GEO 519
Topics in Petrology: Life on Mars: Past, Present, and Future
Professor: T. C. Onstott
Description/Objectives: This seminar reviews the published evidence for water and primitive life on ancient Mars. Incorporates the results of ongoing Pathfinder missions to assess the present Martian climate
and to constrain the type of microbial ecology that could exist on Mars today. Debates the nature of future Martian exploration missions, necessity of planetary protection protocols, feasibility of colonization, and
morality of terraforming.
Sample Reading List: Carr, Michael H., 'Water on Mars'
Zubrin, 'The Case for Mars'
Schedule:
Seminar 1.0:To be arranged.
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