Stanford Report, July 9, 2008

Geophysicist Simon Klemperer awarded 2008 Cox Medal

Simon Klemperer

Simon Klemperer

Simon Klemperer, professor of geophysics, has been awarded the 2008 Allan V. Cox Medal for Faculty Excellence Fostering Undergraduate Research.

Klemperer, who joined the Stanford faculty in 1990, received the award June 15 during the School of Earth Sciences diploma ceremony. He was cited for:

  • "His leadership in creating the Geophysics Departmental Research Program, and a research community with a strong sense of common purpose, mutual support, and dedication to undergraduate research;
  • "Challenging undergraduates with high-impact advance work that offers an excellent learning experience, drives academic development, elicits significant contributions from them, and introduces them to the international research community;
  • "Taking an interest in the whole student, their work and passions, and for meeting with each of them in weekly sessions despite heavy responsibilities as director of the Stanford Crustal Geophysics Group;
  • "Acting as a role model to these students who seek to balance excellence in research and engagement in family life;
  • "Inspiring undergraduates to undertake graduate work and devote their lives to research."

    • Klemperer is the director of the Stanford Crustal Geophysics Group, which is interested in regional tectonics at crustal and lithospheric scales, and in the structure, composition and development of the lithosphere, particularly of the continents.

    Klemperer earned a bachelor's degree in mineralogy and petrology from Cambridge University in 1980 and a doctorate in geophysics from Cornell University in 1985.

    The Cox Medal was established in memory of the late Allan Cox, a professor of geophysics and dean of the School of Earth Sciences, who is known as the co-discoverer of magnetic field reversals.