Dr. Francis H. Chapelle brings four decades of groundbreaking scientific research to his examination of climate’s role in human history. As a distinguished scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey until his retirement in 2020, his work on groundwater microbiology and geochemistry earned him the prestigious O.E. Meinzer Award from the Geological Society of America and the USGS Distinguished Service Award.

His unique academic journey, beginning with degrees in both music and geology from the University of Maryland and culminating in a Ph.D. from George Washington University, reflects his ability to bridge different disciplines and communicate complex scientific concepts to general audiences. With over 130 peer-reviewed scientific papers and multiple books to his credit, including the definitive textbook “Groundwater Microbiology and Geochemistry” (John Wiley & Sons), Chapelle has demonstrated a rare talent for making scientific discoveries accessible to all readers.

His fascination with climate change began in 1982 with a remarkable discovery about how ice age sea levels had dramatically altered the Atlantic coastal plain’s hydrology. This finding sparked a career-long investigation into the intricate relationships between geological processes and human history, culminating in this comprehensive examination of climate’s role in shaping civilization.