ESP Biography



ZACHARY BURTON, Stanford PhD Candidate in Geological Sciences




Major: Geological Sciences

College/Employer: Stanford

Year of Graduation: 2020

Picture of Zachary Burton

Brief Biographical Sketch:

Passion: Conveying the excitement and power of science!

I've taught middle school and high school courses as a teacher for the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity in Heidelberg, Germany, led undergraduate laboratory classes at Bowdoin College in Maine, and have taught lab classes to undergraduate and graduate students here at Stanford.

Passion 2: Energy systems and our evolving planet!

I currently conduct research on past earth climate, microbiological and thermal activity, geologic deposition via fluvial and marine systems, and tectonic processes including mountain-building and faulting to assess exploration risk and economic viability of energy resource deposits.

Passion 3: Disrupting the stigma that surrounds mental illness.

I co-founded and am producer of "The Manic Monologues," a play highlighting diverse true stories of mental illness to break down mystery and stigma. Our team includes a Canadian actress, a playwright and Pulitzer finalist, a psychiatrist and advisor to Netflix's "13 Reasons Why"​, an editor of two Pulitzer-winning pieces and numerous NYT bestsellers, and dozens of brave storytellers. Attend the first performance at Stanford May 2-4, 2019 and help disrupt stigma. https://www.themanicmonologues.org/



Past Classes

  (Clicking a class title will bring you to the course's section of the corresponding course catalog)

R5668: Climate Lessons from the Climate's Arch-Enemy in Splash Spring 2017 (Apr. 22 - 23, 2017)
What is oil exactly? Where does it come from? And how is a bunch of dead stuff powering (and warming) the world? This class explores how oil reveals the nature of ancient life and how the scientific quest for “black gold” has helped unravel the history of ancient oceans, rivers, and mountains.