author
Robert I. Tilling
b. 1935
A veteran volcanologist and geologist, he helped explain some of the world’s most closely watched volcanic landscapes and shared that science with general readers as well as specialists.
1 Audiobook
Volcanoes
by Robert I. Tilling
About the author
Born in Shanghai, China, and raised in southern California, Robert I. Tilling earned his B.A. from Pomona College and a Ph.D. in geology from Yale University before joining the U.S. Geological Survey in 1962.
He became especially known for his work in volcanology. Sources identify him as a geologist and volcanologist, and note that he served as scientist-in-charge of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory from 1975 to 1976. His long USGS career included research and writing on Hawaiian volcanoes, Mount St. Helens, and plate tectonics.
Tilling also wrote for broad audiences, helping make earth science more approachable through USGS publications such as This Dynamic Earth and other educational works on volcanoes. That mix of field expertise and public explanation made him an important interpreter of how restless the Earth can be.