Skip to main content
DEI in GPS
Access
Directory
Quick Links Click here to open the "Quick Links" submenu Down arrow
Quick Links for Faculty Quick Links for Staff Quick Links for Students
Caltech Logo
Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences
People
Professorial Faculty
Emeritus Faculty
Research Faculty
Visiting Faculty and Visitors
Postdoctoral Scholars
Graduate Students
Undergraduate Students
JPL Scientist
Research Staff
Support Staff
Research
Research Programs Open Research Programs Submenu
Geology Geobiology Geochemistry Geophysics Planetary Sciences Environmental Science and Engineering
Research Centers Open Research Centers Submenu
The Bruce Murray Lab Caltech Center for Comparative Planetary Evolution (3CPE) Climate Modeling Alliance (CliMA) Geomechanics and Mitigation of Geohazards (GMG) The Linde Center Seismological Laboratory Terrestrial Hazards Observation and Reporting (THOR)
Research Lab Schedule
Research Facilities - On Campus
Research Facilities - Off Campus
Research Administration
Academics
Undergraduate Program Open Undergraduate Program Submenu
Program Requirements GPS Minor
Graduate Program Open Graduate Program Submenu
Program Requirements Grad Program FAQs Admissions Advising Information for new grad students Master's Degree Doctoral Degree
Student Resources
Courses Open Courses Submenu
Online Courses Winter 2021 Course Offerings 2020-2021 Course Descriptions Setup a Class Website GPS Courses (2020-21)
Field Trips Open Field Trips Submenu
Contact Information Form for Class Field Trips Contact Information Form for Research Field Trips Field Vehicle Availability
Resources
DEI in GPS Open DEI in GPS Submenu
DEI Committee DEI Funding DEI Comment Form DEI Meeting Agendas and Minutes References on DEI in Geosciences Related Activities
Libraries Open Libraries Submenu
GPS Library Caltech Library Mineral Collection
Meeting Facilities Open Meeting Facilities Submenu
GPS Patio Tables
Safety Resources Open Safety Resources Submenu
GPS Emergency Procedures Emergency Action Plan (PDF) Safety Contacts Workplace Safety Checklist Evacuation Map
Quick Links
News & Events
GPS Events this Week Open GPS Events this Week Submenu
GPS Group Calendar
Award Announcements
News
Calendar
About
GPS History
GPS at a Glance
Contact Open Contact Submenu
Administrative and Grants Management Contact List (PDF) GPS Directory (PDF) Academic Leadership
Visit
Positions Available Open Positions Available Submenu
Faculty Positions Postdoctoral Positions Staff Positions
Support
In the News
Open search form
Menu Main Menu
Close
People Click here to open the "People" Submenu
Research Click here to open the "Research" Submenu
Academics Click here to open the "Academics" Submenu
Resources Click here to open the "Resources" Submenu
News & Events Click here to open the "News & Events" Submenu
About Click here to open the "About" Submenu
DEI in GPS
Access
Directory
Quick Links
Quick Links for Faculty Quick Links for Staff Quick Links for Students
People
Back
Professorial Faculty Emeritus Faculty Research Faculty Visiting Faculty and Visitors Postdoctoral Scholars Graduate Students Undergraduate Students JPL Scientist Research Staff Support Staff
Research
Back
Research Programs Geology Geobiology Geochemistry Geophysics Planetary Sciences Environmental Science and Engineering Research Centers The Bruce Murray Lab Caltech Center for Comparative Planetary Evolution (3CPE) Climate Modeling Alliance (CliMA) Geomechanics and Mitigation of Geohazards (GMG) The Linde Center Seismological Laboratory Terrestrial Hazards Observation and Reporting (THOR) Research Lab Schedule Research Facilities - On Campus Research Facilities - Off Campus Research Administration
Academics
Back
Undergraduate Program Program Requirements GPS Minor Graduate Program Program Requirements Grad Program FAQs Admissions Advising Information for new grad students Master's Degree Doctoral Degree Student Resources Courses Online Courses Winter 2021 Course Offerings 2020-2021 Course Descriptions Setup a Class Website GPS Courses (2020-21) Field Trips Contact Information Form for Class Field Trips Contact Information Form for Research Field Trips Field Vehicle Availability
Resources
Back
DEI in GPS DEI Committee DEI Funding DEI Comment Form DEI Meeting Agendas and Minutes References on DEI in Geosciences Related Activities Libraries GPS Library Caltech Library Mineral Collection Meeting Facilities GPS Patio Tables Safety Resources GPS Emergency Procedures Emergency Action Plan (PDF) Safety Contacts Workplace Safety Checklist Evacuation Map Quick Links
News & Events
Back
GPS Events this Week GPS Group Calendar Award Announcements News Calendar
About
Back
GPS History GPS at a Glance Contact Administrative and Grants Management Contact List (PDF) GPS Directory (PDF) Academic Leadership Visit Positions Available Faculty Positions Postdoctoral Positions Staff Positions Support In the News
Open search form
GPS 90th Celebration

GPS at a Glance

Established in 1926, the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences (GPS) is one of the six academic divisions at Caltech
Related Pages open sidebar menu
Close
About
GPS History
GPS at a Glance
Contact Open Contact Submenu Close Contact Submenu
Administrative and Grants Management Contact List (PDF) GPS Directory (PDF) Academic Leadership
Visit
Positions Available Open Positions Available Submenu Close Positions Available Submenu
Faculty Positions Postdoctoral Positions Staff Positions
Support
In the News
GPS Logo
Image Lightbox
GPS Logo
Download Full Image

By the Numbers

  • Professorial Faculty: 45
  • Emeritus Faculty: 12
  • Undergraduate Students: 11
  • Graduate Students: 126
  • Postdocs: 76

Academic Programs

Undergraduate Degrees

  • BS in Geobiology
  • BS in Geochemistry
  • BS in Geology
  • BS in Geophysics
  • BS in Planetary Science

Graduate Degrees

  • MS, PhD in Environmental Science and Engineering
  • MS, PhD in Geobiology
  • MS, PhD in Geochemistry
  • MS, PhD in Geology
  • MS, PhD in Geophysics
  • MS, PhD in Planetary Science

The MS is awarded under special circumstances only.

Faculty and Alumni Honors & Awards

  • 3 - American Academy of Arts and Sciences
  • 5 - National Academy of Sciences
  • 5 - AGU Fellow
  • 1 - Macelwane Medal
  • 1 - Kavli Prize
  • 2 - Keiiti Aki Young Scientist Award
  • 2 - MacArthur Fellow
  • 3 - Packard Fellow
  • 1 - Roebling Medal
  • 1 - Wollaston Medal

GPS Rankings

  • No. 1 earth science graduate program in the nation for more than a decade, U.S. News and World Report
  • No. 1 geochemistry, geophysics, and seismology graduate program, U.S. News and World Report, 2014
  • A top-5 graduate environmental science and engineering program, National Research Council, 2012

Discoveries

  • Geophysicist Charles Richter (PhD '28) developed the Richter scale for measuring earthquakes in the 1930s; in the 1970s, geophysics professor emeritus Hiroo Kanamori and seismologist Thomas C. Hanks created a more accurate scale for measuring large quakes.
  • Geologist and geophysics professor emeritus Gerald Wasserburg's research, which he began in the 1950s, led to the first timeline of the early solar system's development. He was also among the initial scientists to analyze the first lunar rock samples returned to the earth and was instrumental in convincing the government to invest in the study of these samples.
  • In 2003, planetary science professor Mike Brown discovered the largest object in the Kuiper Belt—a dwarf planet called Eris—which subsequently led to Pluto's demotion from planet to dwarf planet.
  • Astrophysics and planetary science professor emeritus Peter Goldreich's research throughout the 1960s provided key theoretical insights into the structure and mechanics of the solar system, helping scientists build an understanding of how planets form, migrate, and evolve.
  • Geology professor emeritus Lee Silver (PhD '55) instructed the Apollo 13, 15, 16, and 17 astronauts on how to perform field geology; he is credited with creating lunar field geology as a new discipline and with significantly improving the Apollo missions' scientific returns.
  • The scientific team led by geology professor John Grotzinger, former lead project scientist on the Mars Science Laboratory mission, has analyzed data returned from the Curiosity rover since August 2011, and has found evidence that the martian environment could have supported microbial life billions of years ago.
  • Research conducted during the 1960s and 1970s by geophysics professor emeritus Don Anderson (MS '59, PhD '62) led to a new understanding of the large-scale structure of the earth's interior. His research into the earth's material structure used data generated from seismological studies.
  • Alumnus Walter Munk (BS '39, MS '40) used lessons learned from his geophysics studies at Caltech to shed light on ocean currents, tides, and waves, and their roles in the earth's dynamics.
  • The late geology professor Robert Sharp (BS '34, MS '35) is credited with helping tie earth science research to the study of other planets, Mars in particular. Research done throughout his career illuminated the nature and origin of planetary surfaces, including basin and range structures, glaciers, sand dunes, and landslides and mud flows.
  • Geology professor (and Caltech interim president, 2013-2014 and provost, 2008-2017) Edward Stolper was the first geologist to identify a rock sample found on the earth as a martian meteorite.
  • The late geochemistry professor Clair Patterson was the first to determine—in 1953—that the earth and solar system are 4.6 billion years old. In the 1960s, he also provided the first scientific evidence that environmental lead accumulates in the human body, resulting in significant health risks. His findings prompted new regulations in the U.S. auto, gasoline, and paint industries.
  • Geochemistry professor John Eiler in 2010 created a paleothermometer that uses isotope clumping to determine temperatures in rocks and fossils; he and his colleagues have used this thermometer to measure ancient climates on the earth and Mars, and to pinpoint, for the first time ever, the body temperature of a dinosaur.

Caltech Torch
Caltech Logo
California Institute of Technology
map marker
1200 East California Boulevard
Pasadena, California 91125
Contact Us Report a Copyright Infringement Website Feedback Privacy Notice Site Content Copyright © 2021 Log In