Ho-kwang "Dave" Mao

Ho-kwang "Dave" Mao is a preeminent geophysicist and high-pressure physicist renowned for his pioneering experiments on materials under extreme conditions. His work has fundamentally advanced understanding of planetary interiors, leading to major discoveries about the composition and dynamics of Earth and other planets. A long-time staff scientist at the Carnegie Institution for Science's Geophysical Laboratory, Mao is a member of the United States National Academy of Sciences and has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Balzan Prize.

Early life and education

Born in Shanghai in 1941, Mao's early education was disrupted by the political turmoil of the mid-20th century in China. He eventually pursued higher education in the United States, earning his undergraduate degree in geology from the University of Rochester. His aptitude for experimental science led him to graduate studies, where he began working with the diamond anvil cell, a revolutionary device for generating ultra-high pressures. This technology, pioneered by scientists like Alvin Van Valkenburg and Charles S. Prewitt, became the cornerstone of Mao's future research career.

Career and research

Mao joined the Carnegie Institution for Science's Geophysical Laboratory in the late 1960s, where he would spend the majority of his prolific career. He rose to become the Director of the High Pressure Collaborative Access Team (HPCAT) at the Advanced Photon Source of Argonne National Laboratory, a facility essential for synchrotron X-ray studies. His research program has consistently focused on using the diamond anvil cell to simulate the immense pressures found within planetary bodies, from Earth's core to the interiors of gas giants like Jupiter. He has held affiliations with the University of Chicago and has mentored generations of scientists in the field of mineral physics.

Major contributions and discoveries

Mao's experimental work has yielded several landmark discoveries in Earth sciences. In 2004, his team was instrumental in the identification of the mineral post-perovskite, a high-pressure phase of magnesium silicate believed to constitute a major layer in Earth's lowermost mantle (the D'' layer). This discovery provided a critical explanation for seismic anomalies observed in that region. Another seminal achievement was the experimental metallization of solid hydrogen, a key step in understanding the physics of Jupiter and Saturn. His research has also elucidated the properties of major planetary materials like silicate perovskite, iron, and water ice at extreme conditions, directly informing models of planetary formation and mantle convection.

Awards and honors

Mao's contributions have been recognized with many of the highest honors in geophysics and physics. He received the American Geophysical Union's Arthur L. Day Prize in 1989 and the Mineralogical Society of America's prestigious Roebling Medal in 2005. In 2015, he was awarded the international Balzan Prize for his pioneering work in mineral physics. He is a fellow of the American Geophysical Union, the American Physical Society, and the Geochemical Society. His election to the United States National Academy of Sciences in 1993 stands as a testament to the profound impact of his research on the scientific community.

Personal life

Known widely by his American nickname "Dave," Mao is recognized not only for his scientific brilliance but also for his collaborative spirit and mentorship. He has maintained strong scientific ties with institutions in China and Europe throughout his career. His work continues to inspire investigations into the deep Earth and the fundamental behavior of matter under the most extreme pressures found in the universe.

Category:American geophysicists Category:High-pressure physicists Category:Carnegie Institution for Science people Category:Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences Category:Balzan Prize winners