Curriculum Vitae

MICHAEL E. WYSESSION: CURRICULUM VITAE (2022)

PRESENT POSITION:

  • Executive Director, Center for Teaching and Learning
  • Professor, Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences, Campus Box 1169; Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, (314) 935-5625, mwysession@wustl.edu; http://epsc.wustl.edu/seismology/michael/web/index.html.

HISTORY OF EMPLOYMENT:

  • Executive Director, Center for Teaching and Learning, 2018-present;
  • Professor, Washington University, 2015-present;
  • Associate Professor, Washington University, 1997-2015;
  • Assistant Professor, Washington University, 1991-1997;
  • Graduate Assistant and University College Faculty, Northwestern U., 1986-1991;
  • High School Math and Physics Teacher, Staten Island (N.Y.) Academy, 1984-1986.

DEGREES:

  • Ph.D. (Geophysics), Northwestern U., 1991
  • Sc.B. (Geophysics), Brown U., 1984.

HONORS:

  • Geoscience in the Media Award, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 2021
  • Spilhaus Grant Award (Inaugural), American Geophysical Union, 2019
  • Frank Press Public Service Award, Seismological Society of America, 2016.
  • Northwestern University Distinguished Alumni Award, 2015.
  • Ambassador Award (Inaugural), American Geophysical Union, 2014.
  • American Geophysical Union Fellow, 2014.
  • Missouri Education Service Award, 2013.
  • NAGT Distinguished Lectureship, 2009.
  • IRIS/SSA Distinguished Lectureship, 2005.
  • Distinguished Faculty Award, Washington University, 2000.
  • St. Louis Science Academy Innovation Award, 1999.
  • National Science Foundation Presidential Faculty Fellowship, 1997–2002.
  • Lilly Foundation Teaching Fellowship, 1995.
  • Kemper Foundation Faculty Award, 1993, 1999.
  • Packard Foundation Fellowship for Science and Engineering, 1992-1997.
  • AAAS Mass Media Science and Engineering Fellowship, 1988.

RESEARCH INTERESTS: 

My research in seismology has primarily involved the computer modeling and interpretation of seismic data for Earth structure, addressing questions of Earth composition and dynamics. Areas of focus have been core-mantle boundary region structure and dynamics, core structure, physical causes of mantle and crustal attenuation, causes of intraplate volcanism and seismicity, and the forensic identification of seismic sources such as nuclear tests and military operations. My research has been supported by 23 NSF grants, as well as 10 grants from other sources including the Packard, Kemper, Lilly, and Pew Foundations.

FIELD EXPERIMENTS: 

I have been PI or Co-PI of four NSF-funded IRIS PASSCAL seismic field deployments:

  • MACOMO: Investigation of Sources of Intraplate Volcanism Using PASSCAL Broadband Instruments in Madagascar, the Comores, and Mozambique (PIs: M. Wysession, D. Wiens, A. Nyblade), 2010-2016.
  • SPREE: Superior Province Rifting EarthScope Experiment (PIs: S. van der Lee, D. Jurdy, S. Stein, A. Frederiksen, J. Revenaugh, F. Darbyshire, D. Wiens, and M. Wysession), 2011-2016.
  • FLED: Florida to Edmonton Broadband Seismic Deployment (PIs: K. Fischer, M. Wysession), 2005-2010.
  • MOMA: Missouri to Massachusetts Broadband Seismic Deployment (PIs: T. Clarke, K. Fischer, M. Wysession), 1994-1997.

STUDENTS /RESEARCHERS SUPERVISED and CO-SUPERVISED: 

  • Ghassan Al-Eqabi: Post-Doctoral/Research Scientist, 1995 – present.
  • Patrick Shore: Research Scientist, 1991 – 2020.
  • An-Ning Zhu: Post-Doctoral Assistant, 6/93 – 5/95.
  • Saadia Baqer: Post-Doctoral Assistant, 10/97 – 6/02.
  • Raul Valenzuela Wong: Ph.D., 12/96.
  • Keith Koper: Ph.D., 8/98.
  • Jesse Fisher Lawrence: Ph.D., 8/04.
  • Garrett Euler: Ph.D., 12/12.
  • Martin Pratt: Ph.D., 2/16
  • Fenitra Andriampenomanana Ny Ony: Ph.D., 1/18
  • Tsiriandrimanana Rakotondraibe: Ph.D., 9/21
  • Daniel Bartz: M.S., 5/15
  • Arjun Neupane: M.S., 8/17

More than 40 Undergraduate Research Advisees

MEMBERSHIPS: 

  • American Association for the Advancement of Science
  • American Geophysical Union
  • Geological Society of America
  • National Association of Geoscience Teachers
  • National Earth Science Teachers Association
  • Seismological Society of America
  • Sigma Xi

SERVICE TO THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY:

Achieve, Inc.: Organizing Team member of the national K-12 Next Generation Science Standards (responsible for Earth and Space Science standards), 2010-2013.

AGI (American Geosciences Institute): Next Generation Science Standards Earth & Space Science advisory board, 2015-2018.

AGU (American Geophysical Union): Editor-in-Chief, Perspectives of Earth and Space Scientists, 2018-present; Advisory Board, Position Statements on Education, 2021; Editor, Geophysical Research Letters (2009-2015); Co-editor, The Core Mantle Boundary Region, AGU Monograph, 1998; Seismology Editor, Eos, 1998-1999; Studies of the Earth’s Deep Interior Committee (SEDI), 1994-1998 (Chair, 1996-1998); Associate Editor, Journal of Geophysical Research, 1994-1996; Associate Editor, Computational Seismology, 1992-1994; Co-organizer of AGU meeting sessions: Fall of 1996, 1998, 2000, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014.

CIG (Computational Infrastructure for Geodynamics): Co-founder, and CIG Steering Committee, 2003-2004; Seismology Working Group, 2005-2020.

ESLI (Earth Science Literacy Initiative): Chair, 2008-present. Lead author of the Earth Science Literacy Principles.

EarthScope: Engagement Activities Advisory Committee, 2023 – present; Education and Outreach Committee, 2012-2015; Co-author of the EarthScope 2010-2020 Science Plan, 2010; Deep Earth Structure working group, 2008-2011.

GSA (Geological Society of America): Organizer of annual national meeting session: Oct, 2009; Nov, 2015; Sep, 2016; Oct, 2017; Oct, 2018; Oct, 2021.

IRIS (Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology): Editor of EPO educational animations, 2017; Nominations Committee, 2016: Board of Directors, 2013-2015; Chair, Education & Outreach Comm., 2005-2009; Meetings & Publications Comm., 2005-2009; Membership Comm., 2005-2009; Co-author, Long Range Seismology Plan, 2009; Planning Comm., 2003-2005; Elections Comm., 2003-2004; Legal Affairs Comm., 2004; Secretary, Executive Comm., 1998-2001; Global Seismic Network Comm., 1998; Co-Organizer, Annual Workshop, June, 2002.

MCC (Midwest Climate Collaborative): Co-organizer of meeting session, Apr, 2022.

NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress): Stakeholder Advisory Group (SAG), 2022 – present.

NAGT (National Association of Geoscience Teachers): Advisory Board, Building Strong Geoscience Departments, 2007-2012.

NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration): Developer and presenter of geoscience educational workshops for NASA engineers, 2008-2013.

NRC (National Research Council of the National Academies of Science): Vice-Chair, Committee on Seismology and Geodynamics, National Academy of Sciences, 2007-2012; Chair, Earth and Space Science Design Team for the NRC report “A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas.”

NSF (National Science Foundation): Geohazards II panel, 2022; Integrated Earth Science panel, 2015; Cooperative Studies of the Earth’s Deep Interior panel, 2015; Mathematics-Geophysics panel, 2005 and 2007; COMPRES panel, 2002.

NSTA (National Science Teachers Association): Advisory Board, Position Statement on Teaching About Climate Change, 2017-2018.

OTCE (On the Cutting Edge: Professional Development for Geoscience Teachers): Co-PI, 2009-2018; Co-organizers of nine professional development workshops (2007-2015).

Savvas Learning (formerly Pearson Education, formerly Prentice Hall): Author of national K-over 35 science programs and textbooks, 2001-present; Consultant for K-12 curriculum development, 2006–present; Professional development for high school science teachers, 2003–present; Author of college digital-format Physical Geology textbook (in preparation).

SSA (Seismological Society of America): Frank Press Award Selection Committee, 2020, 2021.

The Teaching Company: Author and lecturer for four video courses as part of the “Great Courses” series: How the Earth Works, 2008 (48 half-hour lectures); The World’s Greatest Geologic Wonders, 2013 (36 half-hour lectures); National Geographic Destinations: Polar Explorations, 2014 (3 half-hour lectures); The Science of Energy: Power and Resources Explained, 2016 (24 half-hour lectures).

Television Media: Scientific host of episodes of the History Channel’s “Journey to the Earth’s Core” (March, 2011) and “The UnXplained:” Unnatural Nature (May, 2019), Wonders of the Ancient World (Oct, 2022), Devastating Disasters (Dec, 2022), Earth’s Unsolved Mysteries (Apr, 2023). Frequent commentator on local and national news during following large earthquakes and for climate-related events.

Public Outreach: More than 650 public lectures at teachers’ meetings, museums, colleges, and other informal education venues on geoscience topics that include natural hazards, natural resources, human impacts on the earth, climate change, and science literacy.

COURSES TAUGHT OR COTAUGHT AT WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY:

  • Advanced Seismology (561): F1995
  • Critical Earth Issues (203): S2014, Su2014.
  • Earth and the Environment (201): F2004, F2006, F2008, F2010, F2012, F2014, F2016
  • Earth’s Future: Causes and Consequences of Global Climate Change (101): F2023
  • Earth Forces (352): S2006; S2008; S2010; S2012; S2014; S2017; S2019; S2021; S2023
  • Energy and the Environment (219): S2011, S2012, S2013, S2015, S2018, S2020, F2020, F2021; F2023
  • Epic of Evolution (210): S2000, S2001, S2002, S2003, S2005, S2006, S2008, S2009, S2010
  • Evolution of the Earth (200): S1993, F1996, F1998, F2000, F2001, F2002
  • First-Year Seminar: Unearthing the Science of Climate Change (141): S2023
  • Geodynamics (559): S1994, S1997, S2004
  • Geophysics Seminar (595): F1991, F1992
  • How the Earth Works (MLA559): F2008
  • Introduction to Geophysics (450): F1992, F1995
  • Introduction to Seismology (452): S1997, S1998, S2000, S2002, F2003, F2005, F2007, F2009, F2011, F2013, F2015, F2017, F2019, S2022
  • Interior of the Earth (453): S1992, S1994, S1999, S2001, S2003, S2005, S2007, S2009, S2011, S2013
  • Physical Geology (119): F1991
  • Ring of Fire: Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Plate Tectonics (130): F1993, F1994, F1997, F2006
  • Topical Seminar in Geosciences (597): S1998, S1999
  • Undergraduate Research Seminar (498): F2003

SERVICE TO WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY:

UNIVERSITY (CURRENT):

  • WashU Center for the Environment, Advisory Council, 2023 – present.

  • Student Sunrise Faculty Advisory Group, 2022 – present.
  • Committee on Educational Development and Training, 2021 – present (Chair).

  • University Internal Grants Selection, 2020 – present.

  • IT Teaching and Learning Committee, 2020-present (Chair).
  • Center for Teaching and Learning, 2019 – present (Executive Director).
  • STEM-HLC Quality Initiative Project, 2019 – present.
  • Student Sunrise (WorkDay) Steering Committee, 2019 – present.
  • CIRTL university representative, 2019 – present.
  • Reinvention Collaborative university representative, 2019 – present.
  • Canvas Post Project Governance Committee, 2019 – present.
  • IT Infrastructure (Medical Campus) Committee, 2018 – present.
  • Classroom Monitoring Committee, 2018 – present. (Chair)
UNIVERSITY (PAST):
  • Innovations in Teaching and Learning Strategic Planning Committee, 2023.
  • Working Group for Undergraduate Education, University Strategic Planning, 2021.
  • Future of Instruction Task Force, 2021 (Co-Chair, with Jen Smith).
  • University Operations Committee, 2020 – present.
  • IT Teaching and Learning-PLUS Committee, 2020 – 2021 (Chair).
  • WUCCP Energy Curricular Pathway, 2019 -2023.
  • Kaltura Project Status Committee, 2019 – 2022.
  • Canvas Data Management Committee, 2019 – 2020.
  • Standing Committee on Facilitating Inclusive Classrooms, 2018 – 2020.
  • University Library Committee, 2018 – 2020.
  • The Teaching Center, Executive Director, 2018 – 2019.
  • Undergraduate Council, 2018 – 2019.
  • Washington University Climate Change Program, Steering Committee, 2017 – present.
  • University Online Education Committee, 2014 – 2019.
  • Canvas Steering Committee, 2018 – 2019.
  • Improving the Undergraduate Experience Committee, 2017 – 2018.
  • Freedom of Expression on Campus Committee, Co-Chair of Education and Professional Development Team, 2018 – 2019.
  • University IT Teaching and Learning Committee, 2016 – 2019.
  • University Policy and Practice Affecting Students with Disabilities Committee, 2018 – 2019.
  • University Conflict of Interest/Disclosure Review Committee, 2009 – 2018.
  • Frankenstein Bicentennial Planning Committee, 2017 – 2018.
  • University Semester Online, Course development and instruction, Earth’s Critical Issues, 2013 – 2014.
  • University Open Access Committee, 2009 – 2013.
  • University Speakers’ Bureau, 2004-2006, 2010 – 2011.
  • University Cluster Convener for clusters CL1600, 1777, 1801, 2002 – 2011.
  • University Discrimination and Title IX Grievance Committee, 2004 – 2009.
  • University Undergraduate Teacher Preparation Board, 1998 – 2007.
  • University Four-Year Undergraduate Advisor, 1999 – 2004.
  • University Supercomputer Advisory Committee, 1999 – 2003.
  • University’s First Resident Faculty Fellow, 1998 – 2001.
  • University Residential College Associates Team, 1998 – 2001.
  • University Special Major Committee, 1997 – 1999.
  • University Undergraduate Council, 1997 – 1999.
  • University Undergraduate Council (Steering Committee), 1998 – 1999.
  • Chair, University UC Information Dissemination Committee, 1998 – 1999.
  • University Disabled Students Committee, 1997.
  • University Natural Sciences Curriculum Committee, 1996 – 1997.
  • University Witherspoon Search Committee, 1996.
  • University Undergraduate Brochure Committee, 1996.
  • University Course Evaluation Task Force, 1995.
  • University Mathematics Task Force, 1995.
  • University Freshman Advisor; 1992-1993.
  • University Compton Scholar Selection Committee; 1992 – 1993.
  • University Secondary Education Certification Evaluation Committee, 1992-1993.
ARTS & SCIENCES (CURRENT):    
  • “Pillar Champion” for the “Forge Connections Between Academy and Society” pillar of the A&S Strategic Plan, 2022 – present.
  • NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Mentoring Program, 2017 – present.
ARTS & SCIENCES (PAST):    
  • A&S Curriculum Review Committee, 2018 – 2021.
  • Compton-Ferguson Science Lecture Series Planning Committee, 2016 – 2020.
  • Academic Planning Committee, 2013 – 2015.
  • Faculty Council, 2012 – 2015. (Chair, 2013-2014, Spring 2015)
DEPARTMENT (CURRENT):

  • EEPS Faculty Mentoring and Assessment Committee, 2023 – present.

  • EEPS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, 2023 – present.

  • EEPS Awards Committee, 2023 – present.

  • EPS Undergraduate Major Advising, 2022 – present.

  • EPS Strategic Communications, 2020 – present.

  • EPS Pew Midstates Consortium Representative, 1991- present.
DEPARTMENT (PAST):
  • EPS Graduate Student Recruiting Committee, 1998 – 2001 (Chair); 2006 – 2018 (Chair).
  • EPS Graduate Studies Committee, 2010 – 2018.
  • EPS Undergraduate Major Advisor, 2014 – 2017.
  • EPS Undergraduate Program Development and Advising Committee, 1991 – 2010 (Chair, 1991 – 1997).
  • EPS Computers and Data Management Committee, 2001 – 2005.
  • EPS Graduate Student Advisor, 2004 – 2005.
  • EPS Curriculum and Teaching Committee Member, 1991 – 2010.
  • EPS Departmental Undergraduate Advisor, 1991 – 1997.
  • EPS United Way Representative, 1991 – 1993.
  • Faculty Representative to the Graduate Council, 1992 – 1993.
  • EPS Tolman Fellowship Development, 1992.