Searching for life outside our own planet compels us to distinguish between the types of planetary environments that can host life, and those that cannot. This search not only requires a robust understanding of the limits of modern life, but also plausible models of the evolution of abiotic chemistry that eventually gives rise to life. Current research seeks to understand the origin and composition of organic compounds in space, the emergence of life on Earth, the extent of life in Earth’s extreme ecosystems, and the potential for life elsewhere in the solar systems.

In the face of a changing climate, it is important to understand and characterize Earth’s past climate states, and the complex interactions between Earth’s systems that are intertwined with changes in climate.  These observations are critical to informing our predictions about a dynamic future climate.  Departmental research applies experimental and isotope geochemistry, and micropaleontology to these problems to reconstruct past Earth surface conditions and paleoclimates across a wide range of timescales.