How did you end up in the field you are in today?
After attending high school, I headed to Junior College and during the first semester I declared my major as Geology, not really knowing what the field encompassed. After that I received a B.A. degree from California State University, Chico, then a Masters from the University of Kansas, then a Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis. The first big decision was to go to College. I am the first in my family to do so and I had a fairly limited set of options, mainly because of money concerns. Early on I had to choose between a musical career and being a scientist -- a tough decision. However, I had always had a keen interest in nature and wanted to be a teacher, so becoming a scientist became my main goal. I attended a junior college first, and then headed to State. I kept working hard and focused intently and eventually achieved a Ph.D., something I never dreamed possible.
What Mars-related research/work projects are you currently involved in? How do you conduct your research/work and what tools/technology do you use?
I am interested in a variety of projects, all ultimately aimed at understanding past and present habitability on Mars. I approach this from the standpoint of microbial life over a range of extreme environments. I use modern terrestrial analogs as a starting point for trying to understand what might be going on with Mars and how to best explore for answers to the question of extraterrestrial life. Ongoing projects include studies of terrestrial and Martian hydrothermal systems from the standpoint of biosignature preservation. Biosignatures are signs of life, either current or left behind.
I am also a participating scientist on the Mars Exploration Rover mission and have an ongoing interest in the geology and astrobiology at each of those landing sites. My work relies heavily on comparative studies of modern and ancient Earth analogs for Mars, like hot-springs in Yellowstone National Park, hypersaline and saline/alkaline lakes (like Mono Lake in eastern California), mineralizing (caliche- and silica- depositing) soils of the southwest deserts, and glacial environments in Antarctica and Iceland. My work involves the use of geochemical tools and mineralogy to investigate the paleoenvironmental conditions that prevailed during deposition of ancient sediments, the use of morphological, geochemical and biochemical markers for detecting ancient microbial life, and more recently, the use of tools of microbiology and molecular biology for identifying microbes that are present in modern analog systems.
How does math factor into your work?
The main applications of math are in everyday calculations for preparing media and chemical solutions, plotting data and applied statistics for the analysis of data.
What have you learned so far?
What I have learned so far is that Mars is a complex place and differs from Earth in many fundamental ways. However, it has a history that includes many potential environments for life and processes capable of capturing and preserving biosignatures of life. The challenge is to find the ancient deposits that record those past environments. I also think life could exist in the deep subsurface of Mars today, the challenge there would be developing technologies for deep sterile drilling methods. You don't want to contaminate the Mars drilling site with microbes from Earth.
What do you like best about your job?
The work is very exciting! Getting up in the morning to go and explore Mars with a rover has been particularly inspiring. Each day offers new challenges that require deep thought and creativity to find solutions. This keeps things interesting! In addition, I love working with students and enjoy the challenge of communicating scientific ideas.
Where have you traveled for your work? What's the favorite place you've been so far?
My field sites cover a lot of geography, including the deserts of western North America, the Alaskan tundra, the icy waters and glaciers of Antarctica, the fjords of Norway, saline lagoons and ponds in Baja Mexico, karst caves and streams of central Mexico, and the volcanoes of eastern Iceland and Hawaii. My favorite place, bar none, is Mono Lake of eastern California.
What was the strangest or most incredible thing that happened to you while conducting your work?
The strangest things that have happened include hearing the underwater sounds of the Weddell seal while diving under sea ice in Antarctica and bobbing like a cork while trying to sink myself, my wetsuit, and my tanks while SCUBA diving in Mono Lake. It has such high salinity (salt content) that you almost can't sink!
What were your favorite books as a kid?
My favorite books fell into two basic categories: Anything I could read about horses (my favorites were Misty of Chincoteague and The Black Stallion) and the "All About…" books on Science (favorites: "All about Rocks and Minerals" and "All about Strange Beasts of the Past").
What was your favorite subject when you were in middle school? What did you think you were going to be when you grew up? What advice do you wish someone would have given you at the time?
My favorite subject in middle school was biology. I always thought I would either be a horse rancher, a teacher or a paleontologist. Advice I wish I had been given from my family: Study harder! It was hard to receive such advice, as most of my family members had not finished high school.
Why do you think it is important for students to learn about our solar system and specifically about Mars?
Mars and other bodies in our Solar System reflect the basic processes and history of our neighborhood of the Cosmos. I don't know about you, but I have always considered getting to know my neighborhood essential for a happy life. These planets are also our doorways to other possibilities for life: this precious, tenacious process which we embody and which drives us to pursue fundamental questions about the Cosmos and our place in it. I think that by asking such questions, it helps us to understand who we are and our responsibility to life, the Earth and the general pursuit of knowledge and understanding.
What one thing would you most like students to learn from participating in JASON Expedition: Mysteries of Earth and Mars?
I'd love students to come away feeling the excitement of scientific creativity and discovery and the fulfillment that comes by communicating these ideas.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in studying science?
Study hard, but don't lose sight of the mystery and beauty of what you are studying. Find out what interests you most and pursue your passion relentlessly. Study lots of subjects and learn the language of as many sciences as you can. This promotes your ability to look across scientific boundaries (which are really our inventions) and engage other scientists in fields outside of you own. New discoveries happen at the boundaries of our knowledge and often at the edges of disciplines.
Any words of advice or personal philosophy?
It is important to be driven by passion in whatever you choose to do. Most people don't enjoy what they do for a living. Find a career that will allow you the opportunity to really enjoy working.