image: Peter K. Swart in Darwin Australia (September 2015), prior to his participation on IODP Expedition 359. The expedition which was the 6th time Dr. Swart has sailed on the JOIDES Resolution, drilled areas surrounding the Maldives. Also participating on this leg from the University of Miami were Anna Ling and Gregor Eberli. view more
Credit: Gregor Eberli, Ph.D. UM Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
MIAMI-University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science Professor Peter K. Swart has been elected a fellow of the American Geophysical Union (AGU), the nation's leading professional society for scientists in the Earth and space sciences. The award will be presented at a special award presentation during the 2016 AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco.
A pioneer in marine geochemistry, Swart is chair of the UM Rosenstiel School Department of Marine Geosciences and the Lewis G. Weeks Professor of Marine Geology. Swart, who has been at UM since 1983, is director of UM's Stable Isotope Laboratory, and is best known for his work on isotopes in geochemistry, carbonate diagenesis (physical and chemical changes occurring during the conversion of sediment to sedimentary rock), paleoclimatology, and hydrology.
"I am pleased that Peter is being recognized by AGU for his pioneering geochemistry research," said Roni Avissar, dean of the UM Rosenstiel School. "This is a well-deserved and long-overdue recognition of Peter's achievements."
Swart pioneered the use of geochemistry in other areas such as extra-terrestrial materials, hydrology, and carbonates. His 1982 paper in Science was the first to reveal the presence of highly enriched C-13 phases in meteorites, offering clues to the origin of the solar system.
"To be elected a Union Fellow is a tribute to those AGU members who have made exceptional contributions to Earth and space sciences as valued by their peers and vetted by section and focus group committees," according to AGU.
Throughout his career Swart has been supported through a variety of sources including the National Science Foundation, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Departments of Energy and Interior, as well as several global corporations. He one of the Principal Investigators in the Comparative Sedimentology Laboratory (CSL), a consortium of petroleum companies, and the former editor of the highly regarded journal Sedimentology. In 2011, his work with UM Rosenstiel School Professors Kenny Broad and Amy Clement on the dating and isotopic analysis of stalagmites to reconstruct past climate changes was featured as part of a cover story in National Geographic.
Swart is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Geological Society of America. He is also a member of the American Geophysical Union, the Coral Reef Society, the Geological Society of America and the Geochemical Society and the International Association of Sedimentologists.
Swart has an impressive record of scholarly accomplishments, with more than 190 published papers, book chapters, editorials, and special publications that have garnered over 5,000 citations. He also teaches regularly and has served as Ph.D. and Master's dissertation committee chair for more than 30 students.
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About the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School
The University of Miami is one of the largest private research institutions in the southeastern United States. The University's mission is to provide quality education, attract and retain outstanding students, support the faculty and their research, and build an endowment for University initiatives. Founded in the 1940's, the Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science has grown into one of the world's premier marine and atmospheric research institutions. Offering dynamic interdisciplinary academics, the Rosenstiel School is dedicated to helping communities to better understand the planet, participating in the establishment of environmental policies, and aiding in the improvement of society and quality of life. For more information, visit: http://www.rsmas.miami.edu.