David A. Kring

David A. Kring
Name	David A. Kring
Nationality	American
Fields	Planetary science, geology, impact cratering
Workplaces	Lunar and Planetary Institute, Purdue University, University of Arizona
Alma mater	University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, California Institute of Technology
Known for	Studies of impact cratering, Chicxulub crater, lunar volcanism

David A. Kring is an American planetary geologist noted for his work on impact craters, planetary volcanism, and the effects of bolide impacts on biospheres and climates. He has led field investigations, laboratory analyses, and interdisciplinary collaborations linking Lunar and Planetary Institute, NASA research, and university programs to advance understanding of planetary surfaces across the Earth, Moon, and Mars. His work intersects with studies of mass extinctions, stratigraphy, petrology, and planetary evolution.

Early life and education

Kring completed undergraduate and graduate training at institutions including University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign and California Institute of Technology, where he pursued studies in geology, geochemistry, and planetary science alongside researchers affiliated with Jet Propulsion Laboratory and NASA Ames Research Center. During his doctoral and postdoctoral work he collaborated with investigators connected to Smithsonian Institution, United States Geological Survey, and academic departments that contributed to planetary mapping, geochronology, and impact modeling.

Academic and research career

Kring has held positions with the Lunar and Planetary Institute, Purdue University, and the University of Arizona where he taught courses integrating field geology, remote sensing, and laboratory techniques used by teams from European Space Agency, Roscosmos, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. He participated in programs funded by National Science Foundation and NASA, contributing to mission-related science teams, instrument development discussions tied to missions like Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and proposed sample-return efforts. His collaborations extended to investigators at institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Caltech, University of California, Berkeley, and Harvard University.

Impact crater studies and contributions to planetary science

Kring's research emphasized links between hypervelocity impacts and planetary processes, engaging with debates surrounding the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event, the Chicxulub crater, and related global stratigraphic markers like the K–Pg boundary. He investigated impact melt sheets, impact-generated hydrothermal systems, and ejecta deposits comparable to structures studied at Sudbury Basin, Vredefort crater, and Manicouagan Reservoir. By integrating field observations, petrography, and numerical modeling from groups associated with European Southern Observatory and Los Alamos National Laboratory, his work informed interpretations of impact-triggered volcanism and climate forcing discussed in literature alongside contributions from researchers of Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Fieldwork and sample analysis

Kring led and participated in terrestrial field expeditions to sites such as the Chicxulub crater region, impact structures in the Yucatan Peninsula, and craters across North America, Africa, and Australia. He coordinated sampling campaigns that used stratigraphic correlation and petrographic analysis techniques common to teams from Geological Society of America, European Geosciences Union, and American Geophysical Union. Sample analyses employed methods developed in laboratories at Caltech, MIT, and University of Arizona for shock metamorphism studies, isotopic age determinations comparable to those performed at Argonne National Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and geochemical fingerprinting used in planetary sample curation with counterparts at Johnson Space Center.

Awards, honors, and recognition

Kring's contributions have been recognized by awards and honors from organizations such as NASA, the Lunar and Planetary Institute, and professional societies including Geological Society of America and American Geophysical Union. His leadership in impact research placed him among scientists collaborating with recipients of medals from institutions like Royal Astronomical Society and National Academy of Sciences and invited him to participate in international symposia hosted by International Astronomical Union and European Space Agency scientific committees.

Selected publications and outreach activities

Kring authored and coauthored numerous peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and conference proceedings disseminated through venues associated with Nature (journal), Science (journal), Geology (journal), and publications of the Geological Society of America. He engaged in public outreach via lectures at museums such as the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History, planetariums, and media collaborations with outlets including documentary producers and broadcasters tied to National Geographic Society and BBC. Kring's work supported educational programs and exhibits produced in partnership with institutions like American Museum of Natural History and the Lunar and Planetary Institute.

Category:Planetary scientists Category:American geologists Category:Impact geology