Carle M. Pieters
Encyclopedia
Carle McGetchin Pieters is a noted American planetary scientist
. Dr Pieters has published more that 150 research articles in peer-reviewed journals, including the book Remote Geochemical Analyses. Her general research efforts include planetary exploration and evolution of planetary surfaces with an emphasis on remote compositional analyses.
in 1966 in math-education. After teaching high school math for one year in Massachusetts, she spent two years teaching science as a Peace Corps
Volunteer in Malaysia. Upon her return to the US, she received her B.S. (1971), M.S. (1972) and Ph.D. (1977) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
in Planetary Science
. Dr. Pieters spent 3 years at NASA Johnson Space Center before becoming a professor at Brown University
in 1980 and has remained there ever since. She is the Principal Investigator
for the Moon Mineralogy Mapper
, an imaging spectrometer (0.4-3.0 µm) designed to characterize and map the mineralogy of the Moon at high resolution, an instrument that was sent to the Moon on the Indian Chandraayan-1 spacecraft. She is also a co-investigator on NASA's Dawn mission
to the asteroids Vesta
and Ceres.
Planetary science
Planetary science is the scientific study of planets , moons, and planetary systems, in particular those of the Solar System and the processes that form them. It studies objects ranging in size from micrometeoroids to gas giants, aiming to determine their composition, dynamics, formation,...
. Dr Pieters has published more that 150 research articles in peer-reviewed journals, including the book Remote Geochemical Analyses. Her general research efforts include planetary exploration and evolution of planetary surfaces with an emphasis on remote compositional analyses.
Career
Pieters earned her B.A. from Antioch CollegeAntioch College
Antioch College is a private, independent liberal arts college in Yellow Springs, Ohio, United States. It was the founder and the flagship institution of the six-campus Antioch University system. Founded in 1852 by the Christian Connection, the college began operating in 1853 with politician and...
in 1966 in math-education. After teaching high school math for one year in Massachusetts, she spent two years teaching science as a Peace Corps
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
Volunteer in Malaysia. Upon her return to the US, she received her B.S. (1971), M.S. (1972) and Ph.D. (1977) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
in Planetary Science
Planetary science
Planetary science is the scientific study of planets , moons, and planetary systems, in particular those of the Solar System and the processes that form them. It studies objects ranging in size from micrometeoroids to gas giants, aiming to determine their composition, dynamics, formation,...
. Dr. Pieters spent 3 years at NASA Johnson Space Center before becoming a professor at Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
in 1980 and has remained there ever since. She is the Principal Investigator
Principal investigator
A principal investigator is the lead scientist or engineer for a particular well-defined science project, such as a laboratory study or clinical trial....
for the Moon Mineralogy Mapper
Moon Mineralogy Mapper
The Moon Mineralogy Mapper is one of two instruments that NASA contributed to India's first mission to the Moon, Chandrayaan-1, launched October 22, 2008...
, an imaging spectrometer (0.4-3.0 µm) designed to characterize and map the mineralogy of the Moon at high resolution, an instrument that was sent to the Moon on the Indian Chandraayan-1 spacecraft. She is also a co-investigator on NASA's Dawn mission
Dawn Mission
Dawn is a NASA spacecraft tasked with the exploration and study of the two largest members of the asteroid belt – Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres. The spacecraft was constructed with some European cooperation, with partners in Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands providing Dawns framing...
to the asteroids Vesta
Vesta
-Astronomy:* 4 Vesta, second largest asteroid in the solar system, also a proto-planet, named after the Roman deity* Vesta family, group of asteroids that includes 4 Vesta- Places :* Monte Vesta, Lombardy, Italy* Temple of Vesta, Rome, Italy...
and Ceres.
Awards and honors
- Asteroid 3713 Pieters3713 Pieters3713 Pieters is a main-belt asteroid discovered on March 22, 1985 by E. Bowell at Flagstaff . It is named in honor of planetary scientist Carle M. Pieters.- External links :*...
- Awarded the 2010 GK Gilbert Award, the highest award given by the Geological Society of America'sGeological Society of AmericaThe Geological Society of America is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of the geosciences. The society was founded in New York in 1888 by Alexander Winchell, John J. Stevenson, Charles H. Hitchcock, John R. Proctor and Edward Orton and has been headquartered at 3300 Penrose...
Division for Planetary Sciences - Awarded the Kuiper Prize in 2004, the most distinguished award given by the American Astronomical Society’sAmerican Astronomical SocietyThe American Astronomical Society is an American society of professional astronomers and other interested individuals, headquartered in Washington, DC...
Division for Planetary Sciences - Elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of ScienceAmerican Association for the Advancement of ScienceThe American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
in 2007 - Elected Fellow of the American Geophysical UnionAmerican Geophysical UnionThe American Geophysical Union is a nonprofit organization of geophysicists, consisting of over 50,000 members from over 135 countries. AGU's activities are focused on the organization and dissemination of scientific information in the interdisciplinary and international field of geophysics...
in 2001