Chicago Center for Cosmochemistry

The University of Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory, and the Field Museum have established the Chicago Center for Cosmochemistry, which is dedicated to promoting education and research in cosmochemistry.

The Center aims to take advantage of the strength of the cosmochemistry community in Chicago and superb research facilities available at the three institutions involved, and will provide support for graduate students, postdoctoral research associates and visiting scientists. Major projects underway include: 1. measurement of meteoritic stardust grains coupled with nucleosynthesis theory to probe stellar processes and the origin of the elements; 2. isotopic and chemical studies of meteorites and rocks to probe the early history of the solar system, planet formation and early earth history; 3. studies of the Sun, planets, asteroids and comets through current and future sample return missions and spaceflight instruments.