Exciting developments in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences
The Department is developing the scope of its research and teaching in the fields of planetary science and astrobiology with the help of Dr Andrew Rushby, newly appointed lecturer.
The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences is expanding its research and teaching in the fields of planetary science and astrobiology. These activities will be assisted by Dr Andrew Rushby, who will join the Department as a Lecturer in Astrobiology from 1 November.
Dr Rushby joins the Department after completing postdoctoral positions at the University of California, Irvine, and NASA Ames Research Center. His research focuses on the biogeochemical factors that affect the habitability of small, rocky planets. He has published work on the operation of the long-term carbon cycle on Earth and beyond, methods for detecting biosignatures from newly discovered exoplanets, as well as the climate and atmospheric structure of entirely land-covered planets orbiting red dwarf stars. He will be contributing to teaching and developing new astrobiology modules as part of future plans for BSc Planetary Science, Space Exploration and Astrobiology and MSc Astrobiology courses.
These developments build on our established position in delivering courses in Earth and Planetary Science, as well as enhancing our research base within planetary science and astrobiology. We see this as an exciting time, with the planned intention to give students the opportunity to study planetary science at Master's, as well as undergraduate, level in the dynamic and flexible teaching environment that Birkbeck offers.
Further Information
Find out what it's like to study in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences