Susan Kieffer

Biography

 I have had many goals in life, one being that I spend a significant chunk of my career in each of academia, government, and private sector. I have accomplished this by spending time at several universities, a decade in the U.S. Geological Survey, and nearly a decade on my own in the private sector (in Canada).  I'm have been actively involved in academic research, and am continuing it in my new emerita status at the University of Illinois. I am trying to "morph" into a trade science author, and found that I enjoyed the challenge of producing my first trade-science book, "The Dynamics of Disaster," published by W.W. Norton, October 2013. But, it wasn't easy!! In this book, I discuss the "science-light" behind various disasters--volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, rogue waves..., drawing extensively on my own experience in a number of these areas, and delving into the research literature in areas where I haven't worked. I plan on doing more trade science writing, including shorter pieces for magazines. I am also becoming increasingly active in trying to define "geoethics" in a broad sense in my role as a Vice President of the International Association for Promoting Geoethics. Specialties: Geological fluid dynamics--including geothermal, epithermal, and volcanic environments; planetary sciences; shock wave physics, river hydraulics and river environments; sustainability; geoethics.

Research Interest

  Geoglogy and Earth Science