Geologist Mike Kaplan Named 2026 Guggenheim Fellow – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)
Palisades, N.Y. – Geologist Mike Kaplan received life-changing news en route to the dentist’s office. The Lamont Research Professor at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory earned a spot among the 2026 Guggenheim Fellows for his work on past climate shifts.[1][2] Kaplan’s research examines how ice sheets, mountain glaciers, climates, and landscapes evolved over millennia, offering context for today’s environmental changes.
A Surprise Honor Amid Everyday Routine
Kaplan described the moment he learned of the award as unforgettable. He opened an email from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation while driving to his appointment. The notification marked him as a recipient of the Kayden Guggenheim Fellowship in Climate Studies, part of the foundation’s 101st class that selected 223 individuals from nearly 5,000 applicants.[2]
“I will always remember where I was,” Kaplan said. He expressed a mix of excitement and humility, noting the rarity of such recognition in a field filled with setbacks. “I’m still trying to be in the glow because, unfortunately most of what we do as researchers, we deal with rejections, things not working, dead ends,” he added. “When something really positive happens like this, it’s nice to just take a step back and appreciate it.”[1]
The fellowship acknowledges his prior achievements and promises support for future independent projects through a monetary stipend. Columbia University highlighted Kaplan among its 2026 honorees, praising his contributions to geochemistry.[3]
Reconstructing Glaciers’ Hidden History
Kaplan’s Guggenheim project targets natural variability in glaciers and climates before the 20th century, with a focus on South America and the Southern Hemisphere over the last few thousand years. He aims to compare these records against sites in the Alps and the Western United States. “When you look at the geologic record in places such as South America and try to reconstruct what glaciers and climate did in the past, how is it similar to other places around the globe, such as the Alps or the Western U.S.? How is it different?” Kaplan asked.[1]
His broader research employs geochronology and cosmogenic surface exposure dating to measure ages of rocks and sediments shaped by ice. These methods reveal how mountain glaciers – highly sensitive to temperature shifts – retreated and advanced under pre-industrial conditions. Findings show regional differences: climate signals varied between hemispheres, with distinct patterns in Patagonia versus Europe or North America.[4]
Such work underscores natural fluctuations, providing a baseline to assess recent anthropogenic warming’s role in global glacier retreat. Kaplan also explores paleo-dust and landscape evolution tied to cryospheric changes.[5]
Key Focus Areas of Kaplan’s Research:
- Mountain glaciers and ice sheets’ past dynamics
- Paleoclimate reconstruction via geomorphic records
- Regional comparisons across hemispheres
- Cosmogenic dating for precise timelines
Path from Classroom to Field Leadership
Kaplan’s passion ignited during undergraduate studies at SUNY Buffalo, where geomorphology courses captivated him. “I started taking classes in geomorphology and climate change, and I got really hooked,” he recalled. Early experiences with Greenland ice cores introduced him to paleoclimate proxies, steering him toward graduate work.
He completed a master’s at the University of Maine and a Ph.D. at the University of Colorado-Boulder, honing skills in low-temperature geochemistry. Postdoctoral positions followed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the University of Edinburgh as a Royal Society Fellow, and Lamont-Doherty. Kaplan joined LDEO permanently in 2006, rising to Lamont Research Professor.[4][6]
Previous honors include a 2019 Geological Society of America Fellowship, a 2017 Fulbright Scholar award in Chile, and recognition as a Comer Fellow. He directs undergraduate research programs and maintains collaborations in Patagonia. Perseverance defined his trajectory: “What mattered was hard work and perseverance,” he said, viewing intelligence as secondary to dedication.[1]
Advancing Earth Science Horizons
The Guggenheim support will free Kaplan to deepen Southern Hemisphere analyses, potentially reshaping understandings of glacier sensitivity. His efforts align with broader climate science needs, distinguishing natural cycles from modern forcings.
As one of Columbia’s distinguished 2026 Fellows, Kaplan embodies the foundation’s mission to foster trailblazing inquiry. The award validates decades of fieldwork – from Patagonian boulders to global archives – positioning him to influence future debates on ice and climate.