David McGee, the William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at MIT, was recently named chair of MIT’s Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS) Department, effective January 15.
McGee specializes in using isotopic geochemistry and geochronology to reconstruct Earth’s climate history, contributing to our understanding of how the climate system responds during periods of rapid change. He has also played a significant role in developing the department’s community and culture, serving as vice president of the EAPS department since 2020.
“David is a remarkable researcher who brings important data-driven insights to help inform our response to climate change,” says Nargis Mavalwala, dean of the School of Science and Curtis (1963) and Kathleen Marmar Professor of Astrophysics. “She is also a dedicated and caring educator who makes a huge investment in her students’ learning experiences and focuses on creating solutions to sustainability issues through her leadership of Terrascope, one of our unique first-year learning communities.”
“I am energized by the incredible EAPS community, Rob’s leadership over the past 13 years, and President Kornbluth’s call for MIT to innovate effective and wise responses to climate change,” says McGee. “EAPS plays a unique role in this time of reckoning with planetary boundaries—our collective path forward must be guided by a deep understanding of the Earth system and a clear sense of our place in the universe.”
McGee’s research seeks to understand the Earth system’s response to past climate change. Using geochemical analysis and uranium-series dating, McGee and his team examine stalagmites, ancient lake deposits, and deep-sea sediments from field sites around the world to track wind and precipitation patterns, water availability on dry land, and permafrost stability across space and time. Armed with precise chronologies, they aim to illuminate the drivers of historical hydroclimatic change and provide quantitative tests of the performance of climate models.
In addition to research, McGee has helped shape a number of the institution’s initiatives focused on the environment, climate, and sustainability, including serving on the Faculty Steering Committee of the MIT Climate and Sustainability Consortium and the MIT Small Business Environment and Sustainability Faculty Advisory Board.
McGee also chaired the Climate Education Working Group at MIT, one of three working groups established as part of the institution’s Climate Action Forward Plan. The group identified opportunities to strengthen climate and sustainability education at the institution, from curriculum offerings to experiential learning opportunities and beyond.
In April 2023, the task force hosted the MIT Symposium on Advancing Climate Education, which included talks by McGee and others on how colleges and universities can innovate and help students develop the skills, abilities, and perspectives to live, lead, and thrive in a new climate-changing world.
“David is reshaping MIT’s undergraduate education to include meaningful collaboration with communities beyond MIT, teaching students that scientific discoveries are important but not always sufficient to impact society,” says van der Hilst. With this critical perspective, he will help shape the department’s future.
McGee has dedicated her career to sharing her love of discovery with students since the beginning. She earned a master’s degree in teaching and spent seven years teaching in middle and high schools, before earning a doctorate in Earth and environmental sciences from Columbia University. He joined the MIT faculty in 2012 and received the Excellence in Coaching Award from the MIT Office of Academic Advising and Programming in 2018. In 2015, he became the inaugural director of the MIT Teroscope Education Association.
“David’s exemplary teaching at Terrascope stems from his understanding that where science intersects with community engagement to create ethical paths forward, effective solutions must be found,” adds van der Hilst. In 2023, McGee received the Faculty of Science Teaching Award, the school’s highest honor, for his work with Terrascope. In 2022, he was named a Margaret McVicar Fellow, MIT’s highest teaching honor.
As associate dean, McGee worked alongside Vanderhilst and student leaders to foster EAPS community engagement, improve internal support and reporting structures, and strengthen opportunities for students to pursue advanced degrees and STEM careers.
