangular blocks of polymethyl methacrylate". Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. 101 (B2): 3387–3400. Bibcode:1996JGR...101.3387C. doi:10.1029/95jb02507. ISSN   0148-0227.
  61. ↑ "Earth, Geographic, and Climate Sciences : UMass Amherst". www.umass.edu. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  62. ↑ "Raquel Bryant and Dr. Cooke honored with CNS outstanding Achievement Awards | Department of Geosciences". www.geo.umass.edu. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
  63. ↑ "Inclusive Geoscience Education and Research (IGER) Awards – The IAGD" . Retrieved 2020-09-19.
  64. ↑ Marshall, Anita (2020-09-15). "2020 IGER Award for Inclusive Teaching Dr. Michele Cooke". The IAGD. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  65. 1 2 "Southern California Earthquake Data Center at Caltech". scedc.caltech.edu. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  66. ↑ "Geological Society of America". www.geosociety.org. Archived from the original on 2025-04-07. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  67. ↑ "Distinguished Community Engagement Awards : Office of Faculty Development : UMass Amherst". www.umass.edu. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  68. ↑ "Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) | NSF – National Science Foundation". www.nsf.gov. 2022-04-13. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  69. ↑ "Distinguished Speakers Series". Speakers and Topics. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  70. ↑ "Gerald J. Lieberman Fellowship | Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Education". vpge.stanford.edu. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  71. ↑ "CTA Winners | Center for Teaching and Learning". ctl.stanford.edu. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  72. ↑ "Financial Aid Information | Materials Science and Engineering". mse.stanford.edu. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  73. ↑ "W. Taylor Thom Jr" (PDF). Geological Society.
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