About IGPP
The Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics (IGPP) at the University of California, Riverside, is a multi-campus research unit (MRU) whose mission is to promote basic research in the structure, origin, and evolution of the universe including the solar system and its planets. The objectives of the IGPP are to encourage, foster and support basic research in astrophysics, planetary physics and geophysics; to foster research and collaboration between the UC campuses, national laboratories, and across colleges and departments at UCR; and to contribute to graduate education in cooperation with other units in the University of California. The IGPP-UCR research activities have come into sharper focus since 2001, with the creation of two centers, one focused on plasma and high-energy astrophysics and the other on earthquake physics. A strong thread of computational modeling runs through the UCR-IGPP—an effort that is expected to lead eventually to the formation of a third center in this general area.
The IGPP-UCR was formed in 1967, under founding director R. Steven White. W. Green II was the second IGPP director. Gary P. Zank is the current director.