ASU professor elected to National Academy of Sciences for geomorphology research
ASU geomorphologist and professor Kelin Whipple diagrams the Oroville Dam crisis of 2017. Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News
Kelin Whipple, professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University and a leading expert in geomorphology, has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences. He joins the distinguished 2025 class of new members, honored for their outstanding and continuing achievements in original research.
The NAS announced the election of 120 new U.S. members and 23 international members on April 26, bringing the total active membership to 2,662 and the number of international members to 556. Whipple is now among 20 current ASU faculty members who have been elected to the academy — one of the highest honors a scientist can receive.
Whipple’s research focuses on the evolution of Earth’s surface, with an emphasis on understanding how landscapes record tectonic activity and climatic history in landforms and sedimentary deposits. His work has advanced the scientific community’s ability to reconstruct tectonic history and make rapid assessment of seismic hazards in remote areas.
“I am deeply honored but also humbled to be elected to the NAS. This is not an individual achievement,” Whipple said. “To a great degree, it's an acknowledgement of the accomplishments of the many great students and postdocs I have had the good fortune, honor and pleasure to have worked with over the years, paired with many deeply enriching collaborations with colleagues. I also am grateful to ASU and SESE for all they have done to facilitate my group’s research."
In addition to his research, Whipple is deeply engaged in undergraduate education as associate director of undergraduate initiatives in the School of Earth and Space Exploration. He is committed to mentoring students and fostering a learning environment that embraces the ASU Charter and encourages curiosity, critical thinking and scientific discovery.
“Professor Kelin Whipple’s research has revolutionized our understanding of key processes that shape the evolution of landforms on Earth by combining new theory, field observations and experiments,” School of Earth and Space Exploration Director Meenakshi Wadhwa said. “He has also made noteworthy contributions to student success and mentorship as associate director for undergraduate initiatives in our school. It is incredibly gratifying to see him be recognized with this honor for the tremendous impact that he has been making with all of this work.”
Whipple’s previous honors include the National Academy of Sciences’ G. K. Warren Prize (2014), election as a fellow of both the American Geophysical Union and the Geological Society of America (2010), and the Bagnold Medal from the European Geosciences Union (2008).
The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit institution established under a congressional charter signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. It recognizes achievement in science by election to membership and, with the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medicine, provides science, engineering and health policy advice to the federal government and other organizations.
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