Behind the scenes look at the Curiosity and Opportunity space missions

Western Washington University assistant professor of Geology Melissa Rice is a member of NASA’s Curiosity rover science team and has collaborated with that team to publish new research from the rover’s findings on the planet Mars.

Dr. Rice is a member of both the Curiosity and Opportunity science teams, and will provide a behind-the-scenes look at the images, science, and human creativity that continue to make these missions such a success. 

Dr. Rice earned her bachelor’s degree in Astrophysics from Wellesley College and her doctorate in Astrophysics from Cornell University, after which she completed postdoctoral work on the rovers at CalTech’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. This is her second year teaching at Western.