Geobiology, Geochemistry, and Earth History

Geobiology, Geochemistry, and Earth History

Querying all layers of the Earth, from its atmosphere to its core, investigating its past in service of understanding its future.

Drawing on biological and chemical sciences, we investigate the composition and operation of Earth and how these intertwine with the history and current state of life on our planet. We use state-of-the-art analysis of geologic and biological samples, often involving isotopic geochemical signatures, to explore a wide range of topics.

These topics include the history of climate, ecosystems, and life and how volcanism on land and in the deep ocean influences climate change over geological timescales.

Our work in these areas capitalizes on partnerships with other centers across campus, including the Salata Institute’s Harvard University Center for the Environment, the Origins of Life Initiative, and the Microbial Sciences Initiative.

Research Groups

Fischer Group

Geobiology, Geochemistry, and Earth History, Geology, Geophysics, and Planetary Science
We study accretion, core formation and composition of the deep interiors of Earth and other terrestrial planets.

Fu Group

Geobiology, Geochemistry, and Earth History, Geology, Geophysics, and Planetary Science
The Harvard Paleomagnetics Group

Jacobsen Group

Geobiology, Geochemistry, and Earth History
We study isotope geochemistry and cosmochemistry; the formation and early differentiation of the terrestrial planets.

Johnston Group

Geobiology, Geochemistry, and Earth History, Climate, Atmosphere, and Oceans
The primary goal within the group is to better understand the relationship between the evolution of the biosphere (namely microorganisms) and that of Earth’s oceans and atmosphere.

Pearson Group

Geobiology, Geochemistry, and Earth History, Climate, Atmosphere, and Oceans
Lab for Molecular Biogeochemistry and Organic Geochemistry

Sunderland Group

Climate, Atmosphere, and Oceans, Geobiology, Geochemistry, and Earth History

Uno Group

Climate, Atmosphere, and Oceans, Geobiology, Geochemistry, and Earth History

Wordsworth Group

Climate, Atmosphere, and Oceans, Geobiology, Geochemistry, and Earth History, Geology, Geophysics, and Planetary Science
We work on a wide variety of different topics related to planetary climate, atmospheres and habitability.

CTA Block

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