Jim Bell | |
|---|---|
 Jim Bell in 2009 | |
| Born | (1965-07-23)July 23, 1965 (age 60) |
| Alma mater | California Institute of Technology University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Planetary geology Geochemistry Mineralogy |
| Institutions | Arizona State University Cornell University |
James F. Bell III (born July 23, 1965) is a professor ofAstronomy atArizona State University, specializing in the study of planetary geology, geochemistry and mineralogy using data obtained from telescopes and from various spacecraft missions. Bell's active research has involved theNASAMars Pathfinder,Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR), Comet Nucleus Tour (CONTOUR),2001 Mars Odyssey,Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter,Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, and theMars Science Laboratory missions. His bookPostcards from Mars[1] includes many images taken by theMars rovers. Bell is currently an editor of the space science journalIcarus[2] and president ofThe Planetary Society.[3] He has served as the lead scientist in charge of the Panoramic camera (Pancam)color imaging system[4] on Mars roversSpirit andOpportunity.
Bell earned his B.S. degree inPlanetary Science andAeronautics from theCalifornia Institute of Technology in 1987. He earned his M.S. degree inGeology andGeophysics in 1989 and his Ph.D. in Planetary Geosciences in 1992 from theUniversity of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
Bell is an active planetary scientist and has been involved in many NASArobotic space exploration missions. As a professional scientist, he has published over 30 first-authored and 140 co-authored scientific research papers and over 400 short abstracts and conference presentations. Bell has also written and edited several books aboutMars and theMoon. He is active in educating the public aboutspace exploration. He is a frequent contributor to popular astronomy and science magazines, has made a number of television appearances on major network and cable channels, and gives free public lectures. He is currently a professor at the Arizona State University School of Earth and Space Exploration[5] and an adjunct professor at the Cornell University Astronomy Department's Center for Radiophysics and Space Research.[6] In July 2014, Bell was selected to be the principal investigator overseeing theMastcam-Z imaging system for the upcomingMars 2020 rover mission.[7]
Bell has received a number of awards and honors during his career. Most recently, he was awarded the 2011Carl Sagan Medal from theAmerican Astronomical SocietyDivision for Planetary Sciences, for excellence in public communication in planetary sciences.Bell has also received NASA Group Achievement Awards for his part in theMars Exploration Rovers (MER) 3rd and 4th extended missions and thePhoenix Mission Support Team. In 2007 he was named aUnited States National Academy of Sciences Kavli Fellow, and in 1996 he was awarded the asteroid name8146 Jimbell by theInternational Astronomical Union (IAU)[8] in his honor.
