Samuel Epstein (geochemist)

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Samuel Epstein
Born(1919-12-09)December 9, 1919
Urey Medal (European Association of Geochemistry) (1995)
Scientific career
FieldsGeochemistry, Chemistry
InstitutionsCalifornia Institute of Technology,
University of Chicago,
Canadian Atomic Energy Project
Doctoral advisorCarl A. Winkler
Doctoral studentsRobert N. Clayton
Hugh P. Taylor Jr.

Samuel Epstein (December 9, 1919 – September 17, 2001) was a

United States National Academy of Sciences in 1977, and a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
in 1997.

Early years

Sam Epstein was born in

high explosives, including RDX and HMX
. Epstein subsequently worked for the Canadian Atomic Energy Project for several years.

Career

In 1947, Epstein moved to the United States to begin a research fellowship with Harold Urey's group at the University of Chicago. While at Chicago, Epstein, along with Ralph Buchsbaum, Heinz A. Lowenstam, C. R. McKinney and others developed the carbonate-water isotopic temperature scale, allowing ancient ocean temperatures to be determined from precise measurements of 18O/16O in geological samples of calcium carbonate.[1] This method is still the most widely used geochemical climate proxy for locations and times not sampled in ice core records.

Epstein joined the faculty of the

archeology, biochemistry, climatology, and geology. He was awarded the Wollaston Medal of the Geological Society of London in 1993.[2]

Epstein remained at Caltech as a Professor and Professor Emeritus until shortly before his death on September 17, 2001.

The European Association of Geochemistry awards a Science Innovation Award medal every five years named in his honour for work in isotope geochemistry.

References

  1. doi:10.1130/0016-7606(1951)62[399:MOPATO]2.0.CO;2
    .
  2. ^ "Wollaston Medal". Award Winners since 1831. Geological Society of London. Archived from the original on 2010-08-19. Retrieved 2009-02-25.

External links

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