ACL: Advent of Complex Life - MIT Astrobiology Team

Dan Rothman
Professor of Geophysics
Email: dan at segovia dot mit dot edu
Institution: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences (EAPS).

Our group seeks simple theories of complex natural systems, tied as closely as possible to experimental and observational data. Problems of interest range from geobiological evolution to the dynamics of fluids, rocks, and sand, with emphasis on understanding the cooperative processes that create and maintain our natural environment. We formulate new quantitative models for the interaction of life with the geological, geochemical, and geophysical evolution of the Earth, with emphasis on environmental and biological events preceding the evolution of multicellular life. Our work is closely tied to geochemical analyses of ancient sedimentary rocks and the fossils, molecular and otherwise, found within them. Collaborators include Roger Summons at MIT and Andy Knoll at Harvard.

Dan Rothman lab Web site