Session 5

PHILIP R. CHRISTENSEN is a Regents Professor and the Ed and Helen Korrick Professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University. His research interests focus on the composition, processes, and physical properties of Mars, Earth, asteroids, Europa, and other planetary surfaces. Dr. Christensen uses spectroscopy, radiometry, field observations, and numerical modeling to study the geology and history of planets and moons. A major facet of his research is the development of spacecraft instruments, and he has built seven science instruments that have flown on NASA’s Mars Observer, Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Odyssey, Mars Exploration Rover, OSIRIS-REx, and Lucy missions and the UAE’s Hope Mars orbiter. He is currently developing an infrared camera for the Europa Clipper missions. Over the past 20 years he has developed an extensive K-12 education and outreach program to bring the excitement of science and exploration into the classroom and has mentored 32 outstanding Ph.D. students. Dr. Christensen is a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union and the Geological Society of America and received the AGU’s Whipple Award in 2018, the GSA’s G.K. Gilbert Award in 2008, NASA’s Public Service Medal in 2005, and NASA’s Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal in 2003. He received his Ph.D. in geophysics and space physics from the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Christensen is the co-chair of the National Academies Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey and has previously served as the chair of the Mars Panel of the Planetary Science Decadal Survey in 2010-2011 and as the co-chair of the NRC’s Committee on Astrobiology and Planetary Science from 2012-2015.