Dr. James F. Bell III (Jim)

Professor
Cornell University Department of Astronomy
 e-mail: jfb8 at cornell.edu
WWW: http://marswatch.astro.cornell.edu
Brief Biography:
Jim Bell is a Professor in the Department of Astronomy at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. He received his B.S. from Caltech in 1987 and his Ph.D. from the University of Hawaii in 1992, performing research on Mars surface mineralogy and climate variations using infrared and optical telescopes at Mauna Kea Observatory. Jim spent 3 years as a National Research Council postdoctoral research fellow at NASA's Ames Research Center in California prior to coming to Cornell in 1995. His research primarily focuses on the geology, geochemistry, and mineralogy of planets, asteroids, and comets using data obtained from telescopes and spacecraft missions.

Jim is an active planetary scientist and has been heavily involved in many NASA robotic space exploration missions, including the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR), Hubble Space Telescope, Mars Pathfinder, Comet Nucleus Tour, Mars Exploration Rover, Mars Odyssey Orbiter, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, and 2009 Mars Science Laboratory rover mission. As a member of the Mars Exploration Rover team, Jim has served as the lead scientist in charge of the Panoramic camera (Pancam) color, stereoscopic imaging system on the Spirit and Opportunity rovers. The rovers landed on Mars in January 2004 and have been operating successfully for nearly five years now. As a professional scientist, Jim has published more than 30 first-authored and 120 co-authored research papers in peer reviewed scientific journals, has authored or co-authored more than 400 short abstracts and scientific conference presentations, and has edited two scientific books for Cambridge University Press (one on the NEAR mission, the other on the surface composition of Mars).

Jim is also an extremely active and prolific public communicator of science and space exploration, and is President of The Planetary Society. He is a frequent contributor to popular astronomy and science magazines like Sky & Telescope and Scientific American, and to radio shows and internet blogs about astronomy and space. He has appeared on television on the NBC "Today" show, on CNN's "This American Morning," on the PBS "Newshour," and on the Discovery and National Geographic cable channels. He has also written three photography-oriented books that showcase some of the most spectacular images of Mars and the Moon acquired during the space program: "Postcards from Mars" (Dutton/Penguin, 2006), "Mars 3-D" (Sterling, 2008), and "Moon 3-D" (Sterling, 2009).

To arrange a speaking engagement with Jim Bell, please contact the Penguin Speakers Bureau at speakersbureau@us.penguingroup.com.

Vita:  James F. Bell III (Jim)

 

            Professor

            Cornell University                                                                  

            Department of Astronomy                                                      

            402 Space Sciences Building                                                 

            Ithaca, NY  14853-6801

            phone: (607) 255-5911; fax: (607) 255-5907

            email: jfb8 at cornell.edu

            WWW: http://marswatch.astro.cornell.edu

 

EDUCATION:

Ph.D.: 1992, University of Hawaii at Manoa;  Planetary Geosciences

M.S.: 1989, University of Hawaii at Manoa; Geology and Geophysics

B.S.: 1987, California Institute of Technology; Planetary Science and Aeronautics

 

PERSONAL INFORMATION:

            Born: July 23, 1965, Providence RI; Citizenship: USA. Married; 2 children.

 

FIELDS OF EXPERTISE:

            * Surface Composition and Geology of Terrestrial Planets, Asteroids, Comets

            * Telescopic Observations and Instrumentation (Visible through Mid-IR)

            * Reflectance & Emittance Spectroscopy (Telescopic, Laboratory, Spacecraft)

            * Image Processing and Data Reduction/Calibration/Analysis (Telescopic, Spacecraft)

 

PUBLICATIONS:

            http://marswatch.astro.cornell.edu/pubs.html

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Since 2009:  Professor, Department of Astronomy, Cornell University

2003 to 2008:  Associate Professor, Department of Astronomy, Cornell University

1998 to 2003:  Assistant Professor, Department of Astronomy, Cornell University

1997 to 1998:  Senior Research Associate, Department of Astronomy, Cornell

1995 to 1997:  Research Associate, Department of Astronomy, Cornell

1994 to 1995:  Postdoctoral Research Assistant, U. Washington Remote Sensing Lab

1992 to 1994:  NRC Postdoctoral Research Fellow, NASA Ames Research Center.

1989 to 1992:  NASA Graduate Student Researchers Program Fellow, NASA/JSC

1987 to 1989:  Graduate student researcher, U. Hawaii Planetary Geosciences Dept.

1983 to 1987:  Undergraduate researcher, Caltech Department of Planetary Sciences.

 

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

American Astronomical Society (Division for Planetary Sciences)

American Geophysical Union (Planetary Sciences Section)

International Astronomical Union

American Association for the Advancement of Science

Planetary Society (Member: Board of Directors)

 

HONORS AND AWARDS:

            NASA Group Achievement Award, MER Second Extended Mission, 2005

            NASA Group Achievement Award, MER Extended Mission, 2004

            NASA Group Achievement Award, MER Primary Mission, 2004

            NASA Group Achievement Award, NEAR/Eros mission, 2001

            Awarded asteroid name 8146 Jimbell by IAU, 1999

            Editor's Letter of Commendation, Icarus, 1997

            NASA Group Achievement Award, Mars Pathfinder mission, 1997

            NASA Group Achievement Award, NEAR/Mathilde flyby, 1997

            Editor's Citation for Excellence in Refereeing, J. Geophys. Res., 1996

            NASA/National Research Council Postdoctoral Fellowship, 1992-1994

            NASA Graduate Student Researcher's Program Fellowship, 1989-1992

            Caltech Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, 1986

 

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:

            Science Team Member: NASA Mars Science Laboratory Rover MastCam, MAHLI, MARDI; 2005-

            Participating Scientist: Mars Odyssey Mission, 2002-

            Pancam Payload Element Lead: NASA Mars Exploration Rover Missions, 1997-

            Science Team Member: CONTOUR Discovery Mission, 1997-2002

            Participating Scientist: Mars Pathfinder Mission, 1997-1998

            Science Team Member: Mars-98 Orbiter Mars Color Imager (MARCI) Investigation, 1996-

            Science Team Member, Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) Mission, 1994-

            Guest Observer, ESA Infrared Space Observatory, 1995-97

            Guest Observer, NASA Hubble Space Telescope, 1994-

            Visiting Astronomer, NASA Infrared Telescope Facility, 1988-

 

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE:

            Elected to AAS/DPS Committee, 2004-2006

            Editor, Icarus (International Journal of Solar System Studies), 1998-

            Chairman, NASA Mars Fundamental Research Program Review Panel, 2005

            NSF Planetary Astronomy Review panel, 2003

            Group Chief, NASA Planetary Geology & Geophysics Program Review Panel, 2001-2002

            Hubble Space Telescope Cycle 10 Review Panel (Solar System Committee), 2000

            Group Chief, NASA Mars Data Analysis Program Review Panel, 2000

            Member, NASA Planetary Astronomy NEO Program Review Panel, 2000

            Program Committee Member, AAS/DPS annual meeting, Pasadena CA, 2000

            Member, Italian Space Agency/NASA 2003 Mars Lander Instrument Review Panel, 1999

            Member, NASA Mars Exploration Program Assessment Group (MEPAG), 1999-

            Chairman, NASA Mars-98 Participating Scientist Program Review Panel, 1999

            Member, AAS Working Group on Professional-Amateur Collaboration, 1999-

            Group Chief, NASA Mars Data Analysis Program Review Panel, 1998

            Member, NASA Planetary Geology & Geophysics Program Review Panel, 1998

            NASA Planetary Astronomy Program Management Operations Working Group, 1996-98

            Eos Planetary Sciences Editor, AGU Weekly newspaper, 1997-1999

            Member, NASA Mars Science Working Group (MarsSWG), 1996-1997

            Member, SIRTF Solar System Working Group, 1996-

            Member, SIRTF Large Projects/Survey Working Group, 1995-96

            National Research Council Panel on Reducing Space Science Mission Costs, 1996

            NASA Planetary Instrument Definition and Development Program Review Panel, 1995

            Hubble Space Telescope Cycle 6 Review Panel (Solar System Committee), 1995

            NASA Discovery Missions Review Panel, 1994

            NASA Planetary Astronomy Review Panel, 1994

            Lunar and Planetary Science Conference Program Committee, 1994-1995

            Member, NASA MSATT Steering Committee, 1993

            Member, NASA MECA, MEVTV, and MSATT Study Groups, 1988-1993

 

TEACHING EXPERIENCE:

Astronomy 101, "The Nature of the Universe", Cornell University, Fall 1998

Astronomy 102, "Our Solar System", Cornell University, Spring 2001-2003

Astronomy 202, "Our Home in the Solar System", Cornell, Spring 1998-2000

Astronomy 310, "Planetary Image Processing", Cornell, Fall 2002, 2005

Astronomy 410, "Experimental Astronomy", Cornell, Fall 2005

Astronomy 671, "Spectroscopy of Planetary Surfaces", Cornell, Fall 2001

Astronomy 671, "Asteroids", Cornell, Fall 2000

BioG 101-106 "Explorations" Program, Cornell University, Spring 2000, 2001

Guest lecturer, Cornell (1995-97), Astronomy 202, 233, 280, 434, 671, 673, 699

Teaching Assistant, University of Washington (1991-92), Remote Sensing classes

Teaching Assistant, University of Hawaii (1988-89), Planetary Science classes

 

DEPARTMENT/FACULTY SERVICE

Director of Graduate Studies, Cornell Astronomy & Space Sciences, 2005-

Astronomy Department Academic Integrity Committee representative, 2001-

Astronomy Department Course Committee, 2000-2001

Palomar TAC Member, 1999-2001

Advisor: 25 undergraduates (Arts & Sciences), 1998-2005

Thesis Advisor: 3 graduate students (Astronomy)

Minor Advisor: 1 graduate student (Computer Science)

Committee Member: 3 other graduate students (Astronomy, Geology)

Astronomy Department AURA Representative, 1999-

Astronomy Department Web Site co-maintainer, 1998-

Astronomy Department Representative for College Admissions, 1999

Astronomy Department First Year Graduate Student Committee, 1999-2000

 

EDUCATION, OUTREACH, AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES:

Mentor: Athena Mars Rover "LAPIS" High School outreach program

Advisor: Athena Mars Rover "Red Rover" Elementary School outreach program

Member: JPL/NASA Mars Education and Outreach Advisory Board

Volunteer at the Sciencenter, Ithaca. Projects include assistance with scientific content for the Sagan Planetwalk, Mars exhibit slide show, and newsletter contributions

Organizer of 5 teacher workshops for Tompkins County educators (in cooperation with the Sciencenter) in order to promote increased science education in the K-12 classroom

Numerous talks to Elementary and High School students and community, religious, and civic groups around the country about astronomy and planetary sciences

Organizer of "MarsWatch" project from 1992-1999, promoting online WWW and email cooperation between amateur and professional telescopic planetary observers

Youth basketball and soccer coach; Little League baseball coach

 

INVITED TALKS/LECTURES/COLLOQUIA

Rochester Museum and Science Center; Smithsonian Air and Space Museum; Argonne Laboratories; Buffalo Science Museum; Space Telescope Science Institute HST Symposium; Boston Museum of Science; Miami Museum of Science; University of Washington; University of Colorado; Science Museum of Minnesota

 

TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE

Instrumentation: Proficiency with laboratory and telescopic VIS-IR spectrometers and Near-IR and CCD cameras. 90+ nights observing experience on large telescopes at Mauna Kea, Wyoming, Lick, Lowell, Palomar, and Pic du Midi Observatories, plus experience using instruments on HST and ISO. Lab experience includes reflectance and Mössbauer spectrometers, magnetometers, and water evolution analysis. Other experience includes Machine shop work (NC mill, lathe, etc.) and familiarity with electronic testing equipment.

Computer/Software:  Proficiency in Unix/Solaris and familiarity with VMS operating systems on Sun/SPARC, HP, and DEC workstations. Programming proficiency in FORTRAN and IDL, and experience with IRAF. Proficiency in Unix workstation system administration. Proficiency with Mac and DOS/Win PCs, including common spreadsheet and word processing programs.

 

LANGUAGES

            French (3 years high school), Russian (1 year college), Rhode Islandese (18 yeahs).

 

HOBBIES AND INTERESTS

            Baseball, Woodworking, Hiking, Photography, Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe Racing