Charles S. Cockell
Encyclopedia
Charles S. Cockell is Professor of Geomicrobiology
with the Open University
. Prior to this, he was a microbiologist with the British Antarctic Survey
, Cambridge, UK. His scientific interests involve geomicrobiology
, life in extreme environments, astrobiology
and the human exploration of Mars
.
and Molecular Biology
, Bristol University
1994: D.Phil, Molecular Biophysics, University of Oxford
1995: National Academy of Sciences
(NRC) Associateship, NASA
Ames Research Centre
1997: Visiting Scholar, Stanford University
1998: Visiting Scholar, University of Arizona
2000: Research Scientist, British Antarctic Survey
2004: Professor, geomicrobiology, Open University
During his doctorate at the University of Oxford, Cockell was Science Correspondent for The Oxford Times for three years, writing a regular science feature column.
on Mars and the crossing of its ice caps.
, Indonesia designed for catching moths over the canopy. The 'Barnes Wallis Moth Machine' had lights for nighttime flying, UV lights to attract moths and a net for scooping moths from the rainforest canopy. The moth machine was flown during an expedition organised by Cockell to the Kerinci-Seblat National Park which also collected plants and insects as part of a biodiversity study. The expedition had the patronage of No. 617 Squadron. During the expedition the moth machine clipped the top of a tree and crashed. The expedition hired a herd of elephants to continue its moth catching. Over 5,000 moths were caught which were sent to Germany for biodiversity assessments.
. The party advocated the increased involvement of Britain in the exploration of Mars, the European Space Agency's human exploration programme and the construction of a station on Mars. The party received 91 votes in the election.
Cockell, C.S. [Editor] Project Boreas
: A Station for the Martian Geographic North Pole, British Interplanetary Society, 2006
Cockell, C.S. [Editor] Martian Expedition Planning, American Astronautical Association, 2004
Cockell, C.S., Blaustein, A.R. [Editors] Ultraviolet Radiation and Evolution, Springer, 2002
Cockell, C.S. Impossible Extinction: Natural Catastrophes and the Supremacy of the Microbial World, Cambridge, 2002
Geomicrobiology
Geomicrobiology is the result of the combination of geology and microbiology. The field of geomicrobiology concerns the role of microbe and microbial processes in geological and geochemical processes and vice-versa...
with the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
. Prior to this, he was a microbiologist with the British Antarctic Survey
British Antarctic Survey
The British Antarctic Survey is the United Kingdom's national Antarctic operation and has an active role in Antarctic affairs. BAS is part of the Natural Environment Research Council and has over 400 staff. It operates five research stations, two ships and five aircraft in and around Antarctica....
, Cambridge, UK. His scientific interests involve geomicrobiology
Geomicrobiology
Geomicrobiology is the result of the combination of geology and microbiology. The field of geomicrobiology concerns the role of microbe and microbial processes in geological and geochemical processes and vice-versa...
, life in extreme environments, astrobiology
Astrobiology
Astrobiology is the study of the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe. This interdisciplinary field encompasses the search for habitable environments in our Solar System and habitable planets outside our Solar System, the search for evidence of prebiotic chemistry,...
and the human exploration of Mars
Exploration of Mars
The exploration of Mars has been an important part of the space exploration programs of the Soviet Union, the United States, Europe, and Japan. Dozens of robotic spacecraft, including orbiters, landers, and rovers, have been launched toward Mars since the 1960s...
.
Education and Professional Experience
1989: BSc, BiochemistryBiochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
and Molecular Biology
Molecular biology
Molecular biology is the branch of biology that deals with the molecular basis of biological activity. This field overlaps with other areas of biology and chemistry, particularly genetics and biochemistry...
, Bristol University
1994: D.Phil, Molecular Biophysics, University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
1995: National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
(NRC) Associateship, NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
Ames Research Centre
1997: Visiting Scholar, Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
1998: Visiting Scholar, University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
2000: Research Scientist, British Antarctic Survey
2004: Professor, geomicrobiology, Open University
During his doctorate at the University of Oxford, Cockell was Science Correspondent for The Oxford Times for three years, writing a regular science feature column.
Earth and Space Foundation
Cockell is Chair of the Earth and Space Foundation, a charity which awards grants to expeditions that successfully bridge the gap between environmentalism and the exploration and settlement of space by either using space technologies and ideas in environmental fieldwork or use environments on Earth to advance knowledge of other planets. He founded the organisation in 1994. Since its establishment the Foundation has supported over 60 field projects around the world. The Foundation also has long-term awards which will recognise the achievement of significant exploration objectives in the solar system, including the ascent of Olympus MonsOlympus Mons
Olympus Mons is a large volcanic mountain on the planet Mars. At a height of almost , it is one of the tallest mountains in the Solar System, three times as tall as Mount Everest and more than twice the height of Mauna Kea the tallest mountain on Earth. Olympus Mons is the youngest of the large...
on Mars and the crossing of its ice caps.
Association of Mars Explorers
Cockell was the first President of the Association of Mars Explorers, an organisation he co-founded in California in 2002. The association, known as the Mars Club, promotes links between explorers of Mars with a focus on the human exploration of Mars and the exploration of its mountains, poles, deserts, and canyon systems.Expeditions
In 1993 Cockell piloted a modified microlight aircraft over the rainforests of SumatraSumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
, Indonesia designed for catching moths over the canopy. The 'Barnes Wallis Moth Machine' had lights for nighttime flying, UV lights to attract moths and a net for scooping moths from the rainforest canopy. The moth machine was flown during an expedition organised by Cockell to the Kerinci-Seblat National Park which also collected plants and insects as part of a biodiversity study. The expedition had the patronage of No. 617 Squadron. During the expedition the moth machine clipped the top of a tree and crashed. The expedition hired a herd of elephants to continue its moth catching. Over 5,000 moths were caught which were sent to Germany for biodiversity assessments.
Brief political career
In 1992 Cockell stood as parliamentary candidate for the Forward to Mars Party against incumbent Prime Minister John Major (Huntingdon (UK Parliament constituency)Huntingdon (UK Parliament constituency)
Huntingdon is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
. The party advocated the increased involvement of Britain in the exploration of Mars, the European Space Agency's human exploration programme and the construction of a station on Mars. The party received 91 votes in the election.
Academic Books
Cockell, C.S., Koeberl, C., Gilmour, I. [Editors] Biological Effects Associated with Impact Events, Springer, 2006Cockell, C.S. [Editor] Project Boreas
Project Boreas
Project Boreas was a study conducted between 2003 and 2006 by the British Interplanetary Society to design a station on the Planum Boreumat the Martian North Pole . The project was international, involving over 25 scientists and engineers, co-ordinated by Charles S. Cockell. Pole Station was...
: A Station for the Martian Geographic North Pole, British Interplanetary Society, 2006
Cockell, C.S. [Editor] Martian Expedition Planning, American Astronautical Association, 2004
Cockell, C.S., Blaustein, A.R. [Editors] Ultraviolet Radiation and Evolution, Springer, 2002
Popular Science Books
Cockell, C.S. Space on Earth: Saving our World by Seeking Others, MacMillan, 2006Cockell, C.S. Impossible Extinction: Natural Catastrophes and the Supremacy of the Microbial World, Cambridge, 2002