Presenter
Scott Hubbard
Dr. Scott Hubbard has been a leader in space exploration for almost 50 years. His career includes a National Lab, a start-up venture, NASA, and Stanford. At NASA, Dr. Hubbard is best known as Director of NASA’s Ames Research Center, the first Mars Program Director (aka the "Mars Czar"), and the founder of NASA's Astrobiology Institute. As the sole NASA member of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB), Hubbard’s work demonstrated the definitive technical cause of the accident. At Stanford, Hubbard has been very active in the emerging entrepreneurial space enterprise, establishing a peer-reviewed journal New Space, and creating the Stanford Center of Excellence for Commercial Space Transportation. Although now retired from teaching and advising, Hubbard continues to Chair the SpaceX Commercial Crew Safety Advisory Panel and serve on various committees for the National Academy, NASA, and other groups. He is the author of the award-winning "Exploring Mars: Chronicles from a Decade of Discovery" and his many honors include eight NASA medals including NASA’s highest recognition, the Distinguished Service Medal. Dr. Hubbard is also an Honorary Fellow of the AIAA. More background is available at https://gscotthubbard.com/ including Hubbard's lifelong passion for playing music.
Summary:
Join space scientist Scott Hubbard for a concise exploration of Mars in the pursuit of one of the most vital clues to understanding the planet: water. In “Exploring Mars: Following the Water,” Hubbard presents a distilled synopsis of Martian missions, focusing on the evidence of water’s past and present. Discover the impact of water on Martian geology, the tantalizing possibilities it holds for life, and how these findings are shaping the future of space exploration. This brief yet compelling talk will traverse Martian riverbeds, polar ice caps, and subterranean lakes, offering a glimpse into the extraordinary potential for discovery on our neighboring planet.
