Dr. Terry Hughes
Professor of Geological Sciences and Quaternary Studies
Department of Earth Sciences and Climate Change Institute

Terry Hughes is retiring this year after 35 years of service to the Department of Earth Sciences (formerly Department of Geological Sciences) and the Climate Change Institute (formerly Institute for Quaternary Studies).

Dr. Hughes is an internationally renowned glaciologist who pioneered many of the modern ideas currently under study in the field. Not least of these is the current understanding of how massive ice sheets collapse and how important future collapse of portions of the Antarctic ice sheet will be to future sea level rise – a concept now commonly referred to as “the soft weak underbelly" of Antarctica.

Terry is well known to his students and his colleagues for his passionate and insightful approaches to the field of glaciology. Many of his most “outlandish” scientific contributions may not even be appreciated for years to come. His passion for glaciology is also clearly imprinted in the careers of his many highly accomplished students who now have careers of their own and who will always remember that Terry’s door was always open.

Terry, the University of Maine truly appreciates your dedication to your teaching and scholarship. Thank you for all you’ve done and best wishes in your retirement.