Don Penman, Ph.D.

Field: Earth Science
Areas of Focus: Ancient Climate, Geochemistry, Paleoceanography, Paleoclimatology

Expertise

• Paleoceanography
• Ancient climates
• Geochemistry
• Paleoclimatology
• PETM
• Carbon cycle
• Earth system science

Bio

Dr. Donald Penman received his B.A. from Carleton College in geology, his Ph.D. in Earth and planetary science from the University of California in Santa Cruz, and completed post-doctoral work at Yale University. He is now an assistant professor in Utah State University's Geosciences Department. His current research combines geochemical measurements from the sedimentary record with numerical modeling to study the interactions between climate, oceans, life, and biogeochemical cycles in Earth’s geologic past. Through a variety of analytical techniques including the isotopic and trace metal composition of sediments and microfossils, he reconstructs climatological and geochemical processes during periods of Earth's history that provide geological points of comparison with our current changing climate.