Obituaries

Gordon E. Brown Jr., mineralogist and geochemist, has died

An expert in using X-rays to study minerals and their interactions with the environment, Brown spent half a century at Stanford pushing new scientific boundaries.

Richard Luthy, environmental engineer and water quality expert, has died (link is external)

A beloved engineer, researcher, educator, and colleague who sought innovative solutions to hydrate a drought-stricken American West, Luthy was a powerful force for water conservation and cleanup for more than five decades.

Remembering energy leader Jay Precourt (link is external)

The energy leader, philanthropist and Stanford alum, who has died at the age of 87, invigorated the conversation about sustainability – at Stanford and globally.

Amos Nur, rock physics pioneer, has died

A fixture at Stanford for more than four decades, Nur was pivotal in establishing rock physics as a critical part of modern geophysics, bridged the intersection of earthquakes and archaeology, and mentored dozens of graduate students on approaching science with creativity.

Rod Ewing, geoscientist and nuclear security expert, has died

His research spanned mineralogy, geochemistry, materials science, nuclear materials, physics, and chemistry, leading to the development of techniques to predict the long-term behavior of materials used in radioactive waste disposal.

Hank Parker, master of heavy construction, dies at 99 (link is external)

A veteran of mid-century highway and dam projects, Parker was enticed to Stanford by the opportunity to bring rigor to the construction industry.

Perry McCarty, environmental engineer who launched field of environmental biotechnology, has died (link is external)

McCarty specialized in harnessing bacteria for water purification and renewable energy.

Ronald Lyon, geologist and expert in remote sensing of Earth and moon, dies at 95

Among a class of researchers that use satellites and infrared imaging to study minerals from on high, Lyon led studies from the Amazon to the moon.