Philip R. Christensen is a Regents Professor and the Ed and Helen Korrick Professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University. As a geologist and geophysicist, his research interests focus on the composition, processes, and physical properties of Mars, the Earth, and other planetary surfaces. He uses spectroscopy, radiometry, field observations, and numerical modeling to study the geology and history of planets and moons. Over the past decade he has studied urban environments and growth worldwide using satellite data.
He has built five science instruments that have flown on NASA missions to Mars, including the Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) camera on Mars Odyssey, the Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES) instruments on the Mars Exploration Rovers, and the Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES) on Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Observer.
Professor Christensen was awarded NASA’s Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal in 2003 for his work on infrared observations of Mars, NASA’s Public Service Medal in 2005, and the G.K. Gilbert Award of the Geological Society of America in 2008. He is a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union.
Ph.D. Geophysics and Space Physics, University of California-Los Angeles 1981
Christensen's research interests focus on the composition, physical properties and processes, and morphology of planetary surfaces, using spectroscopy, radiometry, laboratory spectroscopic measurements, field observations, and numerical modeling. Much of his work has involved studying Mars, but his interests include the Moon, the outer planet satellites, and the Earth. Since the mid-1990’s he has pursued the use of spacecraft observations to study environmental and urban development problems on Earth.
Summer 2022 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
SES 692 | Research |
SES 792 | Research |
SES 799 | Dissertation |
Spring 2022 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
SES 407 | Space Works II: Mdl Fabr & Tst |
SES 493 | Honors Thesis |
GLG 494 | Special Topics |
SES 494 | Special Topics |
SES 598 | Special Topics |
GLG 598 | Special Topics |
SES 692 | Research |
SES 792 | Research |
SES 799 | Dissertation |
Fall 2021 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
SES 307 | SpaceWorks I: Dsgn Mdl Bld Tst |
GLG 490 | Topics in Geology |
SES 492 | Honors Directed Study |
SES 494 | Special Topics |
SES 592 | Research |
GLG 598 | Special Topics |
SES 692 | Research |
SES 792 | Research |
SES 799 | Dissertation |
Summer 2021 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
SES 692 | Research |
SES 792 | Research |
SES 799 | Dissertation |
Spring 2021 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
SES 407 | Space Works II: Mdl Fabr & Tst |
SES 493 | Honors Thesis |
SES 692 | Research |
SES 792 | Research |
SES 799 | Dissertation |
Fall 2020 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
SES 307 | SpaceWorks I: Dsgn Mdl Bld Tst |
SES 492 | Honors Directed Study |
SES 494 | Special Topics |
SES 592 | Research |
SES 692 | Research |
SES 792 | Research |
SES 799 | Dissertation |
Summer 2020 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
SES 692 | Research |
SES 792 | Research |
SES 799 | Dissertation |
Spring 2020 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
SES 394 | Special Topics |
SES 493 | Honors Thesis |
SES 494 | Special Topics |
SES 692 | Research |
SES 792 | Research |
SES 799 | Dissertation |
Fall 2019 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
SES 492 | Honors Directed Study |
GLG 494 | Special Topics |
SES 494 | Special Topics |
GLG 598 | Special Topics |
SES 692 | Research |
SES 792 | Research |
SES 799 | Dissertation |
Spring 2019 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
SES 394 | Special Topics |
SES 493 | Honors Thesis |
SES 494 | Special Topics |
SES 499 | Individualized Instruction |
SES 599 | Thesis |
SES 692 | Research |
SES 792 | Research |
SES 799 | Dissertation |
Fall 2018 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
GLG 490 | Topics in Geology |
SES 494 | Special Topics |
SES 499 | Individualized Instruction |
GLG 598 | Special Topics |
SES 792 | Research |
SES 799 | Dissertation |
Summer 2018 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
SES 692 | Research |
SES 792 | Research |
SES 799 | Dissertation |
Spring 2018 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
SES 394 | Special Topics |
SES 492 | Honors Directed Study |
SES 692 | Research |
SES 792 | Research |
SES 799 | Dissertation |
Fall 2017 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
SES 492 | Honors Directed Study |
GLG 494 | Special Topics |
GLG 598 | Special Topics |
SES 792 | Research |
SES 799 | Dissertation |