ASTROBIOLOGY & CAVE SCIENCE
Penny Boston
From the microbial life of deep caves to the search for life on Mars, Penny Boston connects worlds of discovery.
Read Penny Boston’s story →About NMGS / People & history
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCIENCE
Notable New Mexico
Geologists
Extraordinary lives.
A shared curiosity about the Earth.
Meet the scientists whose discoveries, fieldwork, and ideas have helped us understand New Mexico — from ancient continents to the possibility of life on Mars.
Explore the profiles ↓EST. 2013
Earth science / Discovery / Living history
THE ONLINE COLLECTION
Five lives. Many paths to discovery
Explore the personal journeys behind the science. Each profile opens a window into a life of curiosity, persistence, and exploration.
GEOCHEMISTRY & CONTINENTAL EVOLUTION
Kent Condie
Billion-year-old rocks and journeys around the globe reveal the story of how Earth’s continents came to be.
Read Kent Condie’s story →
VOLCANOLOGY & REGIONAL GEOLOGY
Wolf Elston
A lifetime of exploring volcanic rocks, ash-flow calderas, and the geologic history of southwestern New Mexico.
Read Wolf Elston’s story →
MINING ENGINEERING & HISTORY
Bob Eveleth
Mining, minerals, and the stories of Socorro come together in a career devoted to New Mexico’s rich heritage.
Read Bob Eveleth’s story →
CAVE GEOLOGY & THE GRAND CANYON
Carol Hill
Research that challenged ideas about how Carlsbad Caverns formed and how the Grand Canyon evolved.
Read Carol Hill’s story →HELP TELL THE NEXT STORY
Whose story
should we tell next?
Recommend a geoscientist or contribute a profile that will inspire the next generation.
Get in touch →These historical profiles reflect the careers and perspectives recorded in the original NMGS project.
FROM THE NMGS BOOKSHELF · SPECIAL PUBLICATION 12
A deeper history
of discovery.
A Brief History of Geological Studies in New Mexico With Biographical Profiles of Notable New Mexico Geologists
Published in 2014, this volume documents the work of deceased geoscientists who advanced our understanding of the state. The online profiles extend that history through the lives and work of additional notable scientists.
Explore NMGS publications →A LIVING HISTORY
The science matters.
So do the stories.
New Mexico has a long history of study by geologists. Some, like Jules Marcou and Clarence Dutton made significant geological observations while traveling through the area. Others, like Vincent Kelly, lived and worked in New Mexico for decades and published numerous widely cited papers and books.
We aim to recognize the life and work of men and women whose work in New Mexico has contributed to various fields within Earth and planetary sciences, including (but not limited to) geology, geophysics, geochemistry, hydrology, environmental science, and mining. The project was launched by Steve Simpson’s Science Writing class at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in Spring 2013. We welcome all with an interest in New Mexico geology to enjoy these profiles, to suggest noteworthy scientists and engineers for future profiles, and even to share their own stories about other scientists who have inspired them or have contributed to knowledge of our region.
Profiles are written for a non-specialist audience — geologists, students, teachers, and anyone curious about our region. We welcome suggestions and stories of scientists and engineers whose work deserves to be shared.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We would like to thank the following people for their input in the development of this project: Nelia Dunbar, Ginger McLemore, Adam Read, Barry Kues, and the Spring 2013 Science Writing class (Angelica, Sarah B., Maribel, Sarah H., Ivan, Qian, Lysandwr, and Suzanne)