Nine planetary scientists in the Department of Astronomy lead research on planetary systems. Two faculty experts in planetary geology and geophysics are based in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences.
Space scientists, specializing in the upper atmosphere and near-space regions, are in both the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Spacecraft systems engineers drive innovation in the Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.
Faculty
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![Matthew Pritchard]()
Matthew Pritchard
Sidney Kaufman Professor of Geophysics Director, Institute for the Study of the Continents (INSTOC)
Britney Schmidt joins Nick Dirks to discuss what we can learn from earth’s harshest environments, what the Thwaites Glacier tells us about rising sea levels, and why she believes Europa deserves more attention than Mars. Dr. Britney Schmidt is a planetary scientist, glaciologist, and astrobiologist whose groundbreaking work explores the hidden oceans beneath ice worlds – both on Earth and beyond. Currently Associate Professor at Cornell University and Principal Investigator of the Planetary Habitability and Technology Lab, Dr. Schmidt leads major NASA- and NSF-funded projects, including the development of robotic submersibles to study Earth’s subglacial lakes and Europa’s potential ocean, helping us understand habitability in the solar system and resilience in the face of climate change. In 2024, Prof. Schmidt was named a Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists Laurate, which is administered by the Academy in collaboration with the Blavatnik Family Foundation.