European Geosciences Union names FSU assistant professor Outstanding Early Career Scientist
A 糖心vlog faculty member has been named a 2022 Division Outstanding Early Career Scientist by the European Geosciences Union (EGU).
Richard Bono, an assistant professor in the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science, received the award in the EGU鈥檚 Earth magnetism and rock physics division.
鈥淩ichard is a fantastic example of a scientist making great contributions to his field, and his research is made even more impressive because he is at the beginning of his career,鈥 department Chair Bob Hart said. 鈥淎long with helping us understand our planet鈥檚 geological history, this work is especially relevant because of the ways technology interacts with the magnetic field in the present.鈥
Bono examines how Earth鈥檚 magnetic field has changed over very long timescales and what that tells us about the development of the planet鈥檚 core and its impact on habitability. His work has investigated when Earth鈥檚 magnetic field formed, how it has changed and how the strength of the magnetic field has varied over four billion years. He was the lead investigator on a landmark study that showed the influence of the magnetic field in single mineral grains, which allowed him to assert that the Earth鈥檚 inner core started solidifying about 600 million years ago, relatively recent on the planet鈥檚 time scale.
Extending thousands of miles into space, Earth鈥檚 magnetic field makes life as we know it possible by shielding solar wind and radiation that would otherwise strip away the atmosphere. Along with being crucial for the evolution of life, the magnetic field also shields satellites orbiting the planet that we rely on for communication, navigation, meteorology and more.
鈥淓ven though the planet鈥檚 core is thousands of miles beneath our feet, it has a critical influence on how we live,鈥 Bono said.
The magnetic field is generated by liquid iron-nickel in the planet鈥檚 core. As that so-called geodynamo swirls around the core, the field moves as well. Scientists can understand its movement over time by observing the orientation of microscopic magnetic minerals inside rocks. Those magnetic minerals pointed toward whatever spot on the planet was magnetic north at the time of their formation.
That gives scientists insight into how tectonic plates that make up the Earth鈥檚 crust moved across the planet鈥檚 surface over millions of years.
鈥淚 thought that was the most fascinating puzzle someone could work on, trying to figure out how the plates fit together and moved from something like Pangea from when dinosaurs were living to the continents we have today,鈥 Bono said. 鈥淭rying to put those puzzle pieces back together was the first thing that captured my interest, and paleomagnetism was a fundamental contribution to understanding that.鈥
EGU鈥檚 Outstanding Early Career Scientist Awards recognize young scientists making outstanding contributions to the study of Earth, planetary and space sciences. Awardees are role models for the next generation of geosciences researchers seeking to understand our planet for the benefit of humanity.
Visit the for more information about the 2022 Division Outstanding Early Career Scientist Awards.