- James Kasting
James F. Kasting (b. January 2, 1953) is a
geoscientist atPenn State University . Kasting was educated atHarvard University and theUniversity of Michigan , where he received his Ph.D. inatmospheric science in 1979.Kasting has published dozens of reviews and papers, covering the geophysical history and status of the
Earth , with a focus on atmospherics. He has also considered the habitability criteria of other stellar systems and planets and is broadly considered the world leader in the field ofplanetary habitability . In their popular 2001 work "Rare Earth", Peter Ward and Donald Brownlee note: "Although many scientists have been doggedly pursuing the various attributes necessary for a habitable planet...one name stands out in the scientific literature: James Kasting" (pg. 266). A 1993 paper onhabitable zone s. [cite journal |last=Kasting |first= James F.|authorlink= James Kasting |coauthors=Whitmore, Daniel P.; Reynolds, Ray T. |year=1993 |title=Habitable Zones Around Main Sequence Stars |journal=Icarus |format=PDF |issue=101 |pages=108–128 |id= |url=http://www.geosc.psu.edu/~kasting/PersonalPage/Pdf/Icarus_93.pdf |accessdate= 2007-08-06 |quote= |doi=10.1006/icar.1993.1010 ] was particularly decisive in shaping thinking on this field.Kasting is also a member of numerous professional scientific societies and committees. He has served NASA in various capacities, including as a member of the scientific working for the
Terrestrial Planet Finder Kasting currently teaches a variety of Geoscience courses at Penn State where he is a Distinguished Professor. He is married with three children.
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