David Aspinwall Dai Evans

 

USA and Australian citizenships; spouse Lely Dai Evans,

children Corinne (born 2002) and James (born 2003)

 

Dept. Geology & Geophysics, Yale University, 210 Whitney, New Haven, CT 06520-8109, USA

 

Employment and education

2009–         Professor of Geology & Geophysics, Yale University, New Haven, CT

                   Research and teaching in global tectonics and longterm trends in Earth's evolution.  Head of the Yale paleomagnetic facility.

 

2007–08     Associate Prof. of Geology & Geophysics, Yale University, New Haven, CT

2002–06     Assistant Prof. of Geology & Geophysics, Yale University, New Haven, CT

 

2002–05     Deputy Director, Tectonics Special Research Centre.  Leading the Yale-Harvard node of the Australian-funded TSRC.  Globally collaborative research toward reconstruction of pre-Pangean supercontinents and elucidating their effects on mantle dynamics, global climate, and biological evolution.

 

1998–'01    Postdoctoral research fellow, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia. Paleomagnetic and SHRIMP-geochronologic research to constrain the history of supercontinents and glaciations during the Proterozoic Eon.  Field work in Australia and southern Africa.

 

1994–98     California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Pasadena; Ph.D. in Geology

1992–94     California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Pasadena; M.S. in Geology

1988–92     Yale University, New Haven; B.S. in Geology & Geophysics

 

Principal research interests and experience:

Reconstruction of supercontinents through Earth history, using field- and laboratory-based paleomagnetic investigations.  Assessment of supercontinental histories in the contexts of solid-Earth geodynamics and paleoenvironmental changes surrounding the evolution of life.  More than ten years of post-PhD experience in research, teaching, and academic administration.

 

Professional activities:

2006–              Associate Editor, American Journal of Science

2005–              Co-leader of UNESCO International Geological Correlation Program (IGCP) Project 509, "Palaeoproterozoic Supercontinents and Global Evolution"

2005–              Voting member, Subcommissions on Precambrian Stratigraphy and Neoproterozoic Stratigraphy (International Committee on Stratigraphy)

2005–              Member, Geological Association of Canada

1999–              Member, Geological Society of Australia

1992–              Member, Geological Society of America

1991–              Member, American Geophysical Union

1999–2003      Associate Editor, Tectonics

 

Awards:

2005                University of Western Australia, Gledden Senior Visiting Fellow.  Competitive award for visiting faculty.

 

2002–2007      David and Lucile Packard Fellow in Science and Engineering.  One of 20 young scientists and engineers from a selected pool of applicants among 50 top U.S. academic institutions.

 

2001                Editor's citation for Excellence in Refereeing, Tectonics (Am. Geophys. Union)

 

1999–2002      Australian Research Council, Australian Postdoctoral Research Fellowship

1998–1999      University of Western Australia Postdoctoral Fellowship.  Research proposals chosen from internationally competitive applicant pools.

 

1997                Outstanding Student Paper, Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Section, Fall Meeting, Am. Geophys. Union.  Selected from ~100 student presentations at the meeting.

 

1997–1998      Thomas E. Everhart Distinguished Graduate Lecturer (Caltech).  One of three chosen from the entire Caltech graduate student body.

 

1994–1995      Richard H. Jahns Teaching Award for outstanding graduate teaching (Caltech).  Best teaching assistant in the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, as determined by student feedback report scores.

 

1994                Geological Society of America Penrose Grant.  Competitive North American award for graduate student research projects.

 

1993–1996      National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship.  Competitive national award for funding graduate careers.

 

1992–1993      Paul Carrington and Helen Runals Henshaw Fellowship (Caltech).  Competitive award for incoming graduate students.

 

1992                William R. Belknap Prize for excellence in geology (Yale).  Highest honor bestowed on undergraduates in the Department of Geology & Geophysics.

 

1991                Samuel Lewis Penfield Prize for proficiency in mineralogy (Yale).  Excellent underclassman performance in the Department of Geology & Geophysics.

 

Refereed Publications (with Scopus-indexed citations as of August, 2009):

41.  Evans, D.A.D., and Halls, H.C., reviewed.  Restoring Proterozoic deformation within the Superior craton.  Precambrian Research.

 

40.  Evans, D.A.D., and Raub, T.D., reviewed.  How strong is the case for Neoproterozoic low-latitude glaciation?  In: Arnaud, E., Shields, G., and Halverson, G.P., eds., The Geological Record of Neoproterozoic Glaciations.  Geological Society of London Memoir.

 

39.  Evans, D.A.D., in press.  The palaeomagnetically viable, long-lived and all-inclusive Rodinia supercontinent reconstruction.  In: Murphy, J.B., Keppie, J.D., and Hynes, A., eds., Ancient Orogens and Modern Analogues.  Geological Society of London Special Publication 327, p.371-405.

 

38. Swanson-Hysell, N.L., Maloof, A.C., Weiss, B.P., and Evans, D.A.D., in press.  Symmetric geomagnetic reversals in 1.1 Ga Keweenawan basalt flows.  Nature Geoscience., v.2, p.xxx-xxx.

 

37. Denyszyn, S.W., Halls, H.C., Davis, D.W., and Evans, D.A.D., 2009.  Paleomagnetism and U-Pb geochronology of Franklin dykes in High Arctic Canada and Greenland: A revised age and paleomagnetic pole constraining block rotations in the Nares Strait region.  Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, v.46, p.689-705.

 

36.  Li, Z.X., Bogdanova, S.V., Collins, A.S., Davidson, A., De Waele, B., Ernst, R.E., Evans, D.A.D., Fitzsimons, I.C.W., Fuck, R.A., Gladkochub, D.P., Jacobs, J., Karlstrom, K.E., Lu, S., Natapov, L.M., Pease, V., Pisarevsky, S.A., Thrane, K., and Vernikovsky, V., 2009.  How not to build a supercontinent: A reply to J.D.A. Piper.  Precambrian Research, v.174, p.208-214.

 

35.  De Kock, M.O., Evans, D.A.D., and Beukes, N.J., 2009.  Validating the existence of Vaalbara in the Neoarchaean.  Precambrian Research, v.174, p.145-154.

 

34.  Payne, J.L., Hand, M., Barovich, K.M., Reid, A., and Evans, D.A.D., 2009.  Correlations and reconstruction models for the 2500-1500 Ma evolution of the Mawson Continent.  In: Reddy, S.M., Mazumder, R., Evans, D.A.D., and Collins, A.S., eds., Palaeoproterozoic Supercontinents and Global Evolution.  Geological Society of London Special Publication 323, p.319-355.

 

33.  Eglington, B.M., Reddy, S.M., and Evans, D.A.D., 2009.  The IGCP 509 Database System: Design and application of a tool to capture and illustrate litho- and chrono-stratigraphic information for Palaeoproterozoic tectonic domains.  In: Reddy, S.M., Mazumder, R., Evans, D.A.D., and Collins, A.S., eds., Palaeoproterozoic Supercontinents and Global Evolution.  Geological Society of London Special Publication 323, p.27-47.

 

32.  Reddy, S.M., and Evans, D.A.D., 2009.  Palaeoproterozoic supercontinents and global evolution: Correlations from core to atmosphere.  In: Reddy, S.M., Mazumder, R., Evans, D.A.D., and Collins, A.S., eds., Palaeoproterozoic Supercontinents and Global Evolution.  Geological Society of London Special Publication 323, p.1-26.

 

31. Kendall, B., Creaser, R.A., Calver, C.R., Raub, T.D., and Evans, D.A.D., 2009.  Correlation of Sturtian diamictite successions in southern Australia and northwestern Tasmania by Re-Os black shale geochronology and the ambiguity of "Sturtian"-type diamictite - cap carbonate pairs as chronostratigraphic marker horizons.  Precambrian Research, v.172, p.301-310.  0 citations.

 

30.  De Kock, M.O., Evans, D.A.D., Kirschvink, J.L., Beukes, N.J., Rose, E., and Hilburn, I., 2009.  Paleomagnetism of a Neoarchean-Paleoproterozoic carbonate ramp and carbonate platform succession (Transvaal Supergroup) from surface outcrop and drill core, Griqualand West region, South Africa.  Precambrian Research, v.269, p.80-99.  0 citations.

 

29.  Peppe, D.J., Evans, D.A.D. & Smirnov, A.V., 2009.  Magnetostratigraphy of the Ludlow Member of the Fort Union Formation (Lower Paleocene) of the Williston Basin in North Dakota.  Geological Society of America Bulletin, v.121, p.65-79.  Not in Scopus database.

 

28.  De Kock, M.O., Evans, D.A.D., Gutzmer, J., Beukes, N.J., and Dorland, H.C., 2008.  Origin and timing of BIF-hosted high-grade hard hematite deposits – a paleomagnetic approach.  In: Hagemann, S., Rosiere, C., Gutzmer, J., and Beukes, N., eds., BIF-Related High-Grade Iron Mineralization.  Reviews in Economic Geology, v.15, p.49-71.  Not in Scopus database.

 

27.  Evans, D.A.D., and Pisarevsky, S.A., 2008.  Plate tectonics on early Earth? — weighing the paleomagnetic evidence.  In Condie, K., and Pease, V., eds., When Did Plate Tectonics Begin?  Geological Society of America Special Paper, v.440, p.249-263.  Not in Scopus database.

 

26.  Raub, T.D., Kirschvink, J.L., and Evans, D.A.D., 2007.  True polar wander: Linking deep and shallow geodynamics to hydro- and bio-spheric hypotheses.  In: Kono, M., ed., Treatise on Geophysics, Volume 5: Geomagnetism (Amsterdam, Elsevier), p.565-589.  Not in Scopus database.

 

25.  Raub, T.D., Evans, D.A.D., and Smirnov, A.V., 2007.  Siliciclastic prelude to Elatina deglaciation: Lithostratigraphy and rock magnetism of the base of the Ediacaran System.  In: Vickers-Rich, P., and Komarower, P., eds., The Rise and Fall of the Ediacaran Biota.  Geological Society of London Special Publication 286, p.53-76.     2 citations.

 

24.  Pettersson, , Cornell, D.H., Moen, H.F.G., Reddy, S., and Evans, D., 2007.  Ion-probe dating of 1.2 Ga collision and crustal architecture in the Namaqua-Natal Province of southern Africa.  Precambrian Research, v.158, p.79-92.  3 citations.

 

23.  Evans, D.A.D., 2006. Proterozoic low orbital obliquity and axial-dipolar geomagnetic field from evaporite palaeolatitudes.  Nature, v.444, p.51-55.  16 citations.

 

22.  De Kock, M.O., Evans, D.A.D., Dorland, H.C., Beukes, N.J. & Gutzmer J., 2006.  Paleomagnetism of the lower two unconformity bounded sequences of the Waterberg Group, South Africa: Towards a better-defined apparent polar wander path for the Paleoproterozoic Kaapvaal Craton.  South African Journal of Geology, v.109, p.157-182.  3 citations.

 

21.  Dorland H.C., Beukes N.J., Gutzmer J., Evans, D.A.D., & Armstrong R.A., 2006.  Precise SHRIMP U-Pb age constraints on the lower Waterberg and Soutpansberg Groups, South Africa.  South African Journal of Geology, v.109, p.139-156.  4 citations.

 

20.  Peterson K.J., McPeek M. & Evans D.A.D., 2005.  Tempo and mode of early animal evolution: Inferences from rocks, Hox, and molecular clocks.  In: Vrba S. & Eldredge N., eds, Macroevolution: Diversity, Disparity, Contingency: Essays in Honor of Stephen Jay Gould, Paleobiology, v.31, supplement to no.2, p.36-55.  33 citations.

 

19.  Li Z.X., Evans D.A.D. & Zhang S., 2004.  A 90” spin on Rodinia: Causal links among the Neoproterozoic supercontinent, superplume, true polar wander and low-latitude glaciation.  Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v.220, p.409-421.  59 citations.

 

18.  Evans D.A.D., Sircombe K., Wingate M.T.D., Doyle M., Pidgeon R.T., McCarthy M. & Van Niekerk H.S., 2003.  Revised geochronology of magmatism in the western Capricorn orogen at 1805-1785 Ma:  Diachroneity of the Pilbara-Yilgarn collision.  Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, v.50, p.853-864.  7 citations.

 

17.  Evans D.A.D., 2003.  A fundamental Precambrian-Phanerozoic shift in EarthÕs glacial style?  Tectonophysics, v.375, p.353-385.  21 citations.

 

16.  Evans D.A.D., 2003.  True polar wander and supercontinents.  Tectonophysics, v.362, p.303-320.  53 citations.

 

15.  Wingate M.T.D. & Evans D.A.D., 2003.  Palaeomagnetic constraints on the Proterozoic tectonic evolution of Australia.  In: Yoshida M., Windley B. & Dasgupta S., eds, Proterozoic East Gondwana: Super Continent Assembly and Break-up, Geological Society of London Special Publication 206, p.77-91.  11 citations.

 

14.  Pisarevsky S.A., Wingate M.T.D., Powell C.McA., Johnson S. & Evans D.A.D., 2003.  Models of Rodinia assembly and fragmentation.  In: Yoshida M., Windley B. & Dasgupta S., eds, Proterozoic East Gondwana: Super Continent Assembly and Break-up, Geological Society of London Special Publication 206, p.35-55.  53 citations.

 

13.  Evans D.A.D., Beukes N.J. & Kirschvink J.L., 2002.  Paleomagnetism of a lateritic paleo-weathering horizon and overlying Paleoproterozoic redbeds from South Africa: implications for the Kaapvaal apparent polar wander path and a confirmation of atmospheric oxygen enrichment.  Journal of Geophysical Research, v.107(B12), doi: 10.1029/2001JB000432.  11 citations.

 

12.  Wingate M.T.D., Pisarevsky S.A. & Evans D.A.D., 2002.  Rodinia connections between Australia and Laurentia: no SWEAT, no AUSWUS?  Terra Nova, v.14, p.121-128.  87 citations.

 

11.  Evans D.A.D., Gutzmer J., Beukes N.J. & Kirschvink J.L., 2001.  Paleomagnetic constraints on ages of mineralization in the Kalahari Manganese Field, South Africa.  Economic Geology, v.96, p.621-631.  6 citations.

 

10.  Evans D.A.D., 2000.  Stratigraphic, geochronological, and paleomagnetic constraints upon the Neoproterozoic climatic paradox.  American Journal of Science, v.300, p.347-433.  161 citations.

 

9.  Martin M.W., Grazhdankin D.V., Bowring S.A., Evans D.A.D., Fedonkin M.A. & Kirschvink J.L., 2000.  Age of Neoproterozoic bilaterian body and trace fossils, White Sea, Russia: Implications for metazoan evolution.  Science, v.288, p.841-845.  114 citations.

 

8.  Evans D.A.D., Li Z.X., Kirschvink J.L. & Wingate M.T.D., 2000.  A high-quality mid-Neoproterozoic paleomagnetic pole from South China, with implications for ice ages and the breakup configuration of Rodinia.  Precambrian Research, v.100, p.313-334.  59 citations.

 

7.  Mound J.E., Mitrovica J.X., Evans D.A.D. & Kirschvink J.L., 1999.  A sea-level test for inertial interchange true polar wander events.  Geophysical Journal International, v.136, p.F5-F10.  11 citations.

 

6.  Evans D.A., 1998.  True polar wander, a supercontinental legacy.  Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v.157, p.1-8.  45 citations.

 

5.  Evans D.A., Ripperdan R.L. & Kirschvink J.L., 1998.  Polar wander and the Cambrian; response.  Science, v.279, p.9, correction p.304.  Full article accessible at http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/279/5347/9a.

 

4.  Kirschvink J.L., Ripperdan R.L. & Evans D.A., 1997.  Evidence for a large-scale reorganization of Early Cambrian continental masses by inertial interchange true polar wander.  Science, v.277, p.541-545.  116 citations.

 

3.  Evans D.A., Beukes N.J. & Kirschvink J.L., 1997.  Low-latitude glaciation in the Palaeoproterozoic era.  Nature, v.386, p.262-266.  92 citations.

 

2.  Evans D.A., Zhuravlev A.Yu., Budney C.J. & Kirschvink J.L., 1996.  Palaeomagnetism of the Bayan Gol Formation, western Mongolia.  Geological Magazine, v.133, p.487-496.  8 citations.

 

1.  Baldridge W.S., Ferguson J.F., Braile L.W., Wang B., Eckhardt K., Evans D., Schultz C., Gilpin B., Jiracek G.R. & Biehler S., 1994.  The western margin of the Rio Grande Rift in northern New Mexico: An aborted boundary?  Geological Society of America Bulletin, v.106, p.1538-1551.  9 citations.

 

 

External funding:

2007-09           Morphology, stability and paleointensity of the early geomagnetic field as recorded by 2.9–2.4 Ga mafic rocks in Western Australia.  NSF Geophysics, subcontract to Michigan Technical University (PI: Aleksey Smirnov), $31,475.

2005-08           Multidisciplinary study of the Precambrian biosphere and surficial oxygenation, Kaapvaal Craton, South Africa (continuation).  Agouron Institute for Geobiology, $131,674.

2003-05           Acquisition of a cryogenic magnetometer and demagnetization devices, with applications toward global geodynamics, long-term paleoclimate, regional tectonics, and stratigraphy.  NSF Instrumentation & Facilities, $172,710 (Yale cost-share $71,297).

2003-06           SWEAT, AUSWUS, AUSMEX, or other?  Testing Proterozoic supercontinent reconstructions by refining 1.8-1.6 Ga apparent polar wander paths from Laurentia and Australia.  NSF Tectonics, $203,014.

2002-07           Fellowship in Science and Engineering.  David and Lucile Packard Foundation, $625,000.

2002-05           Multidisciplinary study of the Precambrian biosphere and surficial oxygenation, Kaapvaal Craton, South Africa.  Agouron Institute for Geobiology, $249,835.

 

Thesis advisees:

 

B.S./B.Sc.  Ian Rose (Yale, 2009), Catherine Izard (Yale, 2006), Matt McCarthy (co-advisor: M.Doyle, Univ. of Western Australia, 2001).

 

Ph.D.  Taylor Kilian (Yale, expected 2013), Ross Mitchell (Yale, expected 2012), Eben Rose (Yale, expected 2010), Dan Peppe (Yale, 2009), Tim Raub (Yale, 2008), Theresa Raub (Yale, 2008), Michiel De Kock (co-advisor: N.J. Beukes, Univ. Johannesburg, 2007), Herman Van Niekerk (co-advisor: N.J. Beukes, Rand Afrikaans Univ., 2006), Herman Dorland (co-advisor: N.J. Beukes, Rand Afrikaans Univ., 2004).