Robert D. Hatcher, Jr.,

UT Distinguished Scientist and Professor of Geology

Department of Geological Sciences
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-1410

Served on the faculties of Clemson University (1966-78, Assistant Professor to Professor), Florida State University (1978-80, Professor), University of South Carolina (1980-86, Professor), and University of Tennessee-Knoxville and Oak Ridge National Laboratory Distinguished Scientist (1986-2000), UT Distinguished Scientist and Professor 2000-present.

Served as Editor (with W. A. Thomas) of the Geological Society of America Bulletin (1982-88), President of the Geological Society of America (1993), President of the American Geological Institute (1996), Trustee, GSA Foundation (1999-2003); served on the National Academy of Sciences/ National Research Council Board on Radioactive Waste Management (1990-96), Federal Advisory Committee on Nuclear Reactor Safety Research (Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 1993-96), Federal Advisory Committee for the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program (Department of the Interior, 1998-2003); have also served on numerous committees of GSA and other organizations. Fellow: AAAS, Geological Society of America, Geological Association of Canada.

The principal goal in research is to gain a better understanding of the evolution of continental crust through study of the structure of mountain chains. Structural studies are conducted on all scales-from microscopic to 3-D map-scale analysis of the southern and central Appalachian orogen and by comparative studies of other chains. Major emphasis during the past 20 years has been in the mechanisms and boundary conditions for generation and emplacement of foreland and crystalline thrust sheets through geologic field studies-emphasizing construction of geologic maps and interpretive sections of previously unknown areas-interpreting available geophysical data, obtaining geochronological data (for determination of the ages of rock units and to bracket times of deformation and metamorphism), and obtaining petrologic data to determine original rock types of metamorphosed rock units and P-T conditions of deformation and metamorphism. The southern Appalachians have served as a generic orogen for study during most of career, with smaller research projects conducted in other parts of the Appalachians, Scandinavian Caledonides, and Canadian and U.S. Cordillera. Additional long-term projects involve regional studies of fractures, interactions of structures with ground water, radioactive waste management, and intraplate seismicity. He was a participant in the Electric Power Research Institute study of eastern seismicity from 1981 through 1983. He is presently involved in a three dimensional reconstruction of the Appalachian foreland fold-thrust belt, and in large-scale reconstructions of the early Paleozoic evolution of eastern North America.

Awards: Geological Society of America Distinguished Service Award (1988, the first such award given), I. C. White Award (I. C. White Foundation in recognition for contributions to Appalachian geology, 1997), honorary citizen of West Virginia (by the Governor in recognition for contributions to Appalachian geology, 1998). John T. Galey Award by the Eastern Section of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (in recognition for contributions to Appalachian geology and societal benefits therefrom, 2001), 2006 recipient of the American Geological Institute Ian Campbell Medal and the Geological Society of America Penrose Medal..

Research Support: Received over $4M in research support from the National Science Foundation, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of the Interior, state geological surveys, and private industry.

Graduate Students: 33 M. S. theses and 14 Ph. D. dissertations completed since began working in graduate departments in 1978. 7 M.S. and 2 Ph. D. students currently in progress.

gsaf@geosociety.org (800) 472-1988 x 1054GSAF - P.O. Box 9140 - Boulder, CO 80301