Jorge Sarmiento, the George J. Magee Professor of Geoscience and Geological Engineering, Emeritus, and a professor of geosciences, emeritus at Princeton University, died on May 5. Sarmiento was recognized for his lifelong contributions to climate science and was part of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change team that received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.
Sarmiento’s work focused on ocean circulation and biological processes in the ocean. He studied how these processes affect the distribution of elements vital to ocean biology such as carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen. His research included investigating rates of biological activity in oceans and responses to global change.
“He was a great scholar, mentor and leader,” said Gabriel A. Vecchi, Princeton’s Knox Taylor Professor of Geosciences and director of the High Meadows Environmental Institute. “Jorge was a giant in the field, and he is and will be missed.” Tom Duffy, chair of the Geosciences Department at Princeton University said: “Over a career spanning more than 40 years, Jorge played a major role in advancing our understanding of the Earth’s global carbon cycle and unraveling the complex interactions between ocean chemistry, biology and climate.”
Sarmiento served as director for both Princeton’s Atmospheric and Ocean Sciences Program (AOS) from 1980 to 1990 then again from 2006 until 2015 as well as leading roles with Cooperative Institute for Climate Science (CICS), collaborating with NOAA at Princeton. Stephan Fueglistaler described him as “a towering figure in the field of ocean biogeochemistry,” saying he established AOS as a world leader.
Born in Peru, Sarmiento earned degrees from Swarthmore College (1968) and Columbia University (1978), joining Princeton later that year before becoming full professor by 1991. He transferred to emeritus status in 2019 after nearly five decades shaping biogeochemical research worldwide.
Vecchi said: “Jorge left a deep imprint in our understanding of biogeochemical cycles through his research tackling some of the most important questions… Jorge helped drive key elements of climate science enterprise at Princeton through his leadership.” Duffy added that programs led by Sarmiento supported many principal investigators while training generations via chemical oceanography classes for graduate students.
One former student Kelly Kearney reflected: “My time in Jorge’s lab shaped both my professional and personal life… His impact on the field was immense.” Charitable contributions may be made to The Parkinson’s Foundation.
