Robert A. Berner's research in sedimentary geochemistry led to the application of mathematical models to describe the physical, chemical, and biological changes that occur in ocean sediment. Berner, a professor of geology and geophysics at Yale University, also developed a theoretical approach to explain larger geochemical cycles, which led to the creation of a model for assessing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and the greenhouse effect over geological time. A prolific researcher, Berner has written many scientific journal articles and is one of the most frequently quoted earth scientists in the Science Citation Index.

Robert Arbuckle Berner was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, on November 25, 1935, to Paul Nau Berner and Priscilla (Arbuckle) Berner. As a young man Berner decided to become a scientist because of his propensity for logical thinking. "Science forces you to seek the truth and see both sides of an argument," he told Patricia McAdams. Berner began...