Contact:
Clayton Berry
Phone: 314.977.7117
berrycl@slu.edu

January 25, 2002

ST. LOUIS -- A discovery by a Saint Louis University geologist is being heralded by the Chinese government as one of the most significant scientific findings of 2001. The Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology recently recognized the groundbreaking work of Dr. Timothy Kusky, a professor of earth and atmospheric sciences. Last year, Kusky and colleagues from Peking University unearthed ancient rocks near the Great Wall that may change the science of plate tectonics and provide some clues into how life developed on Earth.

SLU geologist Dr. Timothy Kusky was recently recognized for a discovery in China.

Kusky’s findings first were published as a report in the May 11 issue of Science magazine. They since have received global news coverage in newspapers, Web sites and radio stations. The findings were covered by the BBC, MSNBC, Reuters News Service, the Glasgow Herald, the Hindu -- India’s national newspaper -- and many other media outlets.

It’s widely believed that plate tectonics began 1.9 billion years ago, but Kusky and other geologists have argued the process began earlier. At the site, Kusky’s team discovered the oldest complete section of oceanic sea floor on the planet, which predate previous samples by 500 million years.

According to scientific dating, the rocks are 2.5 billion years old and date back to Earth’s earliest geologic time period, known as the Archean. The rocks are remarkably similar to much younger volcanic rocks that erupted on the sea floor in the process of sea floor spreading.

The discovery also may provide clues into the beginning of life on the planet. Scientists believe life on Earth during the Archean period consisted mainly of single-celled organisms in the oceans. Just when they evolved into more complex organisms has been contested for years.

Because hot volcanic vents on the sea floor may have provided the nutrients and temperatures needed for life to flourish, Kusky said it’s possible that life developed and diversified around these vents as plate tectonics began.

“I am pleased that geological sciences and our efforts at understanding the early history of the Earth have been recognized and placed on par with other discoveries in nanotechnology, biotechnology, space exploration and other rapidly emerging fields,” Kusky said.

The Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology is part of the Government of the Peoples Republic of China. The agency oversees all basic science and technology agencies, including the National Academies, university research, and private research technology and development. The agency has listed Kusky’s work fourth on its top10 list for the year.

“I think it’s quite important to receive this recognition,” Kusky said. “It shows that there is widespread general interest in science and in international cooperative research programs, such as that between Dr. Jiang-Hai Li of Peking University and myself.”