{{Short description|American geologist and volcanologist}} '''Robert I. Tilling''' (born 1935) is a [[geologist]] and [[volcanologist]] who served as the scientist-in-charge of the [[Hawaiian Volcano Observatory]] from 1975 to 1976.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Babb |first1=Janet L. |author-link1=Janet Babb |last2=Kauahikaua |first2=James P. |author-link2=James P. Kauahikaua |last3=Tilling |first3=Robert I. |date=2011 |title=The story of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory—A remarkable first 100 years of tracking eruptions and earthquakes |url=https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/gip135 |journal=U.S. Geological Survey General Information Product 135 |series=General Information Product |pages=i-63 |doi=10.3133/gip135|bibcode=2011usgs.rept...44B |url-access=subscription }}</ref> Tilling worked for the [[U.S. Geological Survey]] (USGS), and became an ''[[emeritus]]'' in 2004.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Kious |first1=W. Jacquelyne |url=http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/7000097 |title=This Dynamic Earth: The Story of Plate Tectonics |last2=Tilling |first2=Robert I. |date=1996 |isbn=978-0-16-048220-5 |series=General Information Product |chapter=Endnotes |doi=10.3133/7000097 |hdl=2346/62894 |id=<!--USGS Store Product Number [https://store.usgs.gov/product/16398 16398]-->}}</ref> He was born in [[Shanghai]], and did not arrive in the U.S. until 1946.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Tilling |first1=Robert I. |url=https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/7000007 |title=Eruptions of Hawaiian Volcanoes: Past, Present, and Future |last2=Heliker |first2=Christina C. |last3=Wright |first3=Thomas L. |date=1987 |series=General Interest Publication |language=en |chapter=Endnotes |doi=10.3133/7000007|hdl=2346/62912 }}</ref> After moving to the U.S., he grew up near [[San Diego]], [[California]].<ref name="GJH">{{Cite web |title=Bob Tilling |url=https://geologistsofjacksonhole.org/bob-tilling/ |access-date=2023-06-03 |publisher=Geologists of Jackson Hole |language=en-US}}</ref>
Tilling attended both [[Pomona College]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]]) and [[Yale University]] ([[Doctor of Philosophy|Ph.D.]]),<ref name="GJH" /> and joined the U.S. Geological Survey in 1962. In 1971, he worked for [[NASA]]'s lunar sample program. His service with the U.S. Geological Survey included four years at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, with a stint as head scientist. After his tenure there, he left to work for the USGS out of [[Reston, Virginia]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 25–31, 1976 |title=The Geologist |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hawaii-tribune-herald-the-geologist/144855831/ |work=[[Hawaii Tribune-Herald]] |pages=5 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Tilling also coordinated responses to the [[1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens]];<ref>{{Cite news |date=Jan 17, 1989 |title=Volcanoes need study, expert says |url=https://dks.library.kent.edu/?a=d&d=dks19890119-01.1.3&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN------- |work=Daily Kent Stater |pages=3 |via=[[Kent State University]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> following the eruption, he spoke before [[United States Congress|Congress]], stating that consequent eruptions may occur, though they would likely not be as powerful than the original blast.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 13, 1980 |title=Congress hears prediction of 'high-velocity' eruptions |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/albany-democrat-herald-congress-hears-pr/144856386/ |work=Albany Democrat-Herald |pages=13 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> In 1996, he won the Distinguished Public Service Medal of the [[Mineralogical Society of America]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Muffler |first=L.J. Patrick |date=1997 |title=Presentation of the Distinguished Public Service Medal for 1996 to Robert I. Tilling |url=http://www.minsocam.org/msa/ammin/toc/abstracts/1997_abstracts/ja97_abstracts/Muffler_p833_97.pdf |journal=[[American Mineralogist]] |volume=82 |issue=7–8 |pages=833}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Tilling |first=Robert I. |date=1997 |title=Acceptance of the Distinguished Public Service Medal for 1996 |url=http://www.minsocam.org/msa/ammin/toc/abstracts/1997_abstracts/ja97_abstracts/Tilling_p834_97.pdf |journal=[[American Mineralogist]] |volume=82 |issue=7–8 |pages=834–835}}</ref>
Tilling was also formerly a [[consultant]] to the [[Government of Indonesia|Indonesian government]] on volcanic hazards.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schulz |first=William |date=Aug 17, 1983 |title=The Threats Of Eruptions Are Constant |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-the-threats-of-er/144856233/ |website=[[The Charlotte Observer]] |page=3E |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> During his scientific career, he published over 350 papers on [[geoscience]], for audiences both scientific and general,<ref>{{Cite book |title=Complexity in Tsunamis, Volcanoes, and their Hazards |date=2021 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-1-0716-1705-2 |editor-last=Tilling |editor-first=Robert I. |series=Meyers, Robert A. (ed.). ''Encyclopedia of Complexity and Systems Science'' (Series) (2nd ed.) |page=xv |chapter=About the Volume Editor |doi=10.1007/978-1-0716-1705-2 |eissn=2629-2343 |issn=2629-2327 |chapter-url=https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/bfm:978-1-0716-1705-2/1}}</ref> including in ''[[Scientific American]]''<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Dvorak |first1=John J. |last2=Johnson |first2=Carl |last3=Tilling |first3=Robert I. |date=August 1992 |title=Dynamics of Kilauea Volcano |journal=[[Scientific American]] |volume=267 |issue=2 |pages=46–53 |doi=10.1038/scientificamerican0892-46|bibcode=1992SciAm.267b..46D }}</ref> and ''[[Nature (journal)|Nature]]''.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Tilling |first1=Robert I. |last2=Lipman |first2=Peter W. |date=1993 |title=Lessons in reducing volcano risk |journal=[[Nature (journal)|Nature]] |language=en |volume=364 |issue=6435 |pages=277–280 |doi=10.1038/364277a0|bibcode=1993Natur.364..277T }}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Tilling, Robert I.}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1935 births]] [[Category:Scientists from Shanghai]] [[Category:Scientists from San Diego]] [[Category:20th-century geologists]] [[Category:American volcanologists]] [[Category:United States Geological Survey personnel]] [[Category:Pomona College alumni]] [[Category:Yale University alumni]] [[Category:Nationality missing]] {{Geologist-stub}}