Gerald Schubert | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1939-03-02)March 2, 1939 New York, U.S. |
| Died | August 31, 2025(2025-08-31) (aged 86) |
| Alma mater | |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | |
| Notable students | David Bercovici, David Sandwell, David Baker, David Yuen |
Gerald 'Jerry' Schubert (March 2, 1939 – August 31, 2025)[1] was an American geophysicist and one of the pioneers of modern geodynamics and planetary physics.
Early life and career
In 1961 he received degrees in engineering physics and aeronautical engineering from Cornell University and in 1964 his Ph.D. in engineering and aeronautical sciences from the University of California, Berkeley. Until 1965 he served as instructor in the Naval Nuclear Power School. He did short research stays at Bell Labs and at DAMTP in Cambridge. In 1966 he began his academic career at the University of California, Los Angeles and became Assistant Professor, in 1970 he was promoted Associate Professor and in 1974 Full Professor of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences.[1]
Research
His research has broadly dealt with modeling the structure and dynamics of the interiors and atmospheres and Earth and other planets. He made contributions to the theoretical understanding of planetary interiors, mantle convection, and geophysical fluid dynamics, and co-authored influential texts such as Geodynamics and Mantle Convection in the Earth and Planets.
He played a role in NASA planetary exploration, serving on and contributing to a succession of missions that advanced understanding of the Solar System. He was a member of the Apollo 15 and Apollo 16 magnetometer teams, helping to interpret magnetic and geophysical measurements from the lunar surface, and subsequently participated in the science teams for Pioneer Venus, Magellan, and Galileo missions, where his expertise in planetary interiors, atmospheres, and magnetic fields informed mission science objectives and data analysis.[2]
Awards
- 1969: Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Fellowship
- 1972: Guggenheim Fellow[3]
- 1975: Fellow of the American Geophysical Union (AGU)[4]
- 1975: James B. Macelwane Medal from AGU[5]
- 2001: Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences[6]
- 2002: Harry Hess Medal from AGU[7]
- 2002: Member of National Academy of Sciences[8]
- 2004: Fellow ot the Institute of Physics
- 2009: Foreign Member of the Academy of Europe[9]
Publications
Books
- Turcotte, Donald Lawson; Schubert, Gerald (2014). Geodynamics (3rd ed.). Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-107-00653-9.
- Schubert, Gerald; Turcotte, Donald Lawson; Olson, Peter (2001). Mantle convection in the earth and planets. Cambridge, New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-35367-0.
Personal life
He married his wife Joyce in 1960 and had three children, Todd, Michael, and Tamara.[10]
Schubert died on August 31, 2025, at the age of 86.[2]
References
- ^ a b "Gerald Schubert Biography". UCLA. Retrieved 2025-12-21.
- ^ a b Bercovici, Dave. "Gerald Schubert (1939 - 2025)". International Association of Seismology and Physics of the Earth's Interior (IASPEI). Retrieved 2025-12-21.
- ^ "Gerald Schubert". Nasonline.org. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
- ^ "Schubert - AGU Honors Program".
- ^ Menard, H. W.; McKenzie, Dan; Ahrens, Thomas J.; Schubert, Gerald; Dessler, Alexander J.; Vasyliunas, Vytenis M. (1975-11-01). "James B. Macelwane Award to Dan McKenzie, Gerald Schubert and Vytenis M. Vasyliunas". Eos, Transactions American Geophysical Union. 56 (11): 922–926. doi:10.1029/EO056i011p00922. ISSN 0096-3941.
- ^ "Gerald Schubert | American Academy of Arts and Sciences". American Academy of Arts & Sciences. 2025-09-23. Retrieved 2025-12-21.
- ^ Bercovici, David A.; Schubert, Gerald (2003-03-04). "Schubert receives 2002 Harry H. Hess medal". Eos, Transactions American Geophysical Union. 84 (9): 80–81. doi:10.1029/2003EO090005. ISSN 0096-3941.
- ^ "Gerald Schubert". National Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 2025-12-21.
- ^ "Schubert Gerald". Academia Europaea. Retrieved 2025-12-21.
- ^ "Gerald Jerry Schubert's Memorial". Mount Sinai. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
External links
- Homepage
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