Carol Stoker is a staff scientist in the Space Sciences Division at the NASA Ames Research Center in California. She is a lead scientist on the Phoenix mission whose four principal science teams include Biological Potential, Geology, Chemistry and Minerology, and Atmospheric Science. Dr. Stoker leads the Biological Potential working group responsible for evaluating the biological potential, or biohabitability, of the polar landing site. Her Mars-analog drilling experience and research into life in extreme environments on Earth, together with her development of the virtual reality technology that enhances the control of mobile rovers, make her uniquely qualified to participate in the exploration of the Polar region of Mars currently underway by the Phoenix mission.

Dr. Stoker received a PhD in Astrogeophysics in 1983 from the University of Colorado, and has been with NASA since 1985. She studied the atmospheres of the outer planets while working on the Voyager imaging team during its 12-year mission. Carol's most recent research has focused on Mars-analog field studies in the Antarctic, arctic, equatorial pacific, Southern Spain, and the southwestern United States. She was a participating scientist on the Mars Pathfinder mission where she developed a three-dimensional interactive virtual reality model of the Pathfinder landing site as a tool for operating the rover mission, and played a similar role during the Mars Polar Lander mission, a progenitor of Phoenix. In addition, she leads the MARTE (Mars Analog Rio Tinto Experiment) team in its develop of the subsurface biosphere drilling system, sample handling and instrument technologies for future Mars exploration that were recently deployed to search for subsurface life at the Rio Tinto site in Spain. The Rio Tinto site is considered a chemical analog to the Sinus Merdiani site explored by the MER rover. The interpretation of the mineralogical discoveries at Sinus Merdiani have been the subject of some debate as to whether the findings point conclusively to evidence of an ancient acid sea on Mars.

Dr. Stoker's research at Rio Tinto, together with the habitability data obtained during the Phoenix mission, may well allow us to identify the best target environments to search for past and/or present life in the subsurface biosphere on Mars.

For up to the minute information from Dr. Stoker and her team, join us at the 11th Annual International Convention at the University of Colorado at Boulder, August 14-17, 2008.

REGISTER NOW FOR A SPECTACULAR CONVENTION!
WHERE: Back to where it all began in 1998: University Memorial Center, University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado.
WHEN: August 14-17, 2008
REGISTRATION: Available online
HOTEL INFORMATION: Available online
SPEAKERS: We have an impressive list of knowledgeable, inspiring speakers already scheduled:

• J. Michael Straczynski (Creator of Babylon 5)
• Elon Musk (Founder and CEO of SpaceX)
• Dr. Jim Garvin (Chief Scientist, NASA Goddard)
• Dr. Carolyn Porco (Cassini Imaging Team Leader)
• Dr. Chris McKay (NASA Ames Research Center)
• Dr. Carol Stoker (NASA Ames Research Center)
• Dr. Bill Clancey (NASA Ames Research Center)
• Dr. Matt Mountain (Director of the Space Telescope Science Institute)
• Geoffrey Yoder (NASA - Director, Directorate Integration Office - Exploration Systems Mission Directorate)
• Joe Cassady (Aerojet: Director for Business Development in Emerging Space markets)
• George Whitesides (Executive Director, National Space Society)
• Dr. Robert Zubrin (President and Founder, The Mars Society)
• Dr. Buzz Aldrin (Apollo 11) Tentative
• Brother Guy Consolmagno (Vatican Observatory; Curator, Vatican Meteorite Collection)
• Dr. Ted Peters (Co-Editor: Theology and Science; The CTNS Journal of Science and Religion)
• Dr. David Spires (Senior Instructor, University of Washington)
• Dr. Michael Simpson (President, International Space University)

(Please note that Gen. Pete Worden recently informed us that he would be unable to attend the convention.)