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Mark Helper is a Distinguished Senior Lecturer in the Jackson School of Geosciences. His teaching expertise is field geology, but he also teaches courses in GIS/GPS Applications in Earth Sciences and Gems and Gem Minerals. His interest in Planetary Sciences stems from his recent and ongoing role as co-chair of the Field Exploration and Analysis Team, an ad-hoc group of geologists and planetary scientists interested in preparing the next generation of astronauts for geological and geophysical exploration of the Moon. As such, he currently participates in NASA-funded, lunar analog field research that explores the role of robotic follow up to human geologic traverses and the efficiencies of geologic field work from within a pressurized rover. In 2007 he began training astronauts and key NASA personnel in geologic field methods and is currently assisting in developing a new NASA geoscience astronaut training curriculum, for which he will serve as a field instructor. In 2007-2008 he was a member of the NASA MEPAG Human Exploration of Mars Science Advisory Group, whose report is included in the most recent NASA Mars Design Reference Architecture. | ||
