Paul F. Hoffman
Sturgis Hooper Professor of Geology, Emeritus
Hoffman’s work explores snowball Earth acceleration, life evolution, and plate tectonics, dating back to the first half of Earth’s history.
Paul F. Hoffman is a leading tectonic and sedimentary geologist, renowned for his pioneering research on Proterozoic carbonates and the application of plate tectonics to Earth’s early history. He is best known for developing the Snowball Earth hypothesis, which links global glaciation events to evolutionary and tectonic milestones. Since 1993, he has conducted extensive fieldwork in northern Namibia, central to his groundbreaking studies.
In 2024, Professor Hoffman was awarded the Kyoto Prize for his contributions to Earth’s evolution and plate tectonics. His distinguished career is further reflected in his election to numerous prestigious scholarly societies, including the National Academy of Sciences, the Royal Society of Canada, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Professor Hoffman’s legacy continues to influence geoscientific research worldwide, inspiring new generations of Earth scientists.