The Morton K. Blaustein Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences is delighted to announce that Ben Zaitchik’s promotion to full professor was approved by the Board of Trustees on Feb. 1, 2021.

Prof. Zaitchik’s group studies both the physics of climate and the intersection of climatic processes with human society. In the past few years, this has included projects as diverse as examining the role of dust in Sahelian precipitation, developing forecasts of the flow of the Blue Nile, developing methods for tracking pathogenic bacteria in Chesapeake Bay using remote sensing, looking at the relationship between climate variability and armed conflict, and evaluating the role of climate on COVID-19. Ben has played a major role in helping to start the GeoHealth section of the American Geophysical Union and currently serves as president of the Executive Committee. In addition, he’s been active in sustainability efforts both at Johns Hopkins and as a member of the Baltimore City Sustainability commission.  Congratulations to Ben!