Dr. Joanne Ballard is a distinguished geographer, geologist and CRG member whose research accomplishments have focussed on biomass burning as a proxy for evidence for the Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis.

Dr. Ballard earned her Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Tennessee, specializing in Biogeography and Quaternary Environments under the mentorship of Dr. Sally Horn, a renowned palynologist. Her doctoral dissertation, titled "Evidence of Late Quaternary Fires from Charcoal and Siliceous Aggregates in Lake Sediments in the Eastern U.S.A.," delves into paleoenvironmental reconstruction through the analysis of lake sediments.
Prior to her doctoral studies, she obtained a Master of Science in Geology from the University of Cincinnati, where she studied under glaciologist Dr. Thomas Lowell. Her master's thesis, "A Lateglacial Paleofire Record for East-central Michigan," involved drilling through ice to collect cores from lakes near Flint, Michigan, to investigate historical wildfire activity.
Dr. Ballard has held various roles that bridge her expertise in geography, geology, and archaeology. She worked as an Archaeologist for the Tennessee Valley Authority, serving as a Database Analyst and Mapping expert.
Currently, Dr. Ballard serves as a Naturalist at a local museum and collaborates with Czech colleagues on Younger Dryas Boundary (YDB) research led by Dr. Evžen Stuchlík at the Czech Academy of Sciences.

As an active member of the Comet Research Group, Dr. Ballard’s extensive research into historical catastrophic events has been an invaluable contribution towards the Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis.
Her investigations into siliceous aggregates as indicators of ancient wildfires provide critical insights into the environmental upheavals that have shaped Earth's history. By analyzing lake sediments for proxies such as charcoal, pollen, and diatoms, she reconstructs past climates and ecosystems, offering valuable perspectives on how sudden climatic shifts impacted megafauna and human populations.
Her collaborative work on the Usselo Horizon in the Netherlands and Belgium, where she identified fused quartz, soot, charcoal, and melt glass, contributes to the understanding of potential cosmic impact events and their global consequences.
Returning for a third year, Dr. Joanne Ballard's approach and dedication to uncovering Earth's catastrophic past and her presentation style and approach have made her a popular speaker at Cosmic Summit. Her work not only enhances our comprehension of historical climate events but also informs current discussions on environmental change and resilience. Attendees can anticipate gaining a deeper appreciation for the complex interplay between cosmic events, climate shifts, and the evolution of life on our planet.