ARTHUR L. DAY MEDAL: INVESTIGATING MINERALOGY AND GEOCHEMISTRY ON MARS THROUGH LAB, FIELD, AND REMOTE OBSERVATIONS.

My foray into planetary science began with lab spectroscopy experiments on

phyllosilicates, and extended over time to include sulfates, iron oxides, and additional

minerals. I have worked with many collaborators over five decades to research mineral

assemblages from the lab and field as analogs for the salty martian regolith. Analyzing

spectra of these clay/sulfate assemblages has facilitated understanding many of the

most intriguing sites on Mars using orbital data acquired by the CRISM hyperspectral

imager on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Investigating field samples has enabled

studying alteration in volcanic systems, hydrothermal environments, saline lakes, and

cold/dry deserts in natural settings, while characterization of synthetic or reacted

samples in the lab allows for varying the chemistry or mineralogy to better match Mars

and other planetary bodies.

I was fortunate in my career path to have experienced multiple mentors who

supported my interests spanning the chemistry of minerals to the physics of

spectroscopy, applied toward earth and planetary science. I am also grateful to my

family who have agreed to countless excursions to geologically interesting sites. My

career has focused on examining mineral assemblages to gain a sharper picture of the

fabric encompassing the chemical, (astro)biological, and geological history of rocky

bodies.