Stephen Pekar

<p class="MsoNormal">Stephen Pekar, a geology professor at Queens College (City University of New York), has been investigating past climate and oceanographic changes during times (16- 50 million years ago) when CO2 was as high as what is predicted for this century (450-1000 ppm). As CO2 is rising rapidly today, which is predicted to be like putting our climate on a “hot plate”, exploring these times for him is like “Looking Back to Our Future”. To investigate climate change of the past, he looks at sediments, microfossil, and geochemical data obtained from cores obtained from near-shore to deep-sea locations ranging from the tropics to Antarctica. His research has taken him on expeditions around the world, including four to Antarctica, one of which he was project leader. His most recent expedition explored the newly named eighth continent of the world called Zealandia, in which he was part of a team of 30 scientists from around the world that recovered sedimentary cores up to one kilometer below the sea floor that were deposited from the time of the dinosaurs. 

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<p class="MsoNormal">Professor Pekar is a New York City native, attending Queens College (City University of New York), first as a 20th century music composition major and then getting his BA in Education.  He received his PhD in Geology at Rutgers University, followed by being a Post-Doctoral Research Scientist at Columbia University.  He is enthralled and in love with exploring and discovering our beautiful planet.  He has traveled to over 60 countries, working in six of them ranging from archeology in France, grape picking in Germany, movie extra in China, to house pianist in a restaurant in Israel.