# Robert I. Tilling

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American geologist and volcanologist

**Robert I. Tilling** (born 1935) is a [geologist](/source/Geologist) and [volcanologist](/source/Volcanologist) who served as the scientist-in-charge of the [Hawaiian Volcano Observatory](/source/Hawaiian_Volcano_Observatory) from 1975 to 1976.[1] Tilling worked for the [U.S. Geological Survey](/source/U.S._Geological_Survey) (USGS), and became an *[emeritus](/source/Emeritus)* in 2004.[2] He was born in [Shanghai](/source/Shanghai), and did not arrive in the U.S. until 1946.[3] After moving to the U.S., he grew up near [San Diego](/source/San_Diego), [California](/source/California).[4]

Tilling attended both [Pomona College](/source/Pomona_College) ([B.A.](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts)) and [Yale University](/source/Yale_University) ([Ph.D.](/source/Doctor_of_Philosophy)),[4] and joined the U.S. Geological Survey in 1962. In 1971, he worked for [NASA](/source/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](/source/Reston%2C_Virginia).[5] Tilling also coordinated responses to the [1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens](/source/1980_eruption_of_Mount_St._Helens);[6] following the eruption, he spoke before [Congress](/source/United_States_Congress), stating that consequent eruptions may occur, though they would likely not be as powerful than the original blast.[7] In 1996, he won the Distinguished Public Service Medal of the [Mineralogical Society of America](/source/Mineralogical_Society_of_America).[8][9]

Tilling was also formerly a [consultant](/source/Consultant) to the [Indonesian government](/source/Government_of_Indonesia) on volcanic hazards.[10] During his scientific career, he published over 350 papers on [geoscience](/source/Geoscience), for audiences both scientific and general,[11] including in *[Scientific American](/source/Scientific_American)*[12] and *[Nature](/source/Nature_(journal))*.[13]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Babb, Janet L.](/source/Janet_Babb); [Kauahikaua, James P.](/source/James_P._Kauahikaua); Tilling, Robert I. (2011). ["The story of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory—A remarkable first 100 years of tracking eruptions and earthquakes"](https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/gip135). *U.S. Geological Survey General Information Product 135*. General Information Product: i-63. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2011usgs.rept...44B](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2011usgs.rept...44B). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.3133/gip135](https://doi.org/10.3133%2Fgip135).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Kious, W. Jacquelyne; Tilling, Robert I. (1996). "Endnotes". [*This Dynamic Earth: The Story of Plate Tectonics*](https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/7000097). General Information Product. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.3133/7000097](https://doi.org/10.3133%2F7000097). [hdl](/source/Hdl_(identifier)):[2346/62894](https://hdl.handle.net/2346%2F62894). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-16-048220-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-16-048220-5).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Tilling, Robert I.; Heliker, Christina C.; Wright, Thomas L. (1987). "Endnotes". [*Eruptions of Hawaiian Volcanoes: Past, Present, and Future*](https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/7000007). General Interest Publication. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.3133/7000007](https://doi.org/10.3133%2F7000007). [hdl](/source/Hdl_(identifier)):[2346/62912](https://hdl.handle.net/2346%2F62912).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-GJH_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-GJH_4-1) ["Bob Tilling"](https://geologistsofjacksonhole.org/bob-tilling/). Geologists of Jackson Hole. Retrieved 2023-06-03.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["The Geologist"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/hawaii-tribune-herald-the-geologist/144855831/). *[Hawaii Tribune-Herald](/source/Hawaii_Tribune-Herald)*. July 25–31, 1976. p. 5 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Volcanoes need study, expert says"](https://dks.library.kent.edu/?a=d&d=dks19890119-01.1.3&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------). *Daily Kent Stater*. [Associated Press](/source/Associated_Press). Jan 17, 1989. p. 3 – via [Kent State University](/source/Kent_State_University).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Congress hears prediction of 'high-velocity' eruptions"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/albany-democrat-herald-congress-hears-pr/144856386/). *Albany Democrat-Herald*. [Associated Press](/source/Associated_Press). June 13, 1980. p. 13 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Muffler, L.J. Patrick (1997). ["Presentation of the Distinguished Public Service Medal for 1996 to Robert I. Tilling"](http://www.minsocam.org/msa/ammin/toc/abstracts/1997_abstracts/ja97_abstracts/Muffler_p833_97.pdf) (PDF). *[American Mineralogist](/source/American_Mineralogist)*. **82** (7–8): 833.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Tilling, Robert I. (1997). ["Acceptance of the Distinguished Public Service Medal for 1996"](http://www.minsocam.org/msa/ammin/toc/abstracts/1997_abstracts/ja97_abstracts/Tilling_p834_97.pdf) (PDF). *[American Mineralogist](/source/American_Mineralogist)*. **82** (7–8): 834–835.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Schulz, William (Aug 17, 1983). ["The Threats Of Eruptions Are Constant"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-the-threats-of-er/144856233/). *[The Charlotte Observer](/source/The_Charlotte_Observer)*. p. 3E – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Tilling, Robert I., ed. (2021). ["About the Volume Editor"](https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/bfm:978-1-0716-1705-2/1). *Complexity in Tsunamis, Volcanoes, and their Hazards*. Meyers, Robert A. (ed.). *Encyclopedia of Complexity and Systems Science* (Series) (2nd ed.). Springer. p. xv. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1007/978-1-0716-1705-2](https://doi.org/10.1007%2F978-1-0716-1705-2). [eISSN](/source/EISSN_(identifier)) [2629-2343](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/2629-2343). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-0716-1705-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-0716-1705-2). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [2629-2327](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/2629-2327).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Dvorak, John J.; Johnson, Carl; Tilling, Robert I. (August 1992). "Dynamics of Kilauea Volcano". *[Scientific American](/source/Scientific_American)*. **267** (2): 46–53. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1992SciAm.267b..46D](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1992SciAm.267b..46D). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1038/scientificamerican0892-46](https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fscientificamerican0892-46).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Tilling, Robert I.; Lipman, Peter W. (1993). "Lessons in reducing volcano risk". *[Nature](/source/Nature_(journal))*. **364** (6435): 277–280. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1993Natur.364..277T](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1993Natur.364..277T). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1038/364277a0](https://doi.org/10.1038%2F364277a0).

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