PTYS/LPL alumna Jade Bond (2008) married Jason Carter on February 26, 2011, at St. Ann's Chapel in Tucson. Jade is currently a postdoctoral research scientist at the Planetary Science Institute. Best wishes to Jade and Jason!
Alumni News
Steve Pearce earned his Ph.D. from PTYS/LPL in 1995, working with Gene Levy. The title of his dissertation is "Core-mantle interactions resulting from sudden changes in the Earth's moment of inertia."
Steve sends the following update:
"I have been full-time faculty at Simon Fraser University (SFU), School of Computing Science, as a Lecturer. I am currently writing a textbook on the theory of technology. Other than that, I haven't been publishing.
I am loosely affiliated with the Dept. of Earth Sciences at SFU, and teach their PTYS course (for poets). I had a Skype interview with Tom Jones last year for the class---it was a hoot!
I had a company that was Kyoto oriented—what a farce that is—went under in 2003.
My website is at http://www.cs.sfu.ca/~stevenp."
Horton Newsom is currently working on impact crater processes on the Earth and Mars. In the last few years, he has visited impact craters in the Arctic, in Africa and India. He is a science team member for the ChemCam Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy experiment on the next Mars Rover mission, the Mars Science Laboratory "Curiosity," scheduled to launch in 2011. Says Horton, "I continue to work with many former LPL students, and enjoy working with my current students and post docs."
Nick took time away from his busy schedule as an Associate Professor at UC Boulder to give two PTYS/LPL colloquia last Fall (2008). Nick spoke about "No Ocean for Enceladus' Plumes" and also gave a presentation about using clickers in the classroom.
Our congratulations to Bill Hartmann on being named the recipient of the 2010 Barringer Medal and Award!
The Meteoritical Society presents this prestigious award for outstanding work in the field of impact cratering, and/or work that has led to a better understanding of impact phenomena. William K. Hartmann has been selected for his fundamental contributions to impact crater studies, including development and refinement of crater isochrons, discovery of Mare Orientale, and his seminal work on the origin of the Moon. He also has enlightened the general public about planetary science through his numerous books and artwork.
Bill is an alumnus of the University of Arizona and of LPL: "I came in 1961,when LPL was located in the Physics, Math, and Meteorology Building, PMM. A group of us were located not in PMM but in a Quonset hut called T6, for Temporary Building Number 6. It was a sort of cylindrical shaped structure, on the present location of the science library. We used to have jokes about Kuiper flying into a tizzy over something and saying 'Call T6, call T6' because a bunch of us graduate students over there were either about to be chewed out or he needed us to do something."
William Hartmann is founder of the Planetary Science Institute, where he is now Senior Scientist.
Matthias Peter Kestay was born at 6:38 p.m. on October 7, 2009. He weighed 5 lbs, 5 oz and measured 19 inches long. He has two very happy parents! Laszlo (former LPL post-doc) says, "we appreciate the many congrats that folks sent before we could even send this note!"
Windy Jaeger and Laszlo Kestay (formerly Keszthelyi) are Research Geologists with the Astrogeology Team, U.S. Geological Survey. Congratulations Windy and Laszlo!
Cynthia is a scientist at the SETI Institute. She and her partner Shana have 4 kids and live in the San Francisco Bay Area. They are joint authors of 15 books---the most recent, “Space Exploration for Dummies,” came out in June 2009.
"I have participated and precipitated a number of adventures. Briefly, I've wandered a bit away from traditional 'planetary science,' taking an entrepreneurial bent for the last 20 years by founding, growing, and selling small technology companies."
Most recently, Jonathan is guiding the application of those remote sensing technologies and lessons learned to the life sciences. "Our newest product, the UltraSightHD(TM), represents a significant advance in women's health and cancer detection. It is the culmination of many years of NASA/NSF/DoD-derived hyperspectral imaging technology, imaging processing, remote sensing and mapping, remote operation aka telemedicine servicing underserved areas (e.g., Indian Health Service), as well as intelligent image/data analysis assisting the physician with diagnoses."
Jonathan continues, "When described like that, the mission of the USHD is quite analogous to that of Cassini, MERs and LRO except that working distances are measured in centimeters rather than A.U., resolutions measured in microns rather than meters and costs in units of thousands of dollars rather than millions. Yet, the physician (or patient) could be on Mars for that matter! It is fun and exciting to bring health care into the 21st century."
Melinda and Alex are Research Assistant Professors in the Geology Department at Portland State University, where they established the Cascadia Meteorite Laboratory. Melinda and Alex are also the proud parents of twin toddlers.
Brian Jackson is currently a NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow in the Planetary Systems Laboratory at Goddard Space Flight Center.