Given by: Prof. Timothy Kusky
TIMOTHY MICHAEL KUSKY
Principal Research Interests:
Tectonics, Natural Hazards, Structural Geology, Precambrian Geology and Crustal Evolution, Evolution of Orogenic Systems, Remote Sensing and GIS, Tectonics and Mineral Deposits, Environmental Science and Society.
Summary of Main Research Expertise and Accomplishments
Timothy M. Kusky’s research and teaching focuses on the fields of plate tectonics and the early history of the Earth, as well as in natural hazards and disasters, satellite imagery, mineral and water resources, and relationships between people and the natural environment. He has worked extensively in North America, Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and the rims of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. He has authored more than 25 books, 600 research papers, and numerous public interest articles, interviews with the media (newspapers, international, national and local television, radio, and international news magazines), and regularly gives public presentations on science and society. Some specific areas of current interest include:
· Precambrian crustal evolution
· Tectonics of convergent margins
· Natural disasters: hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunami, floods, etc.
· Environmental Science and the Interface between Science and Society
· Drought and desertification
· Africa, Madagascar, China
· Middle East geology, water, and tectonics
Summary of Research and Teaching Positions:
2010-present Member of 1000 Talent Program, China Central Government Committee
2009-present Distinguished Professor and Changjiang Scholar, Sanxia Geohazards Research Center, State Key Lab for Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan
2007-2009 Director, Center for Environmental Sciences, Saint Louis University.
2003-2009 P. C. Reinert Endowed Professor of Natural Sciences, Saint Louis University.
2003-2008 Research Geologist, GS 15, U.S. Geological Survey, intermittent appointment.
2000-2009 Assistant/Associate Professor, Saint Louis University.
Education:
Ph.D. Earth and Planetary Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University, May 1990.
M.A. Arts and Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University, June 1988.
Recent Books
Kusky, T.M., Zhai, M.G., and Xiao, W.J., 2010, The Evolving Continents: Understanding Processes of Continental Growth, Geological Society of London Special Publication 338, 424 pp.. ISBN: 978-1-86239-303-5.
Kusky, T.M., 2010, Encyclopedia of Earth and Space Sciences, Facts on File, New York, two volumes, 960 pp. ISBN-10: 0816070059; SBN-13: 978-0-8160-7005-3
Kusky, T.M., 2009, The Coast, Hazardous Interactions within the Coastal Zone Facts on File, Hazardous Earth Set. New York: Facts on File, 155 pp. (ISBN-13: 978-0-8160-6467-0. ISBN-10: 0-8160-6467-9)
Kusky, T.M., 2009, Asteroids and Meteorites: Catastrophic Collisions with Earth Facts on File, Hazardous Earth Set. New York: Facts on File, 130 pp. (ISBN-13: 978-0-8160-6469-4. ISBN-10: 0-8160-6469-5)
Kusky, T.M., 2009, Climate Change: Shifting Deserts, Glaciers, and Climate Belts, The Hazardous Earth Set, New York: Facts on File, 156 pp. (ISBN-13: 978-0-8160-6466-3. ISBN-10: 978-0-8160-6466-0)
Kusky, T.M., 2008, Floods: Hazards of Surface and Groundwater Systems, The Hazardous Earth Set., New York: Facts On File, 144 pp. (ISBN-13: 978-0-8160-6468-7. ISBN-10: -8160-6468-7)
Kusky, T.M., 2008, Natural Hazards, Instructor's Manual, 2/E, Prentice Hall; Copyright: 2008 Format: Paper; 272 pp. Pub Date: Feb 28, 2008, ISBN-10: 0132394510, ISBN-13: 9780132394512
Kusky, T.M., 2008, Earthquakes: Plate Tectonics and Earthquake Hazards, Facts on File, The Hazardous Earth, ISBN-13: 978-0-8160-6462-5, ISBN-10: 0-8160-6462-8 (QE534.3K7)
Kusky, T.M., 2008, Volcanoes: Eruptions and Other Volcanic Hazards, Facts on File, The Hazardous Earth, ISBN-13: 978-0-8160-6463-2, ISBN-10: 0-8160—6463-6 (QE522.K87 2008)
Kusky, T.M., 2008, Tsunami: Giant Waves from the Sea Facts on File, The Hazardous Earth, ISBN-13: 978-0-8160-6464-9; ISBN-10: 0-8160-6464-4, 133 pp.
Kusky, T.M., 2008, Landslides: Mass Wasting, Soil, and Mineral Hazards, Facts on File, The Hazardous Earth. ISBN-13: 9780816064656
Work Experience Details
2009-present Distinguished Professor, Changjiang Scholar, 100 Talents of Hubei Province, and 1000 Talents of China Project, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China Ministry of Education, State Key Lab for Geological Processes, and Three Gorges Center for Geohazards Research.
Duties and Accomplishments: Carrying out fundamental research in the evolution of continents, geological hazards, building a team of faculty, post-docs, graduate and undergraduate students to study the evolution of continents, and assess and mitigate the risks to society (especially in China) from geological hazards. Construction of laboratories to carry out these research tasks, including an international field base in the Three Gorges (Sanxia) area of south China. Obtaining research funding for the tasks above, and presentation of research results at international meetings. Construction of International Center for Global Tectonics.
2007-2009 Director, Center for Environmental Sciences, St. Louis University.
Duties and Accomplishments. Charged with building a research and educational environment that examines the interaction of the solid earth, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere, and how humans are interacting with these systems, often resulting in natural hazards and disasters. Establishing research programs that aim to understand how these systems will interact under changing climate and demographics, and to improve humanity’s response to these changing environmental conditions. Responsible for hiring and affiliating a number of researchers in geology, biology, ecology, climate and atmospheric sciences, chemistry, natural hazards, urban and disaster planning and response, public health, environmental law and ethics, remote sensing, and geographic information systems (GIS). Building educational programs that bridge traditional gaps between disciplines and provide an environment for students and researchers to develop projects using integrated global and regional GIS databases, field studies, and models. Leading outreach programs including talks, public displays at dozens of zoos, science centers, and botanical gardens worldwide, as well as providing a web site for educational and research purposes. Building laboratories to support the above activities.
Publications Listed by Major Topic
Major Refereed Papers
Kusky, T.M., Ye M.G., Wang, J.P., and Wang, Lu, 2010, The geological evolution of Longhushan World Geopark in relation to global tectonics, Journal of Earth Science,21（1）:1-18.
Kusky, T.M., and Santosh, M., 2009, The Columbia Connection in North China, in Reddy, S.M., Mazumder, R., Evans, D., and Collins, A.S., Paleoproterozoic Supercontinents and Global Evolution, Geological Society of London Special Publication 323, 49-71.
Kusky, T.M., and Li, J.H., 2008, Discussion of “U-Pb zircon age constraints on the Dongwanzi ultramafic-mafic body, North China, confirm it is not an Archean ophiolite”, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 273, 227-230.
Kusky, T.M., Windley, B.F., and Zhai, M.G., 2007, Tectonic Evolution of the North China Block: from Orogen to Craton to Orogen, in Zhai. M.G., Windley, B.F/., Kusky, T.M., and Meng, Q.R., Mesozoic Sub-Continental Lithospheric Thinning Under Eastern Asia, Geological Society of London Special Publication 280, p. 1-34.
Kusky, T.M., and Li, J.H., 2003, Paleoproterozoic tectonic evolution of the North China Craton, Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, volume 22, no. 4, p. 383-397.
Kusky, T.M., and Loring, D.P., 2001, Structural and U/Pb Chronology of Superimposed Folds, Adirondack Mountains: Implications for the Tectonic Evolution of the Grenville Province, Journal of Geodynamics, volume 32, p. 395-418.
Kusky, T.M., Li, Jianghai, and Tucker, R.T., 2001, The Archean Dongwanzi ophiolite complex, North China Craton: 2.505 Billion Year Old Oceanic Crust and Mantle, Science, volume 292, p. 1142-1145.
Kusky, T.M., 2000, Ancient continent opens window on the early Earth, Science, volume 288, p. 1590-1591
Kusky, T.M., and Hudleston, P.J., 1999, Growth and Demise of an Archean carbonate platform, Steep Rock Lake, Ontario Canada. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, volume 36, p. 1-20.
Kusky, T.M., and Kidd, W.S.F., 1999, Continental extensional setting for the Archean Belingwe greenstone belt-discussion of paper by M.A. Hunter, M.J. Bickle, E.G. Nisbet, A. Martin, and H.J. Chapman, Geology 27, number 9, p. 861.
Kusky, T.M., 1998, Tectonic setting and terrane accretion of the Archean Zimbabwe craton, Geology, volume 26, 163-166.
Dissertation
Kusky, T. M., 1990, Tectonics of the Archean Slave Province, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University, 356 pp., January 1989, (advisor, Declan De Paor: outside reader, Paul Hoffman).
