Research

Geology Professor will sample Mars' rocks 

Perseverance, the rover for the Mars 2020 mission, lands on the red planet on February 18.  It will be the first rover to sample and cache sediments and rocks for future return to Earth, where they will be studied for signs of life. Kathy Benison, professor in Geology & Geography, is a return sample selection participating scientist.  Along with other science team members, she will use rover observations to study the geology of the Jezero Crater landing site and the Nili Planum region adjacent to the crater, as well as advising on sample selection. 

Read more about Mars 2020.