Where can you study extraterrestrial geology without leaving the planet? Northern Arizona, of course. The geology of this region, from Grand Canyon to Meteor Crater, offer unique educational experiences for students of astronomy and planetary science and may help researcher unlock clues into one of the most elusive questions—is there life on other planets? NAU’s Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science offers a lab course, taught by Ph.D. student Ian Marrs and previously taught by Ph.D. student Jessica Walsh, who helped develop the curriculum, that takes students to these other-worldly locations. Marrs talks about how these field trips help bring the far-off worlds that astronomers study much closer to home.
Read the full story by Ian Marrs at The NAU Review.