Origin, Evolution and Structure of Planets

I work in theoretical planetary science. For me, planets include Earth, large moons and potentially planets in other solar systems. Typically, this involves the use of basic physics (particularly condensed matter physics and fluid dynamics) to understand these objects. Much of my work is concerned with the interpretation of data returned by space missions, particularly Galileo, MGS and Cassini in recent times. I do not usually have a direct involvement in missions: There are always plenty of challenging and important problems in need of solution without the time-consuming process of team membership. However, I am more directly involved in potential future missions (see research section). I also maintain a research effort on terrestrial problems such as the nature and evolution of Earth's deep interior. Examples of ongoing activities are provided in the research page.