Hamilton Visiting Scholar in Geophysics
Lecture Series

Retired Teledyne executive Jack H. Hamilton gave $1 million to SMU for endowed visiting
scholars program in geophysics. The program has presented the SMU community with
some of the best scientist in the geophysics and earth sciences world. Every semester
we are privileged to host a scientist setting a mark on the sphere of sciences.

Fall 2009

David J. Des Marais, a research scientist at NASA Ames Research Center, is currently
a team member on several of the missions to Mars including the rover missions (long term
planning), the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, and the Mars Science Laboratory. He is lead
author of The Roadmap for NASA's Astrobiology Institute, a consortium of national
laboratories, universities and private research groups investigating the origin of life in the
broadest sense and strategies for detecting life elsewhere in this solar system and on
planets elsewhere in the Milky Way. He is the current team leader for NASA Ames'
team for Astrobiology. Dr. Des Marais presented a lecture at the Frontiers of Flight
Museum, "Exploring Mars for Evidence of Life."

(Pictures)

PDF Fall 2009 Hamilton Scholar Schedule

Spring 2009

Don L. Anderson renowned geophysicst and author of A New Theory of the Earth, spoke
on the "The Subterranean Cycle: The Continental Drip Hypothesis." His theory for the Earth
places plate tectonic evolution, hot spot volcanism, and the breakup of continents into an
evolutionary framework more consistent with insights from other planets.

PDF Spring 2009 Hamilton Scholar Schedule

Fall 2008

Richard Carlson, senior geochemist at the Department of Terrerstrial Magnetism at the
Carnegie Institution of Washington spoke on "A History of Earth's Formation." Dr. Carlson
and his colleagues presented sampling evidence of a recent historical discovery. In a Nuvvuagittug
region of Quebec, they collected samples of rock 4.28 billion years old. The oldest samples to date
from a previous date of 250 million years (video presentation).
(Pictures)

PDF Fall 2008 Hamilton Scholar Schedule


Fall 2007

Rodney C. Ewing, Donald R. Peacor Collegiate Professor, Department of Geological Sciences,
University of Michigan presented a lecture on "Nuclear Fuel Cycle vs Carbon Cycle: Plutonium
vs. Carbon." Dr. Ewing says, "The real question Plutonium versus carbon - which would you
rather have as your problem? I don't have the answer, but the points I'm raising are ones I think
people need to be considering."

PDF Fall 2007 Hamilton Scholar Schedule