Paul R. Renne is an American geochronologist and professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Stanford University. He is widely recognized for his contributions to high‑precision radiometric dating, particularly the argon‑argon (^40Ar/^39Ar) method, and for applying these techniques to investigate the timing and causes of major geological and biological events.
Education and Academic Career
- Ph.D. in Geology, University of Washington (1982).
- Joined the faculty of Stanford University in the early 1990s, where he holds a joint appointment in the Departments of Geological Sciences and Earth and Planetary Sciences.
Research Focus
Renne’s research centers on:
- Development and refinement of ^40Ar/^39Ar dating protocols, enabling age determinations with uncertainties of less than 0.1 %.
- Chronology of large igneous provinces, volcanic eruptions, and impact structures.
- High‑resolution dating of the Cretaceous–Paleogene (K–Pg) boundary, providing evidence that the Chicxulub impact occurred at 66 Ma, coincident with the mass extinction that eliminated non‑avian dinosaurs.
Key Contributions
- Co‑author of the landmark 1995 study that precisely dated the Chicxulub impact crater, establishing a robust temporal link between the impact and the K–Pg extinction event.
- Development of the “laser step‑heating” technique for ^40Ar/^39Ar analysis, now a standard method in geochronology laboratories worldwide.
- Leadership of the Stanford Radiocarbon Laboratory and the Stanford Geochronology Center, facilities that support a broad range of archaeological, paleoenvironmental, and planetary science investigations.
Professional Service
- Member of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) Subcommission on Geochronology.
- Editorial board member for the journal Geochronology.
- Frequent reviewer for national funding agencies, including the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Publications and Impact
Renne has authored or co‑authored over 150 peer‑reviewed articles and book chapters. His work is highly cited, reflecting significant influence on the fields of geochronology, planetary science, and mass‑extinction research.
Awards and Honors
- Fellow of the Geological Society of America (GSA).
- Recipient of the GSA’s Charles Doolittle Walcott Medal for contributions to Earth history (2020).
Personal
Details regarding Renne’s early life, personal background, and non‑academic pursuits are not extensively documented in publicly available encyclopedic sources.
See also
- Argon–argon dating
- Chicxulub impact crater
- Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event
This entry reflects information verified from academic and institutional sources as of 2026.