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A “Blue Sky” Topic on the Red Planet
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| Tahirih Motazedian ’04, Geophysics Major |
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| Tahirih Motazedian |
In the summer of 2002 at the Arkansas-Oklahoma Center for Space and Planetary Sciences, UO student Tahirih Motazedian was given free rein to find her internship research topic, a “blue sky” assignment. And, in the process of analyzing thousands of photos, she discovered it—in some darkly streaked images that she believes provide evidence of water on Mars.
Since then, her summer research paper has caused much speculation about water—and the possibilities of life—on the Red Planet.
Motazedian’s theory is that geothermal activity around the Olympus Mons volcano is melting subsurface ice, releasing brine that dissolves surrounding minerals. Due to a high salt content, the water freezes at a lower temperature and takes longer to evaporate, allowing it the time needed to flow downhill, leaving those mineral-laden streaks.
Motazedian published her findings in the journal Lunar and Planetary Science, after which she was asked to present them to the world’s largest annual gathering of planetary scientists.
“My experience as an REU student [Research Experience for Undergraduates] gave me my first taste of real scientific discovery,” said Motazedian, who says her mind was both stimulated and sharpened by the long research hours. “I will spend my life unraveling the enigmas of Mars.”
This summer, Tahirih had the opportunity to do just that, through another research internship at CalTech. Her mentor, Dr. Oded Aharonson, is a lead planetary scientist who holds the opposing theory about the surface stains on Mars—that is, that dry dust flows are carving them, not water.
Aharonson had contacted Motazedian after reading her paper, and the two had the opportunity to meet at the planetary science conference last March, beginning an in-depth email discussion which continued in person in Southern California this summer.
“Tahirih is a highly motivated young researcher,” said Dr. Aharonson. “Although she and I disagree on the interpretation of the martian features she is studying (Slope Streaks), she has been a pleasure to mentor… She is a driven ‘go-getter’… and already known by many leaders in the field!”
Undoubtedly, Tahirih’s summer research experiences have been crucial to her development as a scientist. However, the discovery of her passion for astronomy happened at the UO during her sophomore year, she remembers, and it felt like “falling in love.”
“I needed to take a class to complete my last general-education requirement in science. After fifteen minutes in the astronomy course, I knew what I wanted to do with my life. My stomach was all fluttery. I bought a book on astronomy that day, didn’t eat much, and was up all hours reading. I couldn’t concentrate on anything else.”
At the UO, Tahirih has worked closely with geology professor Mark Reed on her research. “He, and everyone I went to for help, drew upon all their resources to help me,” she said.
This young geologist has definite promise in scientific research, and has been acknowledged with a prestigious Gold-water scholarship among her other honors. The European Space Agency has even asked Motazedian to suggest sites to be photographed by their “Mars Express” spacecraft next winter.
Motazedian plans to complete her UO degree then pursue a Ph.D. in planetary science. Her goal is to work for NASA—as a crew member on the first manned expedition to Mars. “My greatest dream is to see human beings walk on the Red Planet during my lifetime,” she wrote in her Goldwater essay, “and I will devote all my energy to helping that possibility become a reality.”
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1245 University of Oregon • Eugene, OR • 97403-1245
(541) 346.3950 • FAX (541) 346.3282 • alumnidev@cas.uoregon.edu
Copyright © 2003 University of Oregon
Updated October 3, 2003
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