Earth and Atmospheric Science Department Leader, Robert van der Hilst, to Vacate Position

Earth and Atmospheric Science Department Leader, Robert van der Hilst, to Vacate Position

Dig this: MIT's top earth scientist, Robert van der Hilst, is stepping down as the department head of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS) this academic year. No word yet on who'll take his place. But before you get blue, know that a search committee will be assembled this spring to vet potential candidates.

Nergis Mavalvala, the dean of MIT's School of Science and a renowned astrophysicist, spoke high praise of van der Hilst. He's a badass seismologist who's dropped dope pics of Earth’s interior structure, giving us fresh insights into how tectonic plates dance, how the mantle convects, and why some spots are volcanic and seismically active as all hell. As an academic leader, van der Hilst set a barrier-breaking tone for EAPS, amplifying the department’s missions in climate sciences and promoting diversity and community.

Van der Hilst humbly stated, "I've had the privilege of helming this department for 12 years, and I enthusiastically collaborated with everyone - faculty, staff, students. EAPS leads the pack in climate science research at MIT, and we're trailblazers in Earth and planetary sciences and studies on life's co-evolution with ever-changing environments."

In his tenure, van der Hilst flew high as co-chair of MIT’s Climate Grand Challenges, where EAPS researchers shined by securing nine finalists and two funded flagship projects. He also participated in the Institute's Climate Nucleus, moving forward with Fast Forward: MIT's Climate Action Plan for the Decade.

Van der Hilst led the development, funding, and construction of the Tina and Hamid Moghadam Building, set to complete soon next to Building 54. Designed to meet LEED-platinum standards, Building 55 will serve as a core and glossy center for environmental and climate research on MIT's campus. We're talking new classrooms, meeting spaces, events, and headquarters offices for EAPS, the MIT/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Joint Program in Oceanography/Applied Ocean Science, and MIT's Environmental Solutions Initiative, all under one roof.

He's also responsible for the Norman C. Rasmussen Laboratory for climate research in Building 4, and the Peter H. Stone and Paola Malanotte Stone Professorship currently held by atmospheric scientist Arlene Fiore.

Syncing up with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), van der Hilst helped create MIT's new Bachelor of Science in climate system science and engineering (Course 1-12), jointly offered by EAPS and CEE. This degree is designed to mold the next generation of climate change leaders, focusing on geological systems, engineering concepts, and digging into human and institutional behaviors tied to the climate challenge.

During van der Hilst’s leadership, EAPS dropped numerous research breakthroughs and achievements, including major NASA missions with EAPS science leadership, and the most recent Psyche mission launch. Under his watch, EAPS developed next-gen models to describe Earth systems more precisely, and he spearheaded improvements to experimental facilities across the department.

Looking ahead to EAPS' 40th anniversary in 2023, Van der Hilst launched a task force to evaluate the department's past, present, and future. This initiative looked at community engagement, external partnerships, and internal organization. Despite getting hung up by the pandemic, this project formed a detailed blueprint for EAPS to streamline its strengths and jumpstart improvements in undergraduate education, messaging, and inclusion for administrative and research staff.

In addition to focusing on faculty renewal and retention, van der Hilst played a crucial role in improving diversity, equity, and inclusion by forming the EAPS Diversity Council and appointing MIT's first associate department head for diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Post-department-head, van der Hilst will refocus on studying Earth's deep interior structure and evolution. Recently, he wrote a paper in Nature Communications about a pilot application using seismometers to monitor groundwater fluctuations as a cost-effective way to measure groundwater reserves.

Before leading EAPS, van der Hilst served as director of the Earth Resources Laboratory (ERL), where he integrated research, education, and disciplines, transforming ERL into MIT's primary hub for research and education on subsurface energy resources. Named a fellow of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) in 1997 and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2014, he has earned numerous awards throughout his illustrious career.

Information regarding potential candidates for the new EAPS department head or the expected timing of the appointment is not publicly available at this time. The MIT EAPS official website or recent MIT communications should be consulted for the latest updates on departmental leadership changes.

1. Robert van der Hilst, the former department head of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS) at MIT, is stepping down this academic year.
2. A search committee will be assembled in the spring to find a successor for van der Hilst.
3. Nergis Mavalvala, the dean of MIT's School of Science, praised van der Hilst for his contribution to the Earth sciences.
4. Van der Hilst is a renowned seismologist known for providing insights into Earth’s interior structure.
5. Under van der Hilst's leadership, EAPS became a trailblazer in climate science research at MIT.
6. EAPS researchers under van der Hilst's guidance secured nine finalists and two funded flagship projects in MIT’s Climate Grand Challenges.
7. Van der Hilst participated in the Institute's Climate Nucleus, promoting MIT's Climate Action Plan for the Decade.
8. The Tina and Hamid Moghadam Building, designed to meet LEED-platinum standards, is being developed under van der Hilst's leadership and will serve as a center for environmental and climate research on MIT's campus.
9. Van der Hilst is also responsible for the Norman C. Rasmussen Laboratory for climate research in Building 4 and the Peter H. Stone and Paola Malanotte Stone Professorship.
10. In collaboration with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, van der Hilst helped create a new Bachelor of Science in climate system science and engineering (Course 1-12).
11. EAPS dropped numerous research breakthroughs during van der Hilst's leadership, including major NASA missions with EAPS science leadership.
12. Van der Hilst launched a task force to evaluate EAPS' past, present, and future in preparation for the department's 40th anniversary in 2023.
13. This initiative aimed to improve undergraduate education, messaging, and inclusion for administrative and research staff in EAPS.
14. Van der Hilst played a crucial role in improving diversity, equity, and inclusion by forming the EAPS Diversity Council and appointing MIT's first associate department head for diversity, equity, and inclusion.
15. After stepping down as department head, van der Hilst will refocus on studying Earth's deep interior structure and evolution.
16. Van der Hilst has written numerous articles and reports in various journals, including a recent paper in Nature Communications about seismometers monitoring groundwater fluctuations as a cost-effective way to measure groundwater reserves.

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