Jim Zimbelman

Join Jim Zimbelman on the Smithsonian Associates program – Niagara Falls

Dr. Jim Zimbelman is a planetary geologist at the Smithsonian’'s National Air and Space Museum where he has served as the chairman of the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies. He has expertise in physics and mathematics (B.A.), geophysics and space physics (M.S. University of California at Los Angeles), as well as geology (Ph.D. Arizona State University). Jim was co-editor of the book Environmental Effects on Volcanic Eruptions: From Deep Oceans to Deep Space,” co-author of Dunes Worlds and has written more than 90 papers and maps for various peer-reviewed scientific journals and books. Over the past 28 years at NASM, he has been involved in the analysis of high-resolution spacecraft imaging and geophysical data of the Earth and terrestrial planets, geologic mapping of Mars and Venus, and other geologic studies of terrestrial planets.

Kirt Kempter

Kirt Kempter is a Fulbright Fellow and Ph.D. graduate from the University of Texas at Austin, where he conducted his dissertation research on Rincón de la Vieja volcano in Costa Rica. For the past 11 years, Kirt has worked for the New Mexico STATEMAP program, studying the geologic history of northern New Mexico. Kirt is also an instructor for the NASA astronaut training program, teaching NASA’'s 2009 astronaut candidates geologic mapping techniques in northern New Mexico. Since 1993, Kirt has led numerous journeys for the Smithsonian Institution, from Iceland to Antarctica.

William Leeman

Bill Leeman received his Ph. D. in geology from University of Oregon in 1974. Following post-graduate research fellowships with the U.S. Geological Survey (1977), and Oregon State University (1978-79), he joined the faculty of the Department of Earth Science, Rice University (1979-2005), where he focused on volcanology, igneous petrology, geochemistry, geologic hazards, and environmental studies.  Bill's primary research areas include volcanology and tectonics of the western U.S., with major projects in the Cascades Volcanic Arc, the Snake River Plain-Yellowstone volcanic belt, and the Basin and Range Province.  He has also studied volcanoes in Alaska, Chile, Hawaii, Mexico, Central America, Italy, New Zealand and more.  After retiring from Rice University as Professor Emeritus, Bill joined the National Science Foundation where he managed a research program in Petrology and Geochemistry. In 2012, Bill retired from government service to move to Santa Fe, where he continues work on research and writing projects.