G. Jeffrey Taylor, Ph.D.

G. Jeffrey Taylor received his undergraduate degree in physics from Colgate University and his Ph.D. in geology and geophysics from Rice University. He is currently a research professor in the Hawai`i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology at the University of Hawai`i. Dr. Taylor has done extensive work on the mineralogical and chemical make up of lunar samples and meteorites, publishing over 170 refereed articles. His main interest is in understanding the processes involved in planetary evolution, with emphasis on magmatism and impact on the Moon, Mars, Mercury, and asteroids, and aqueous alteration processes on Mars. He is a member of the Mars Odyssey Gamma-Ray Spectrometer Team. Jeff Taylor also has lots of experience in education and public outreach. He was awarded the Carl Sagan Medal for Public Communications in Planetary Science by the Division of Planetary Science of the American Astronomical Society.  Working with Linda Martel (Hawai‘i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology), he publishes an online science magazine, Planetary Science Research Discoveries (www.psrd.hawaii.edu).