Gerald Schubert

Gerald 'Jerry' Schubert (March 2, 1939 – August 31, 2025) was an American geophysicist and one of the pioneers of modern geodynamics and planetary physics.

Early life and career In 1961 he received degrees in engineering physics and aeronautical engineering from Cornell University and in 1964 his Ph.D. in engineering and aeronautical sciences from the University of California, Berkeley. Until 1965 he served as instructor in the Naval Nuclear Power School. He did short research stays at Bell Labs and at DAMTP in Cambridge. In 1966 he began his academic career at the University of California, Los Angeles and became Assistant Professor, in 1970 he was promoted Associate Professor and in 1974 Full Professor of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences.

Awards

1969: Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Fellowship 1972: Guggenheim Fellow 1975: Fellow of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) 1975: James B. Macelwane Medal from AGU 2001: Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 2002: Harry Hess Medal from AGU 2002: Member of National Academy of Sciences 2004: Fellow ot the Institute of Physics 2009: Foreign Member of the Academy of Europe

Publications

Books

Personal life He married his wife Joyce in 1960 and had three children, Todd, Michael, and Tamara.

Schubert died on August 31, 2025, at the age of 86.