User:Rowenrye

Who I Am and What I Do For a Living

My name is Rob Rye. I am an American scientist. At present I serve on the faculty of the University of Southern California. My portfolio is difficult to describe with a single word. I generally introduce myself as a biogeochemist with strong involvement in astrobiology and early Earth research.

Experience with Mediawiki and DPL

At present my experience of administering instances of Mediawiki is limited to several semi-private wikis (at USC and at home). However, I have an extensive wiki devoted to my group's current research regarding climate during the first half of Earth history. Provided I can find the time, I plan to take that wiki public when the database around which this research has evolved is ready to be made public as well. As I learn how to use it, I expect DPL and the Calendar that goes with it to play key roles in helping me to keep my group and my research organized.

Another Side of Who I Am

In addition to my post at USC, I am a charter member/investigator in the Virtual Planetary Laboratory. At present our group consists of over 40 scientists based at nearly 20 institutions around the world. We have joined together to develop the tools needed to simulate whole (hypothetical) planets around other stars in order to address a mind blowing question: What would an earth-sized planet that was teeming with life look like when viewed from 15 parsecs away and how would that differ from how a dead planet would appear? We are on the cutting edge of research aimed at answering one of humankind's oldest questions: Are we alone? Unlike SETI and other previous efforts, ours is aimed at detection in situ instead of looking for signals from intelligent life. Stay tuned...