**Growing and Strengthening the Mars Science Community**

**A White Paper derived from a retreat held Nov. 6, 2003**

**at the California Institute of Technology**

**December 19, 2003**

David Beaty, Dan McCleese, and Marguerite Syvertson, editors, (Mars
Program Office, JPL)

Corresponding author: Dr. David Beaty, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena,
CA 91109; <dwbeaty@jpl.nasa.gov>, 818-354-7968

[A note regarding posting on the Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group
(MEPAG) website (March 31, 2004)]{.underline}

This report was prepared at the request of the Manager of the Mars
Program Office.  Although this work was not formally chartered through
MEPAG, this report is a community-based analysis product prepared in a
MEPAG style. MEPAG is making it available on its web site in order to
provide broad dissemination of material that is important to the Mars
community and to stimulate discussion of its contents.

# This report has been approved for public release by JPL Document Review Services (CL#04-1076), and may be freely circulated. Suggested citation:

# 

Beaty, D.W., McCleese, D.J., Syvertson, M. (eds.), 2003, Growing and
Strengthening the Mars Science Community. Unpublished white paper,
http://mepag.jpl.nasa.gov/reports/index.html.

**Executive Summary**

The early 21^st^ century promises to be a golden age for Mars
exploration. A fleet of spacecraft is returning data at an exponentially
increasing rate. Although these missions are sending back data that have
and will revolutionize our scientific understanding of Mars, concerns
have been raised about the size, composition, and overall health of the
Mars scientific community. This report outlines some of the
issues/concerns and possible solutions in this area, as voiced by a
diverse cross-section of Mars scientists attending a one-day retreat at
Caltech on November 6, 2003.

The concerns related to the potential growth and overall strength of the
Mars science community, in priority order, were grouped in the following
categories:

-   Financial sufficiency for individual scientists

-   Opportunity for involvement in Mars flight missions

-   Quality of interdisciplinary research

-   Access to mission data and the results of research

-   The number and degree of self-sufficiency of early-career scientists

-   Engagement of potential future scientists

Thirteen specific solutions to these issues/concerns were identified.
Each of these solutions would have value, but there is a significant
divergence of opinion within the participants of this retreat on the
relative priorities. In general, however, the following solutions are
considered to have the largest and most immediate impact. First of all,
increased funding to the R&A programs will solve a great many problems.
A low-cost solution that was strongly endorsed at this retreat is a
resumption of the flight project student intern program. This was used
very successfully on Viking, but has not been attempted since. Also of
high priority are several issues relating to accessing and using Mars
science information---this is currently a painful process which
constitutes an unnecessary barrier to the entry of new scientists to the
field. Finally, there are widespread strong feelings about improving the
effectiveness of scientific public outreach, broadening the
multi-disciplinary character of Mars science, and strengthening existing
graduate education programs.

**Table of contents**

# 1. Introduction 3

A.  Background

B.  Contributors

C.  The Specific Request

# 2. Issues/Concerns 4

# 3. Possible Solutions 7

# 4. Discussion 12

**APPENDIX 1. List of Major Mars Universities in 2003. 17**

**APPENDIX 2. Expected Data Volumes from past and**

**planned Mars Missions. 18**

# [1. Introduction:]{.underline}

##### Background

Since the advent of regular periodic missions to Mars starting in the
1990's (Mars Observer, Mars Pathfinder, Mars Global Surveyor, Mars
Odyssey, Mars Exploration Rovers), perceptions of the planet have change
dramatically. Conceptual and numerical models of ancient and recent Mars
have been overturned by new measurements performed on these missions.
Clearly, we are at an exciting juncture in understanding Mars and the
potential that it was once habitable. The level of support of, and
public interest in, NASA's Mars missions has also increased
dramatically. Exploration of Mars is anticipated to continue at this
level of through this decade, and initial plans are in place to continue
this exploration program into the next decade. NASA's Mars exploration
program is multi-disciplinary, as it must be to achieve the broad and
critical scientific goals (understanding Life, Climate, Geology and the
issues associated with Preparing for Humans).

Achieving these goals will require the expertise and support of a large,
scientifically diverse community of researchers from a deep cross
section of the Nation's finest institutions. A key strategic question,
therefore, is whether the science population needed for future success
will be in place when the future arrives. Concern has been raised that
the present scientific population is aging, the training of potential
replacements is unpredictable and possibly inadequate, and promising
young scientists may not find career paths in the Mars program
sufficiently attractive. The breadth and number of science disciplines
involved in Mars exploration is also difficult to develop and maintain,
and it has been especially difficult to achieve a desirable level of
human diversity in the Mars program. As if to emphasize these
challenges, our missions to Mars are becoming much more capable and the
rate of data return is increasing exponentially \-- the next planned
mission, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, will return an order of
magnitude more data during its lifetime than all previous missions
combined.

To consider these challenges, the Mars Exploration Program (MEP)
convened a group of scientists and students of planetary science in a
retreat at which the specific issues were identified and possible
solutions were investigated. The retreat was held on November 6, 2003,
at the California Institute of Technology. The purpose of the retreat
was to evaluate these issues from the perspective of a representative
set of scientists who are actively involved the Mars research. The
output of the group, necessarily, represents the perspective of only one
cross section of the science community.

Participants in the retreat were from a diverse group of scientists in
various kinds of institutions involved in Mars research. Senior, mid-,
and early-career scientists and graduate students were involved from a
variety of scientific disciplines.

##### Contributors

  --------------------------- ------------------------ -------------------------
  **Table 1. Contributors to                           
  the \"Growing the                                    
  Community\" retreat,                                 
  11-06-03**                                           

                                                       

  Name                        Affiliation              Employment

  Arvidson, Ray               Washington University    University professor

  Garvin, James               NASA/HQ                  Program science

  Gilmore, Martha             Wesleyan University      University professor

  Head, Jim                   Brown University         University professor

  Kieffer, Hugh               USGS (Retired)           Research scientist

  Leshin, Laurie              Arizona State University University professor

  McConnochie, Tim            Cornell University       Graduate student

  Mischna, Michael            UCLA                     Graduate student

  Paige, David                UCLA                     University professor

  Rothschild, Lynn            NASA/ARC                 Research scientist

  Saunders, Steve             NASA/HQ                  Program management

  Schaller, Emily             Caltech                  Graduate student

  Stansbery, Eileen           NASA/JSC                 Field Center management

  Vasavada, Ashwin            UCLA                     University professor

                                                       

  *[Conveners]{.underline}*                            

  Beaty, David                Mars Program Office      Program management

  McCleese, Dan               Mars Program Office      Program science

  Syvertson, Marguerite       Mars Program Office      Program support
  --------------------------- ------------------------ -------------------------

A.  [The specific request of the participants:]{.underline}

The discussion prompt was specifically phrased as follows:

-   What are the issues/concerns with the current and projected size and
    composition of the Mars science community? Some questions/assertions
    that have been posed include

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-   Do we have enough capacity to analyze and interpret the growing
    number and volume of martian data sets?

-   Is the human diversity of the Mars science population sufficient?

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-   What are some possible solutions to address the issues identified?

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-   How can we develop a pipeline of new scientists into the Mars
    program?

The retreat started with the following assumptions:

A.  The future program for Mars exploration will proceed as currently
    planned.

B.  Mars exploration will benefit from additional scientists

    a.  Scientists of all levels of achievement

    b.  Population of interest includes undergrads through senior
        researchers

C.  Scientific disciplines need to be rebalanced among and within
    existing research topics:

    a.  Disciplines (e.g Geology, Astrobiology, Meteorology, Aeronomy,
        others)

    b.  Cross-cutting research topics (Instruments, Data Analysis and
        Interpretation, Numerical Modeling)

D.  Code S is motivated to act in order to grow and strengthen the Mars
    science community. Funds for this purpose exist (within reason).

# [2. Issues and Concerns Identified]{.underline}

The retreat explored a wide range of issues, as is appropriate for a
problem of this complexity. However, in order to produce logical and
implementable solutions, the most important issues and concerns were
grouped into the following six categories, which are listed in
descending priority order.

## **Financial sufficiency for individual scientists** 

Many scientists, even those who are well-established, are concerned that
NASA funding in Mars research is inadequate to sustain a career. This
perception applies both to scientists who are trying to work full-time
in the Mars program, as well as those whose intent is to be supported by
NASA to work only part-time, e.g. faculty. A point that is difficult to
over emphasize is that the perceptions of the established researchers
impact recruiting and retaining new research talent. The younger
participants in the retreat made two critical points: 1) The size of
Mars grants is small enough that it requires winning several in order to
remain solvent (and the risk of not having enough successful proposals
will have consequences to the individual scientist); and 2) the
challenges of achieving a satisfactory foundation of salary support are
sufficiently severe that those with other attractive options frequently
choose them. An adverse selection process applies here, since the people
with attractive alternatives are those with the most talent.

Aspects of this concern include:

-   There is an attitude of skepticism, or even cynicism, by some
    scientists regarding the long-range stability of NASA's funding of
    Mars research. The need for job security by individual scientists is
    a genuine issue. In the span of experience of this group, this has a
    gender-related effect, and it has caused many promising female
    scientists to either leave or avoid the field.

-   Because of the way NASA is funded, it cannot make long-range
    commitments to Mars or any given target of exploration. However,
    individual scientists must make decades-long commitments if they are
    to be successful in their career.

-   Retention of the present Mars community cannot be assumed.

-   For scientists working part-time on Mars, the required level of
    engagement is much greater than the funding that is currently
    available.

## **Opportunity for involvement in Mars flight missions**

There is insufficient opportunity to participate in NASA's flight
missions, especially by young scientists. This is NASA's best
opportunity to engage and inspire people, and we are not taking full
advantage of its potential.

-   Viking is an example of a project that has had long lasting benefit
    through its vigorous student intern program. This success story has
    not been repeated.

-   Participating scientists are currently added too late to flight
    teams to allow for student and young scientist training
    opportunities

-   The membership of flight teams is not sufficiently flexible. For
    example, it is not currently possible for teams to be finalized
    after selection.

## **Quality of interdisciplinary research**

The Mars science community needs to increase its multi-disciplinary
approach to Mars science.

-   We need to increase our ability to pull in scientists who are not
    Mars specialists.

-   Inter-disciplinary collaboration is insufficient at present to
    address the scientific problems involving intersections of geology,
    biology and climatology inherent in the study of Mars.

-   A potential exception to this assessment is the Astrobiology
    Institute, which is well-positioned to undertake interdisciplinary
    research. However, the Institute's membership has been poorly
    integrated with the traditional Mars community.

-   There is a perception that interdisciplinary research may offer an
    entrée to improving ethnic diversity by extending the reach of the
    Mars Program.

## **Access to mission data and the results of research**

Management of scientific information is already a major issue in the
Mars Program. Inadequate access to mission data constitutes a
significant barrier to the addition of new scientists to the Mars
science community. Issues in this area raised at the retreat include:

-   Researchers not yet established in the field or not part of a flight
    team have great difficulty getting their hands on data from Mars
    missions. This problem increases geometrically when multiple data
    sets are needed.

-   The lack of shared software tools for accessing and manipulating raw
    and processed data means that every individual must create his or
    her own tools. The cost, in time and money, of software development
    presents a significant barrier to new researchers.

-   Data sets and products, such as cartography and ISIS efforts at the
    USGS in Flagstaff, are currently decoupled from the PDS -- PDS is
    the advertised entry point for researchers needing Mars data.
    Frequently, incompatible data formats are encountered.

-   The current pace of Mars science has no parallel since the Apollo
    program. There needs to be procedures for timely communication among
    scientists who either are involved in Mars science, or who would
    like to get involved, regarding results. Publication times are
    currently so long as to constitute a significant barrier.

-   Successful MDAP and RA proposals promise derived products that will
    be made available to the community through the PDS. However,
    experience shows that few PIs are following through on their
    promises.

## **The number and degree of self-sufficiency of early-career scientists**

Between the time of their departure from a university (after either a
PhD or a post-doc) and the time of their first success in grant
competition, a young scientist is most vulnerable. This period can last
many years, and many innovative people are lost to science in this
stage. By virtue of their experience, senior scientists are more capable
than the junior scientists \-- young scientists are at a severe
disadvantage in direct head-to-head competition.

-   In some scientific programs, young scientists are entering the
    competitive environment without either the breadth and depth of
    knowledge and experience that NASA currently requires of Mars
    researchers

-   Students know little of it and young scientists do not understand
    NASA's proposal process.

## **Engagement of potential future scientists**

Current outreach strategy communicates the Mars message to the average
student. This strategy is valuable for its impact on the voting public,
but it does not generate a pipeline of scientists feeding the Mars
program. NASA also must work to engage students (at all levels) who have
that special spark or interest in science. Aspects of this issue raised
in discussion included:

-   As undergrads make their choices among possible majors they are
    unaware that planetary science, much less Mars science, even exists.
    The students and young scientists participating in our retreat spoke
    of discovering planetary science "by accident".

-   It is evident that Mars science does not have a meaningful presence
    at our colleges and universities. There are only about a dozen
    universities who are seriously involved in Mars research, and
    perhaps only about twice that number who are involved at all.

-   One consequence of focusing outreach on the average student is that
    ethnic diversity among scientists suffers.

# 

# [3. Possible Solutions:]{.underline}

# 

# In the retreat, our discussion of issues and concerns was very wide-ranging. In discussing possible solutions, for each problem area identified above, we attempted to identify a few solutions that may have a significant impact and which could be set in motion most easily. In many instances, this process led to focusing on the problems that have feasible, actionable solutions. Our goal, then, is to trigger some initial progress on these issues. At some point in the future, further work on the details will be needed, and follow-up monitoring and metrics are essential.

# 

**ISSUE A. Financial sufficiency for individual scientists**

[**Solution Summary**:]{.underline} Enhance the existing R&A programs,
increase the size of the awards, increase the number of years of the
awards.

> **[Proposed Solution #1]{.underline}**. **Enhance existing R&A
> programs**. We believe that the growth and future strength of the Mars
> science community depend critically upon the perception within
> *academia* (the SOLE source of scientists) that NASA supports science
> and a diverse group of scientists. Application of stable funding to
> pursue basic research and data analysis, distinct from the activities
> of flight projects, is the most visible and dramatic evidence of that
> commitment.
>
> Scientists pursuing lab experiments, field studies, theoretical work,
> and curiosity-driven (as distinct to mission-driven) research provide
> depth and context for our investigations of Mars. It is quite evident
> that this community of scientists is the very reservoir of people and
> source of discoveries that, in turn define, flight projects.

-   The size of monetary **awards for research** should be increased,
    using as a guide NASA's astrophysics and Earth R&A programs. The
    Mars and Solar System Science Programs must tackle *grant* size if
    their programs are to become attractive.

-   The duration of the awards should be increased, if possible.

-   Increase confidence within academia in the 'bread-and-butter'
    research *grants* by increasing the funding allocated to R&A and
    Mars data analysis programs.

> But this should not be viewed as a separate endeavor.

## **ISSUE B. Increase opportunity for involvement in Mars flight missions**

[Solution Summary:]{.underline} Student intern program for Mars
missions.

> **[Proposed Solution #2]{.underline}**. Following the model developed
> by Viking, NASA should create **an intern program for Mars missions**
> and make this intern program a formal part of future missions,
> including MRO. A surprising number of the leaders of the Mars
> exploration program today were Viking interns. Many of them feel that
> the Viking experience was the highlight of their career.

-   Students and established, but inexperienced scientists can be made
    interns associated with science, development, and operations teams
    for periods long enough that they become productive contributors.
    Internships that are less than a full-time month are unlikely to be
    very valuable and will be a net drain on the host team.

-   In such an intern program, we believe it would be valuable to
    establish selection criteria that expand the human diversity of the
    Mars science community.

-   Interns must be welcomed and hosted by flight projects. Full
    incorporation of interns in to working teams is essential to the
    success of the Mars Intern Program.

-   Selection of interns should be via Code S. All candidates should
    prepare a proposal. Students will gain very valuable experience
    writing proposals.

**ISSUE C. Increase interdisciplinary research**

[Solution Summary:]{.underline} Convene technical workshops and
symposia, interdisciplinary NRAs, extended visits by established Mars
scientists.

While the majority of missions flown in the Mars Program over the past
10-years have focused on remote sensing, during the next two decades of
the Mars program the importance of rovers and laboratories on the
surface will be greatly amplified. We will be in the middle phase of the
sequential exploration strategy described by MEPAG with the phrase,
"seek, in-situ, sample". This phase of exploration requires advancements
in in-situ geochemical and biochemical analysis techniques that rely on
improved understanding of the martian surface. Additionally, the
infrastructure and expertise for analysis of returned samples is not yet
within the Mars program or in planetary science more generally.
Non-planetary scientists offer to the Mars Program fresh and innovative
perspectives and critical research skills. The advent of the
Astrobiology program is a current example of the benefits of the
marriage between Earth and planetary scientists.

-   **[Proposed Solution #3]{.underline}**. Convene technical workshops
    and symposia that bring Mars scientists together with terrestrial
    researchers on timely topics.

-   A recent example of this is the Mars Polar Conference sponsored by
    LPI that attracted terrestrial polar researchers. Workshops that
    include field experience are critical for better understanding of
    surface processes. Mars scientists should also be encouraged to
    convene special sessions for planetary conferences and to contribute
    papers to conferences that typically do not include planetary
    research, e.g. the International Geoscience and Remote Sensing
    Symposium (IGARSS).

> **[Proposed Solution #4]{.underline}**. Encourage collaborations by
> adding interdisciplinary research NASA NRAs. Call for investigations
> involving researchers from multiple disciplines.
>
> **[Possible Solution #5]{.underline}**. Support extended visits by
> Mars scientists to academic departments and NASA Centers that
> emphasize sciences other than planetary. This could be accomplished
> using as a model the JOI/USAAC (Joint Oceanographic Institute
> Distinguished Lecturer Series) that sends scientists to undergraduate
> and graduate institutions to discuss results of the Ocean Drilling
> Program (http://www.joiscience.org/USSSP/DLS/DLS.html). Imbedding Mars
> scientists in non-planetary institutions will help to draw new
> scientists into our programs, as well as broaden the base of research
> for the visitors themselves.

## **ISSUE D. Improve the science community's access to mission data and the results of research**

[Solution Summary:]{.underline} Support expert development of
user-friendly software tools for handling, displaying and intercomparing
data acquired by flight instruments. Improve the access to and
timeliness of the publication of results from Mars research.

Remove the barriers to accessing and utilizing Mars mission data sets
that currently exist for those who are considering Mars as a research
career. Provide the software tools and standardized data formats needed
by non-specialists to handle data available today and those very large
volumes of Mars data to come from future missions. Archival of
instrument data in the PDS is insufficient, but investments in utilities
for handling data can readily transform PDS into a source of information
about Mars.

> **[Possible Solution #6]{.underline}**. In the near term, support
> through MDAP and CDP (Critical Data Products Initiative) reconciling
> pointing and timing discrepancies that currently make it difficult to
> geometrically register Mars datasets. Establish and require
> application of uniform standards for data labels, geometry and other
> ancillary information by flight investigators, PDS and USGS.
>
> **[Possible Solution #7]{.underline}**. In the longer term, support
> the development of user-friendly software tools that enable many more
> researchers to access, analyze and interpret Mars data. Support
> portable well documented code libraries, as well as user-friendly
> interactive applications and web-based interfaces with data. Examples
> include: 1) geographic information systems that allow users to easily
> map, overlay, and intercompare datasets; 2) accurate, up to date
> online browsers that make it easier to find data; 3) expert systems
> that enable non-experts to apply standardized, peer-reviewed data
> analysis techniques in real time; 4) online modeling tools that allow
> wider use of model results and modeling capabilities by the Mars
> community. Tools should be developed primarily by active researchers,
> e.g. users, in the community with specialized knowledge and skills,
> supported by software architects.
>
> **[Possible Solution #8]{.underline}**. Establish a mechanism to
> publish Mars research in online journals to speed and broaden the
> dissemination of research results. This approach has helped other
> disciplines make great strides in this area. For example, the
> biomedical community has successfully created two open access
> *peer-reviewed* journals
> ([http://biomedcentral.com](http://biomedcentral.com/) and
> [http://plos.org](http://plos.org/)) that are supported by author
> publication fees. NASA should sponsor a pilot program to establish a
> Mars-specific, peer-reviewed, open access online journal that offers
> rapid, peer-reviewed publication of in depth papers, and reach Mars
> scientists in a wide range of disciplines.

-   Posting preliminary results prior to peer-review could also be
    valuable. The Physics and Astrophysics communities have made
    effective use of a free, e-print server archive
    ([http://arxiv.org](http://arxiv.org/)) permitting rapid posting of
    non-peer reviewed papers, many of which are later published in peer
    reviewed journals.

-   In order for this solution to be valuable, we would need to ensure
    that we don't inadvertently end up encouraging the posting of
    half-baked and immature papers. It certainly isn\'t improving the
    quality of the next generation to make them think that they can just
    post their term papers as \'published\' work. The peer-review
    process is an important part of verifying the quality of
    \"publishable results\".

**ISSUE E. The number, diversity, and degree of self-sufficiency of
early-career scientists**

[Solution Summary:]{.underline} Strengthen existing graduate programs,
improve graduate selection criteria, and support cross-institution
education, and training programs.

There are several issues with the pipeline delivering young scientists
to new careers in competitively-based Mars science: The number of
graduate programs which constitute the primary pipeline is
limited---this impacts diversity, both intellectual and otherwise. In
addition, the new scientists emerging from these programs have widely
varying degrees of self sufficiency. Concerns may include not only the
level of technical experience and ability (especially in highly
specialized areas such as spectroscopy), but also competency in the
processes necessary to function within NASA's funding system.

Appendix 1 lists the dozen major institutions that currently train the
bulk of Mars scientists. NASA can meet its current challenge to
strengthen and expand its Mars program by expanding its support for
faculty and institutions that train Mars scientists. We would clearly
improve the cultural and intellectual diversity of the Mars science
community if additional institutions were able to join in the
concentrated training of Mars scientists. A component of NASA's expanded
support for training should a focus on the recruitment and training of
females and underrepresented minorities in order to create a more
diverse next generation population of Mars scientists.

**[Possible Solution #9]{.underline}**. **Strengthen the existing
graduate programs.** The graduate education environment is complex, and
there are many different positive and negative influences on the
faculty, the students, and the universities that affect their collective
ability to deliver qualified additions to the Mars science community.
Some suggestions for things that could be improved include:

-   Develop proposal selection criteria for both missions and R&DA
    programs that specifically reward the involvement of young
    scientists, including graduate students, and especially females and
    minorities. It is important to teach the young scientists about the
    proposal process. However, under the current circumstances proposals
    in which professors and graduate students are the principals may be
    seen in peer review to likely be less productive than those from
    senior researchers and postdocs. Increased support for the NASA
    Graduate Student Research Program, and the initiation of a
    Mars-focused component of that program, would also be beneficial.

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-   In Mars research and analysis program proposal review criteria,
    introduce a category that is like the \'Cost-effectiveness
    category\' that is along the lines of: \"Importance in graduate
    education and mentoring of the next generation of scientists\".

-   Add a \"Young Postdoc/Mentor Program\" where a young researcher can
    apply to work at an institution with a mentor for 1-3 years. This is
    potentially very important\--it would help the person to get
    independent funding but be mentored as well.

-   Help fund the necessary support staff to maintain the graduate
    education pipeline. The Canadian National Science and Engineering
    Research Council has a grant category called Discovery Grants which
    includes funding for technical and support staff---this would be
    extraordinarily helpful.

> **[Possible Solution #10.]{.underline}** Form a **rigorous,
> cross-institutional education and training program** (tentatively
> dubbed "University of Mars") that would teach graduate-level students
> (and faculty) how to reduce, process and analyze the wide-range of
> spacecraft data soon to be returned from Mars. In order for this
> solution to be effective, it is critical that such a program be
> initiated as quickly as possible, potentially in summer 2004, in
> anticipation of the return of data from MRO and subsequent missions.
>
> **[Possible Solution #11.]{.underline}** As has been discussed in
> previous sections, student and young scientist involvement in
> spacecraft missions should be given a high priority by NASA. Such
> involvement should be encouraged in all stages of the process, from
> instrument development to mission science planning to returned data
> processing. A large fraction of scientific analysis of spacecraft data
> depends first on processing the data, a "menial" task often performed
> by graduate (and undergraduate) students. If students were involved in
> the early stages of the instrument development process \-- in essence,
> teaching the students how the instrument works and preparing them to
> handle the type of data to be returned -- the student's time would be
> far more productive, both for them and for the team to which they
> belong. Instrument PI\'s should be actively encouraged to include
> students and junior scientists on development teams not only for the
> sake of their own instrument, but also to train the "next generation"
> for the myriad considerations involved in the design and development
> of a spacecraft instrument.

In addition, there are existing \"Presidential Young Investigator
Awards\" and other such grants which are available to the science
community much broader than just Mars. We should root these out and get
people to apply. Use program management to be sure that excellent new
young planetary investigators are represented in the awards. Establish a
\"Post Doctoral researcher\" component of the program or a \"young
assistant professor\" component.

## **ISSUE F. Reach out to potential future scientists**

[Solution Summary:]{.underline} Improve EPO's reach to undergraduates.

Students with an aptitude for science and an early interest in Mars are
often unaware of how to pursue this interest and are lost to other
fields of research. For example, since planetary science and Mars
research are conducted at only a very small number of academic
institutions, only a tiny fraction of undergraduates have access to role
models that might help them figure out how to pursue a Mars-related
career path. Raising awareness about planetary science as a viable
career must be a part of the Mars program\'s outreach strategy if the
Mars science community is to be expanded and diversified.

> **[Possible Solution #12]{.underline}**. **Create** **a specific
> element of Mars EPO that will reach future scientists** at all
> levels - from K-12 students through undergraduates. Informative
> websites should be developed that lay out stepping stones at all
> levels leading to careers in Mars science. These websites should
> especially advertise Mars related summer internship programs such as
> the NASA Academy, NASA USRP and other programs available to
> undergraduates. In order to foster the interests of younger students,
> the Mars EPO effort should recruit current Mars scientists to lecture
> to K-12 science classes about their work. In addition, Mars EPO should
> actively support local science fairs by offering awards to Mars
> related student projects, and Mars researchers should be encouraged to
> participate in judging and mentoring of young students. Collaborations
> with existing television shows and networks that focus on science for
> students should also be pursued; potential partners include PBS's
> Dragonfly and RealScience! series, Discovery Kids, and NASA's Kids
> Science News Network. Museums with Mars programming should be
> encouraged to bring on student interns to be trained as explainers and
> develop new programming for their peers, such as the Association of
> Science and Technology Centers' YouthALIVE! program which involved
> underserved youth.
>
> **[Proposed Solution #13]{.underline}**. Develop a list of Mars
> experts who are willing to give **undergraduate directed lectures and
> lecture series** at institutions around the country. This would put
> planetary scientists in contact with scientifically motivated
> undergraduates. The speakers list should be *aggressively*
> *advertised* to science faculty nationwide. The lecturers would be
> strongly encouraged to discuss Mars related careers with their
> audiences, and should be provided with information on Mars and
> planetary science-related undergraduate research opportunities (e.g.,
> PGGURP, Space Grant), as well as information on relevant graduate
> programs. Since most academic institutions have a limited amount of
> funding available for hosting guest lectures, support for lecturer
> travel and honoraria expenses would enhance the impact of this program
> by increasing the number and diversity of participating institutions.

# 

# [4. Discussion:]{.underline}

### 

### Comments on Ethnic and Gender Diversity in the Mars Program

As is unfortunately the case with the science and engineering enterprise
in almost all disciplines, the current Mars science community is
unbalanced in gender, race, and cultural background relative to the make
up of the citizens who fund the program. This is a symptom that has many
causes. There is a linkage to many of the issues and concerns described
above, but there are additional root causes that are endemic to American
society. Lack of diversity means that the full potential of the
workforce that could be brought to bear on these problems is not being
realized.

We note that the participants in the retreat are experts in science (or
are students of science), not experts in minority affairs, employment
policy and law, affirmative action, or sociology. Thus we are neither in
a position to offer a systematic, professional analysis in this area,
nor are we in a position to envision the full range of possible
solutions for improving the human diversity of the science population.
However, based on our personal experiences we offer the following simple
suggestions.

> Students could be introduced to scientist role models at an early age
> in elementary school through literacy programs such as ReadingFirst (a
> mandated Title 1 program) and Read Across America. These programs
> provide opportunities to engage students and to emphasize career
> options. A compilation of biographies could describe how specific
> scientists were drawn to the field and their school and career
> history; included could be associated activities/lessons that pertain
> to the scientists' fields of research. Later, middle school students
> could work with enhanced curricula in integrated science courses to
> encourage them to pursue more challenging and engaging science courses
> (moving them from a non-college to college track). In high school,
> students could intern with local colleges and universities, including
> Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) that have partnered with leading
> Mars institutions (universities and NASA centers) in Mars research and
> mission proposals. University students at MSIs could intern with these
> lead institutions as a component of a partnered research or mission
> proposal. As part of these joint proposals, Mars scientists could
> spend time at MSIs over a few weeks to assist in the development of
> new laboratories or data analysis facilities.
>
> Finally, broadening of the potential recruiting field and the
> interdisciplinary science approach to include agricultural schools,
> where MSIs often excel, would bring in experience in plant and soil
> sciences, life sciences, and molecular biology and attract a more
> diverse group of scientists than currently involved in traditionally
> Mars-focused research areas of physics, geology, and planetary
> science.

### Metrics are needed

It is important that the current state (e.g. size, diversity) of the
Mars science community be examined quantitatively and that future
changes be tracked with carefully chosen metrics. In order to do this,
it will be necessary to establish a specific definition of "the Mars
science community", and to maintain this definition for several years.
Obvious key issues are the distribution of age, gender, geography, race,
and cultural diversity, as well as of course, scientific discipline.

Some of the issues associated with defining the Mars science community
in a specific enough way that it can be tracked include:

-   The Mars science community can be split into two broad groups: Those
    who are working full-time on Mars science (i.e. those with no other
    source of funding), and those who have broader technical interests
    and a broader base of financial support (terrestrial,
    cosmochemistry, other planetary). Very substantial contributors to
    the Mars exploration program reside in both subsets. Do we count one
    or the other, or both?

-   Do we count support personnel (e.g. technicians) and graduate
    students, or only PIs?

-   Do we count only Mars-related scientists who are receiving money
    from NASA? Are there scientists making use of Mars data in research
    programs funded by other entities, and should they be counted?

-   Is the key metric dollars or numbers of scientists?

-   Do we have a systematic and appropriate means of collecting the data
    and keeping it up to date?

A small group of scientists should be charged with developing the
required definition.

### The cross-cutting nature of the possible solutions.

We have identified six areas of issues and concerns in the general topic
of Growing and Strengthening the Mars science community, and over double
that number of implementable solutions. During the retreat, it became
apparent that several of the solutions apply to more than one of the
issues and concerns. These relationships are illustrated in Table 2.

**Table 2. The cross-cutting nature of many of the solutions.**

  ------------ ----------------------- --------------- ------------- ------------------- -------------- --------------- --------------
  **Solution   **DESCRIPTION**         **A. Enhance    **B. Increase **C. Increase       **D. Increase  **E. Increase   **F. Increase
  \#**                                 and stabilize   opportunity   interdisciplinary   availability   opportunities   the number,
                                       funding for     for           research            of data and    for training    diversity, and
                                       science         involvement   opportunities**     results**      and funding for interest level
                                       research**      in Mars                                          early-career    of potential
                                                       flight                                           scientists**    future
                                                       missions**                                                       scientists**

  **1**        Enhance existing R&A    [HIGH]{.mark}   []{.mark}     MED                                MED             
               programs                                                                                                 

  **2**        Create intern program                   HIGH                                             HIGH            HIGH
               for flight missions                                                                                      

  **3**        Convene technical                                     HIGH                                               
               workshops and symposia                                                                                   
               that bring Mars                                                                                          
               scientists together                                                                                      
               with terrestrial                                                                                         
               researchers                                                                                              

  **4**        Expand NASA NRAs that                                 HIGH                                               
               call for                                                                                                 
               interdisciplinary                                                                                        
               research involving                                                                                       
               co-investigators in                                                                                      
               multiple disciplines                                                                                     

  **5**        Support extended visits                               HIGH                                               
               by Mars scientists to                                                                                    
               academic departments                                                                                     

  **6**        Reconcile pointing and                                                    HIGH                           
               timing discrepancies                                                                                     
               that currently make it                                                                                   
               difficult to                                                                                             
               geometrically register                                                                                   
               Mars datasets                                                                                            

  **7**        Support the development                 HIGH                              HIGH           HIGH            
               of user-friendly                                                                                         
               software tools that                                                                                      
               allow many more                                                                                          
               researchers to access                                                                                    
               and analyze Mars data.                                                                                   

  **8**        Publish online journals                               HIGH                HIGH           MED             
               that offer rapid peer                                                                                    
               review and open full                                                                                     
               text access                                                                                              

  **9**        Develop proposal        HIGH            HIGH                                             HIGH            
               selection criteria for                                                                                   
               both mission and R&DA                                                                                    
               programs related to the                                                                                  
               involvement of young                                                                                     
               scientists                                                                                               

  **10**       Create rigorous,                                                                         HIGH            
               cross-institutional                                                                                      
               education and training                                                                                   
               program ("University of                                                                                  
               Mars")                                                                                                   

  **11**       Young scientist                                                                          HIGH            MED
               involvement                                                                                              

  **12**       Create specific element                                                                                  HIGH
               of Mars EPO that will                                                                                    
               reach future scientists                                                                                  

  **13**       Support undergraduate                                                                    HIGH            HIGH
               directed lectures or                                                                                     
               lecture series                                                                                           
  ------------ ----------------------- --------------- ------------- ------------------- -------------- --------------- --------------

### Solution priorities.

All of the possible solutions described above would have, if
implemented, a beneficial impact on NASA Mars exploration program and on
the science community that it supports. However, we recognize that it
may not be possible to implement them all. In assessing the relative
priority of the possible solutions, it was necessary to recognize that
there is a rather wide range of opinion at the retreat. Despite this
variation, several conclusions were drawn.

-   Enhancing the existing R&A programs is thought to have a
    significantly greater value than the other solutions, but it is
    recognized that it also has a significantly greater cost.
    Nevertheless, this solution is very strongly endorsed as addressing
    the most aspects of the challenge quickly and effectively.

-   A HIGH priority is given to the intern program for flight missions.
    It is a solution that is relatively easy to implement, has extremely
    high-value, and a relatively low cost. The two information
    management solutions are rated as HIGH priority. At first glance
    information management may not appear to have an immediate
    connection to growing the community, but our view is that this
    constitutes a critical barrier to the entry of new people. Many of
    the other solutions will not come to fruition if the barriers to
    information dissemination are not solved. Also rated in the category
    of HIGH priority are improving the effectiveness of scientific
    public outreach, broadening the multi-disciplinary character of Mars
    science, and strengthening existing graduate education programs.

The improvement of the human diversity of the Mars science community,
e.g. ethnicity is highly desirable. And, although accomplishing this by
means of establishing specific proposal selection criteria is rated LOW
in Table 3, this is a reflection of our strong sense that changes in
this area happen will occur only in the context of the other solutions;
not - as a stand-alone action.

![](media/image1.pct)

#  

# [APPENDIX 1. List of Major Mars Universities in 2003.]{.underline}

The following institutions of higher education (listed alphabetically)
receive the lion's share of the Mars funding, and produce a
disproportionate share of new Mars-oriented Ph.D. scientists. In part,
this reflects the strategic choices made by these institutions regarding
their commitment to the Mars exploration program and involves faculty
hiring decisions and infrastructure investments. There are perhaps twice
as many other universities receiving far less support from NASA for Mars
programs that produce many fewer PhD students. The list below
constitutes the primary pipeline from which new talent enters the Mars
science community in the United States.

Arizona State University

Brown University

Caltech

Cornell

Harvard University

MIT

UCLA

University of Arizona

University of Colorado

University of Hawaii

University of Washington

Washington University, St. Louis

# [APPENDIX 2. Expected Data Volumes from past and planned Mars Missions.]{.underline}

![](media/image2.pct)

Note: This histogram primarily illustrates the jump in orbiter data
volume, which tends to be bit intensive. Although the scale is
different, a similar jump is seen when Pathfinder data volume is
compared with MER. The amount of human interaction with landed data is
much higher per bit than for orbital data.