Robert Phillip Sharp

Robert Phillip Sharp, one of the leading figures of American geology, died peacefully in his home in Santa Barbara, California, on 25 May 2004. Bob's enormous contributions on the physical processes that have modified the surfaces of Earth and Mars are scientific classics that have substantially enhanced our understanding of the unique roles of water, wind, and ice in modifying planetary surfaces. Virtually an equal contribution was Bob's vision and leadership in geological academia, primarily at Caltech.