Charles-Édouard Boukaré’s research focuses on understanding the deep interior structure and evolution of rocky planets. His work lies at the intersection of earth and planetary sciences, computational fluid mechanics, mineral physics, and high-pressure chemistry.
He earned dual master’s degrees in Engineering Geology and Planetary Sciences in 2012 from the École Nationale Supérieure de Géologie de Nancy (France) before completing a PhD in Geophysics at Université de Lyon (France) in 2016. He then pursued postdoctoral research at Brown University (USA), EPFL (Switzerland), IPGP (France), and McGill University (Canada). He has been an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at York University (Canada) since 2023.
Boukaré is particularly known for his work on magma oceans and early mantle dynamics. Over the past eight years, his innovative computational fluid dynamics models and thermodynamic analyses have provided new insights into the early evolution of the Earth, the Moon, Mercury, and exoplanets.
In 2022, he was awarded the prestigious international Doornbos Prize for outstanding contributions to the study of the Earth’s deep interior. This honor, presented by the Committee on Studies of the Earth’s Deep Interior (SEDI) of the International Union of Geophysics and Geodesy, recognizes exceptional work by early-career scientists.
Title: From Early Earth to Hot Rocky Exoplanets
Abstract: Rapid advances in exoplanet research and planetary exploration are blurring the traditional boundaries between earth sciences, geology, planetary science, and astronomy. While a planet’s interior remains difficult to access, it plays a fundamental role in shaping surface conditions. For example, on Earth, plate tectonics and the presence of a magnetic field are direct manifestations of internal dynamics.
The interior of the Earth, the planet we understand best, has been extensively studied over the past century using seismic imaging, geochemistry, petrology, and geodynamic modeling. These studies have uncovered major processes that have shaped—and continue to shape—our planet. The question now is: Do these processes also apply to other rocky planets? How can we extend our knowledge of Earth to planets within our solar system and beyond? And can studying other planets help us learn more about Earth itself?
In this presentation, I will provide a specific example of how studying the Early Earth can help us understand a particular class of rocky exoplanets known as lava worlds.