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Earth & Planetary Sciences Faculty

Ian Garrick-Bethell
  • Title
    • Professor
  • Division Physical & Biological Sciences Division
  • Department
    • Earth & Planetary Sciences Department
  • Affiliations Astronomy & Astrophysics Department
  • Phone
    831-459-1277
  • Email
  • Website
  • Office Location
    • Earth and Marine Sciences A137
  • Mail Stop Earth and Planetary Sciences

Summary of Expertise

Planetary Interiors, Paleomagnetism

Research Interests

My research focuses on early lunar geophysics and geology. In particular, I am interested in how the long wavelength structure of the lunar crust and lithosphere developed, as well as the structure of large lunar impact basins. I also measure the magnetization of lunar samples to determine if the Moon once possessed a long-lived magnetic field, which would be consistent with an ancient core dynamo. I am interested in applying the lessons learned from the Moon to other airless bodies such as asteroids and Mercury.

Biography, Education and Training

B.S., Physics, Wesleyan University
M.S., Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Ph.D., Planetary Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology