# Charles H Langmuir, Ph.D. Principal Investigator Higgins Professor of Geochemistry Director of Mineralogical and Geological Museum at Harvard University ![Charles H Langmuir, Ph.D.](/sites/g/files/omnuum9046/files/styles/hwp_4_5__320x400/public/solidearth/files/screen_shot_2013-10-08_at_10.25.05_am_1.png?itok=k5-_SfVg) **Charles Langmuir** is a solid Earth geochemist who carries out research on diverse aspects of the plate tectonic geochemical cycle, including ocean ridges, convergent margins and intraplate volcanism. He has led or participated in 20 cruises to ocean ridges, including the first investigation of the Arctic Ocean ridge system. With Peter Huybers he has proposed close linkages between volcanism and glacial cycles both on land and undersea which has led to widespread interest and controversy (voice.fas.harvard.edu). Charlie was the principal investigator for PetDB, the pioneering geochemical data base ([www.petdb.org](http://www.petdb.org/)). He was one of the founders of the journal Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems ("G-Cubed" [www.g-cubed.org](http://www.g-cubed.org/) ) a leading journal of the American Geophysical Union. With Wally Broecker Charlie published ***How to Build a Habitable Planet (***[www.habitableplanet.org](http://www.habitableplanet.org/)***)*** which conveys the history of Earth from the Big Bang to humankind in a form that can be used as a textbook and also is accessible to the interested public. The book receiced Honorable Mention for the Prose Award as one of the best Earth science books published in 2012 from the American Publishers Association. For his scientific contributions Charlie has received the Bowen Award from the American Geophysical Union, the Arthur Holmes Medal from the European Union of Geosciences for outstanding international contributions to solid Earth science, and the Urey Medal from the European Union of Geochemistry for outstanding contributions to geochemistry over a career. He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and 1998, and the National Academy of Sciences in 2006. He is a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union and the Geochemical Society. Charlie received his B.A. from Harvard University in 1973, and Ph.D. from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1980. He has been at Harvard since 2002, after 20 years at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. Link to full CV [here](/file_url/364). **EDUCATION:** Sort 1973: B.A. with honors - Harvard University - History of Science and Geology 1977: M.S. - SUNY, Stony Brook, New York 1980: Ph.D. - SUNY, Stony Brook - Thesis Title: A major and trace element approach to basalts Thesis Advisor: G. N. Hanson **FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS:** Sort 1973 - 1974: Henry Russell Shaw traveling fellowship from Harvard University 1980 - 1981: Post-doctoral fellowship from Lamont-Doherty 1983 - 1985: Alfred Sloan Research Fellow 1993: Fellow, American Geophysical Union 1996: N. L. Bowen Award, American Geophysical Union 1997: Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences 1998: Daly Lecturer, American Geophysical Union 1998: Fellow, Geochemical Society and European Geochem. Soc. 2003: Arthur Holmes Medal, European Union of Geosciences 2006: Member, National Academy of Sciences **PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:** Sort 1998 - 2000 Co-founder, *Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems* 2000 - 2002 AGU Nominations Committee 2000 - 2006; Ridge 2000 Steering Committee **EMPLOYMENT:** Sort 1981 - 1986 Assistant Professor, Lamont-Doherty Earth Obs., of Columbia University, Palisades, New York 1986 - 1988 Associate Professor, Lamont-Doherty Earth Obs. 1988 - 2002 Professor, Lamont-Doherty Geol. Obs. 1989 - 2002 Arthur D. Storke Memorial Professor, Lamont-Doherty 1989 - 1990 Visiting Scientist, Institut de Physique du Globe, Paris 2002 - 2003 Visiting Scientist, Institut de Physique du Globe, Paris 2002 - Professor of Geochemistry, Harvard University **SEAGOING EXPERIENCE:** 1984 R/V Kana Keoki Izu volcanic arc and back-arc rifts (Petrologist) 1985 R/V New Horizon East Pacific Rise : 6°-13° N (Co-Chief Scientist - CHEPR) 1985 R/V Knorr Mid-Atlantic Ridge : Kane Fracture Zone (Chief for petrology program) 1987 R/V Oceanus Mid-Atlantic Ridge : 26°-32°N (Chief for petrology program) 1987 R/V Atlantis II/Alvin Bonin back-arc rifts (Petrologist) 1989 R/V T. Washington E.Pacific Rise (Co-Chief Scientist - VENTURE) 1991 R/V Atalante Mid-Atlantic Ridge (Petrologist - Project SIGMA) 1992 R/V Atlantis II Mid-Atlantic Ridge, 32°41°N (Chief Scientist - FAZAR) 1993 R/V Atlantis II/Alvin Lucky Strike Hydrothermal Site (Chief Scientist) 1993 R/V Hakuko-Maru Indian Ocean Triple Junction (Petrologist) 1997 R/V Melville East Pacific Rise (Chief Scientist - OROZCO) 2001 USCGC Healy Gakkel Ridge, Arctic Ocean, Principal Investigator 2004 R/V Kilo Moana Lau Basin, South Pacific, Principal Investigator 2012 R/V Knorr Mid-Atlantic Ridge : Kane Fracture Zone (Chief Scientist)