James Kasting

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James F. Kasting (b. January 2, 1953) is a geoscientist at Penn State University. Kasting was educated at Harvard University and the University of Michigan, where he received his Ph.D. in atmospheric science in 1979.

Kasting has published dozens of reviews and papers, covering the geophysical history and status of the Earth, with a focus on atmospherics. He has also considered the habitability criteria of other stellar systems and planets and is broadly considered the world leader in the field of planetary habitability. In their popular 2001 work Rare Earth, Peter Ward and Donald Brownlee note: "Although many scientists have been doggedly pursuing the various attributes necessary for a habitable planet...one name stands out in the scientific literature: James Kasting" (pg. 266). A 1993 paper on habitable zones.[1] was particularly decisive in shaping thinking on this field.

Kasting is also a member of numerous professional scientific societies and committees. He has served NASA in various capacities, including as a member of the scientific working for the Terrestrial Planet Finder

Kasting currently teaches a variety of Geoscience courses at Penn State where he is a Distinguished Professor. He is married with three children.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Kasting, James F.; Whitmore, Daniel P.; Reynolds, Ray T. (1993). "Habitable Zones Around Main Sequence Stars" (PDF). Icarus (101): 108–128. doi:10.1006/icar.1993.1010. 
  • James Kasting. Department of Geosciences. Penn State University. Retrieved on 2007.