Tyrone Rooney, assistant professor in the Department of Geological Sciences, has been selected as a distinguished lecturer for the National Science Foundation's GeoPRISMS program. Rooney will speak on the processes associated with rift initiation and evolution centering on his experience with the East African Rift system.
The GeoPRISMS program, which stands for Geodynamic Processes at Rifting and Subducting Margins, is an NSF funding initiative that provides the scientific community with a focal point for science that aims to understand the origin and evolution of the continents through the investigation of their active margins.
Institutions can apply to host distinguished lecturers.
Rooney's research focuses on magmatic processes active in continental rift and subduction environments. He earned his Ph.D. from the Pennsylvania State University in 2006 and undertook post-doctoral studies at San Diego State University. Rooney and his students are seeking to develop a more comprehensive understanding of continental lithosphere evolution through the coupled use of geochemistry and petrology.
In continental rift environments, Rooney's research group is focused on examining the composition of the mantle and magmatic plumbing systems during progressive rifting. His current research in extensional settings is focused on the Main Ethiopian Rift.
More information about GeoPRISMS and the 2012-13 Distinguished Lectures may be found here.
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