he Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics (IGPP) at UCLA is the founding branch of a Multi-campus Research Unit now established on four other campuses (UCR, UCSD, UCI and UCSC) and at two of the national laboratories administered by the University of California (LANL and LLNL). From the time of its foundation in 1946, the Institute has pioneered the application of physics and chemistry to the Earth Sciences, as now taught in a large number of graduate and undergraduate programs across the nation. It is currently participating in similar revolutions bearing on the application of paleontology and microbiology to the study of the origin and evolution of life, the application of modern spacecraft, computing and visualization to the understanding of the Earth's space environment, the application of cutting-edge experimental and theoretical developments to the chemistry and physics of the interior structure of the Earth and planets, and last but not least Global Change studies, the application of the science of this turn of the century to the burning socio-economic problem of limits of growth.

The discovery of deterministic chaos by a meteorologist, Ed Lorenz, in 1963 plays the same paradigmatic role for the theory of complex systems as Einstein's discovery of relativity and of quanta in 1905 did for the evolution of physics in the first half of this century, and that of the double helix by Crick and Watson in 1953 for the progress of the life sciences in its second half. As humanity saturates the planet, it has to understand its macroscopic environment, formed of interacting systems atmosphere, ocean, land surface and biosphere whose combined complexity exceeds that of any system previously considered by the physical, life or social sciences. Global change studies, based on nonlinear dynamics, also known as chaos theory, are the science of this complex, interacting system. IGPP and other research units with whom we share faculty appointments are uniquely positioned to lead developments in this new science.

The study of self-organization in Earth's fault systems and of spatio-temporal complexity in plate tectonics, mantle convection, solar and planetary dynamo action, Solar System formation, and the structure of interplanetary magnetic fields are but a few areas of application of contemporary scientific thought to physics, chemistry and biology of Earth and its sister planets. The institute does and will continue to act as a catalyst in synergizing efforts to advance on this campus the new trend in the sciences towards a deeper understanding and prediction of macroscopic phenomena and to related these activities to practical problems of great economic, social and political concern.

ach individual faculty member carries out a broad program of research and teaching, and numerous informal interactions with other members and with the national and international community exist. These interleaving individual programs are becoming rapidly more responsive to the pressing requirements of the science, the instruction of graduate and undergraduate students in the associated departments, the application of the science and instruction to socio-economic problems, and the more organic integration of the research staff into the Institute activities. An important avenue to these complementary and mutually reinforcing requirements has been to structure the Institute into centers, by area of application, rather than by traditional scientific discipline. Five centers (listed below in lexicographic order of the initials) are currently active:

1. Astrobiology Center (CAB)
2. Center for Earth System Research (CESR)
3. Center for the Study of Evolution and the Origin Life (CSEOL)
4. Center for Planetary Chemistry and Physics (CPCP)
5. Space Physics Center (SPC)

CAB was created in 1998 when UCLA became a founding member of the NASA Astro-biology Institute (NAI). Its 20 faculty have pooled news to promote multidisciplinary research and education in Astrobiology. Research is focused on six main themes: (1) extrasolar planetary systems that may be abodes for life; (2) geobiology and geochemistry of early Earth and Mars; (3) paleobiology of Earth's early life; (4) genomic evolution and the tree of life; (5) celestial influences on terrestrial life; and (6) exploration for life in the Solar System using small spacecraft.

CESR began in October 1989 with one research scientist and three faculty members who saw an opportunity to capitalize on existing strengths by providing leadership and supporting growth in Global Climate Change studies. It now has five faculty members and ten research scientists, plus many postdoctoral fellows and graduate students. The Center serves as a campus-wide consortium on global change and its regional environmental impacts. Members do research on the fluid envelope of the Earth and its interaction with the land surface underneath and the rarefied interplanetary medium above, as well as the biota within. The research includes observational, theoretical, numerical, and laboratory studies on the chemistry, dynamics, and physics of the atmosphere, oceans, and cryosphere.

CPCP was formed in September 1993 to refocus the Instituteís traditional interest in planetary physics and chemistry. Its membership now includes ten faculty members and ten researchers. It spans the spectrum from experimental high-temperature geochemistry and high-pressure geophysics to the theoretical foundations of our disciplines in geophysical fluid dynamics and continuum thermodynamics.

CSEOL, with five IGPP faculty members, two research staff and six graduate students, has had a vibrant and well structured program since 1985 and is headed towards new and even more remarkable achievements. The Center bridges the gap between the paleontological study or early life and research in molecular biology, aimed at elucidating the causes of evolution. It has a robust workshop, educational-outreach and book publication activity, besides its strong research.

SPC, with six faculty members and thirteen researchers is the oldest organized structure within the IGPP. The first director of the SPC was the Nobel Laureate W. Libby. The areas of interest within the SPC include space plasma simulation, planetary plasma physics and space physics. Members of SPC carry out investigations of the solar wind, and the magnetospheres, ionospheres and atmospheres of the Earth and planets. The SPC supports scientific research in the United States and throughout the world by providing scientists with access to high quality data through the NASA Planetary Data System. Members of the SPC are active in teaching physics and space physics both in the classroom and through the development of multimedia aids to education. The Space Physics Center is active in the development of technology for space research, data management and education.