Richard Kerr (science journalist)

Last updated

Richard A. Kerr, also known as Dick Kerr, [1] is a science journalist and former staff writer for Science. [2]

Contents

Kerr received his BA in chemistry from the College of Wooster in 1968. [3] [1] After working for a year as a research chemist in the Ocean Sciences Division of the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC, he spent three years as an officer on the fleet oiler USS Ponchatoula during the Vietnam War. [2] [1] After leaving the Navy, Kerr earned his PhD in oceanography from the University of Rhode Island, where he also "surreptitiously" took classes in magazine writing and news reporting. [4] In 1977, a week after defending his dissertation, he accepted a job as a geophysics writer for Science; [3] he was soon promoted to senior writer, and began covering Earth and planetary sciences. [4] [1]

Kerr was elected as a Fellow of the Geological Society of America in 1995. [1]

Honors and awards

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Press</span> American geophysicist (1924–2020)

Frank Press was an American geophysicist. He was an advisor to four U.S. presidents, and later served two consecutive terms as president of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences (1981–1993). He was the author of 160 scientific papers and co-author of the textbooks Earth and Understanding Earth.

The American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) is one of the world's largest professional geological societies with more than 40,000 members across 129 countries as of 2021. The AAPG works to "advance the science of geology, especially as it relates to petroleum, natural gas, other subsurface fluids, and mineral resources; to promote the technology of exploring for, finding, and producing these materials in an economically and environmentally sound manner; and to advance the professional well-being of its members." The AAPG was founded in 1917 and is headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma; currently almost one-third of its members live outside the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Geophysical Union</span> Nonprofit organization of geophysicists

The American Geophysical Union (AGU) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of Earth, atmospheric, ocean, hydrologic, space, and planetary scientists and enthusiasts that according to their website includes 130,000 people. AGU's activities are focused on the organization and dissemination of scientific information in the interdisciplinary and international fields within the Earth and space sciences. The geophysical sciences involve four fundamental areas: atmospheric and ocean sciences; solid-Earth sciences; hydrologic sciences; and space sciences. The organization's headquarters is located on Florida Avenue in Washington, D.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Meteorological Society</span> American non-profit and society

The American Meteorological Society (AMS) is the premier scientific and professional organization in the United States promoting and disseminating information about the atmospheric, oceanic, and hydrologic sciences. Its mission is to advance the atmospheric and related sciences, technologies, applications, and services for the benefit of society.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Planetary geology</span> Geology of astronomical objects apparently in orbit around stellar objects

Planetary geology, alternatively known as astrogeology or exogeology, is a planetary science discipline concerned with the geology of celestial bodies such as planets and their moons, asteroids, comets, and meteorites. Although the geo- prefix typically indicates topics of or relating to Earth, planetary geology is named as such for historical and convenience reasons; due to the types of investigations involved, it is closely linked with Earth-based geology. These investigations are centered around the composition, structure, processes, and history of a celestial body.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European Geosciences Union</span>

The European Geosciences Union (EGU) is a non-profit international union in the fields of Earth, planetary, and space sciences whose vision is to "realise a sustainable and just future for humanity and for the planet." The organisation has headquarters in Munich (Germany). Membership is open to individuals who are professionally engaged in or associated with these fields and related studies, including students and retired seniors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Goldreich</span> American astrophysicist (born 1939)

Peter Goldreich is an American astrophysicist whose research focuses on celestial mechanics, planetary rings, helioseismology and neutron stars. He is the Lee DuBridge Professor of Astrophysics and Planetary Physics at California Institute of Technology. Since 2005 he has also been a professor at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. Asteroid 3805 Goldreich is named after him.

The Geological Association of Canada (GAC) is a learned society that promotes and develops the geological sciences in Canada. The organization holds conferences, meetings and exhibitions for the discussion of geological problems and the exchange of views in matters related to geology. It publishes various journals and collections of learned papers dealing with geology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Dessler</span> Climate scientist (born 1964)

Andrew Emory Dessler is a climate scientist. He is Professor of Atmospheric Sciences and holder of the Reta A. Haynes Chair in Geoscience at Texas A&M University. He is also the Director of the Texas Center for Climate Studies. His research subject areas include climate impacts, global climate physics, atmospheric chemistry, climate change and climate change policy.

Peter H. Schultz is Professor of Geological Sciences at Brown University specializing in the study of planetary geology, impact cratering on the Earth and other objects in the Solar System, and volcanic modifications of planetary surfaces. He was co-investigator to the NASA Science Mission Directorate spacecraft Deep Impact and the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS). He was awarded the Barringer Medal of the Meteoritical Society in 2004 for his theoretical and experimental studies of impact craters.

The Jonathan Eberhart Planetary Sciences Journalism Award was established by the Division for Planetary Sciences to recognize and stimulate distinguished popular writing on planetary sciences. The winning author receives a prize of $1,000, plus a citation. The award is named after science journalist Jonathan Eberhart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emily Lakdawalla</span> Planetary geologist and writer

Emily Stewart Lakdawalla is an American planetary geologist and former Senior Editor of The Planetary Society, contributing as both a science writer and a blogger. She has also worked as a teacher and as an environmental consultant. She has performed research work in geology, Mars topography, and science communication and education. Lakdawalla is a science advocate on various social media platforms, interacting with space professionals and enthusiasts on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter. She has appeared on such media outlets as NPR, BBC and BBC America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gail Ashley</span> American sedimentologist (born 1941)

Gail Ashley, née Mowry, is an American sedimentologist. She is known for her studies of the Olduvai Gorge sediments, focused on the water supplies available to hominids and the paleoclimate of the region. She has participated in multi-disciplinary projects that include meteorology, oceanography, paleoanthropology, and archaeology. She has served in professional organizations in the fields of sedimentology and geology, including the presidency of the Geological Society of America, the second woman to hold that post.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Association for Mathematical Geosciences</span>

The International Association for Mathematical Geosciences (IAMG) is a nonprofit organization of geoscientists. It aims to promote international cooperation in the application and use of mathematics in geological research and technology. IAMG's activities are to organize meetings, issue of publications on the application of mathematics in the geological sciences, extend cooperation with other organizations professionally concerned with applications of mathematics and statistics to the biological sciences, earth sciences, engineering, environmental sciences, and planetary sciences. IAMG is a not for profit 501(c)(3) organization.

Katherine H. Freeman is the Evan Pugh University Professor of Geosciences at Pennsylvania State University and a co-editor of the peer-reviewed scientific journal, Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences. Her research interests are organic geochemistry, isotopic biogeochemistry, paleoclimate and astrobiology.

Sarah T. Stewart-Mukhopadhyay is an American planetary scientist known for studying planet formation, planetary geology, and materials science. She is a professor at the University of California, Davis in the Earth and Planetary Sciences Department. She was a professor at Harvard University Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences from 2003 to 2014.

Lawrence August Taylor was an American geochemist and petrologist working at the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences in the University of Tennessee. He is the founder of the UT Planetary Geosciences Institute and was also its director until late 2017.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Geological Society of America - 2006 Public Service Award - Citation & Response". www.geosociety.org. Retrieved 2019-06-02.
  2. 1 2 "Richard A. Kerr". Science | AAAS. 2013-03-11. Retrieved 2019-06-02.
  3. 1 2 "Science's Richard Kerr Wins Planetary Science Journalism Award". American Association for the Advancement of Science. Retrieved 2019-06-02.
  4. 1 2 3 "2013 Prize Recipients | Division for Planetary Sciences". dps.aas.org. Retrieved 2019-06-02.
  5. "Search Past Award Winners". American Meteorological Society. Retrieved 2019-06-02.
  6. "Richard Kerr". Honors Program. Retrieved 2019-06-02.
  7. "Jim Shea Award". Awards. Retrieved 2019-06-02.
  8. "AGI Award for Outstanding Contribution to Public Understanding of the Geosciences". American Geosciences Institute. 2014-03-25. Retrieved 2019-06-02.
  9. Kerr, Richard A. (2012-12-07). "Peering Inside the Moon to Read Its Earliest History". Science. 338 (6112): 1272. doi:10.1126/science.338.6112.1272. ISSN   0036-8075. PMID   23224531.