Lectures & Lecturers
Marisa Palucis
9:30am - 10:45am - Earth to Mars: Climate change in Periglacial Systems - Prof. Marisa Palucis
Marisa Palucis
Planetary geomorphology is a field founded in field-, lab-, and remote sensing-based observations, and we ask questions such as: 1) how is environmental change on rocky bodies recorded in their landscapes? 2) how does terrestrial climate change affect rates and mechanisms of sediment transport? and 3) how can we apply what we learn on Earth to other planets, such as Mars? These major lines of scientific inquiry are important for determining if places like Mars ever supported life and how life on our own planet is affected by climate change In this lecture, we will discuss 1) how we can decipher climate records from sedimentary deposits on Earth and Mars; 2) the climate and environment of early Mars and why the Arctic is a good analog; and 3) the ways in which we are developing new theories for icy extraterrestrial sediment transport processes.
Paper relavent to the talk: Prof. Palucis Rates and processes controlling periglacial allucial fan formationL Implications for martian fans.pdf
11:00am - 12:15pm - From Mars to Exoplanets: The Quest for Life Beyond Earth - Prof. Shay Zucker
We will begin with our own solar system, exploring the potential for life on Mars and beneath the icy surfaces of Europa and other icy bodies. We'll then extend our gaze to distant exoplanets, introducing the concept of the habitable zone and the methods used to discover planets around other stars. Finally, we'll cover the latest findings about exoplanet populations—including the intriguing Fulton Gap—and their implications for our understanding of planetary system formation and evolution.