The UCLA Department of Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences gathered on May 21 and June 16 to celebrate the careers of four longtime members of its community whose work has helped shape the department over decades of discovery, teaching and service. Faculty, staff, students, alumni, friends and family came together to recognize Distinguished Professor Craig Manning, Professor Gilles Peltzer, Researcher Peter Chi and Project Scientist Steven Joy as they concluded careers that collectively span more than a century at UCLA.
Craig Manning
Craig Manning retired on June 30 after 36 years on the UCLA faculty, having joined the department on July 1, 1990. An internationally recognized leader in experimental petrology and geochemistry, Manning’s research transformed scientific understanding of how water and other fluids behave deep within Earth’s crust and mantle under extreme temperatures and pressures. His work advanced knowledge of mountain building, volcanism, mineral formation and the deep carbon cycle while earning election to the National Academy of Sciences and fellowship in the American Geophysical Union. Beyond his research accomplishments, Manning also served the university as Associate Dean for Academic Personnel, helping guide faculty advancement across UCLA while mentoring generations of Earth scientists within EPSS.
Gilles Peltzer
Gilles Peltzer concluded his UCLA career after more than 26 years, having joined the faculty on April 1, 2000. A pioneer in satellite geodesy and remote sensing, Peltzer developed innovative techniques for measuring Earth’s changing surface from space, allowing scientists to better understand earthquakes, fault motion, volcanic activity and other geologic hazards. His work combined satellite observations with geophysical modeling to reveal how tectonic forces reshape the planet, helping establish UCLA as a leader in the study of active Earth processes and inspiring students and collaborators around the world. In recognition of his influential contributions to Earth science, he was elected a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union in 2009, one of the highest honors in the geosciences.
Peter Chi
Peter Chi was recognized for his longstanding contributions as a researcher with UCLA’s renowned space physics program. Throughout his career, Chi investigated the dynamics of Earth’s magnetosphere, focusing on ultra-low-frequency plasma waves and their interactions with energetic particles in near-Earth space. His research improved scientific understanding of space weather and the complex processes that link the Sun and Earth, while his collaborations with faculty, students and fellow researchers strengthened UCLA’s internationally respected program in heliophysics and magnetospheric science.
Steven Joy
Steven Joy was honored for a career dedicated to advancing space science through research, technical leadership and mission support. As a Project Scientist, Joy played key roles in numerous NASA planetary missions, helping develop scientific instrumentation, spacecraft operations and data systems that have expanded understanding of the solar system. His expertise and willingness to mentor colleagues made him an invaluable member of UCLA’s space physics community, while his decades of service helped support the department’s research enterprise well beyond the classroom and laboratory.
“These four honorees have, over decades of dedicated service, strengthened the Department of Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences and influenced scientists around the world. I, and the entire EPSS community, are grateful for everything they have done for us and our field.”
— EPSS Department Chair Jon Aurnou
