Dr. Michael "Mike" Perfit is Professor of Geology in the department of geological sciences at the University of Florida, where he combines field work, laboratory studies and theoretical models to better understand magmatic processes and how they are related to plate tectonics. Mike utilizes his expertise in igneous petrology and geochemistry to investigate the creation and evolution of island arcs and mid-ocean ridges. His most recent studies focus on the volcanology and petrologic evolution of the oceanic crust. During the last decade, Mike and his colleagues have been instrumental in documenting and studying the first recorded volcanic eruptions on the Juan de Fuca Ridge off the northwest coast of North America, and the EPR in the equatorial Eastern Pacific. He has participated in over 25 major oceanographic cruises and has had nearly 40 dives in the manned research submersible ALVIN to depths greater than 12,000 feet.

Mike's scientific training began with undergraduate studies in Geology at St. Lawrence University before completing an M. Phil in Marine Geology and Ph.D. in Geochemistry at Columbia (Lamont- Doherty Earth Observatory). He has been a member of the US Science Advisory Committee, the Lithosphere Panel of the Joint Oceanographic Institutes and served as the Chair of the Deep Submergence Science Committee. He most recently served on the Executive Committee of the Ridge 2000 program and asChair of the R2K Education & Outreach Committee.

Lectures

• Science Community Lecture: Mid-Ocean Ridge Volcanism on the East Pacific Rise:Two Decades of Integrated Volcanologic, Geophysical and Geochemical Studies
• General Public Lecture: Chasing Mid-Ocean Ridge Eruptions: Deep-Sea Forensics