Ep8 - Searching for Meteorites in Antarctica with Mini Wadhwa
Mini Wadhwa with a meteorite she discovered in Antarctica. Photo courtesy of Mini Wadhwa
Antarctica is famous for gigantic ice sheets and charismatic animals, but Antarctica is also one of the best places to search for meteorites– rocks that have traveled through space and survived passing through Earth’s atmosphere.
Mini Wadhwa is a planetary scientist who studies meteorites to learn about the formation of our universe and what conditions are like in other parts of our solar system. She is the Director of the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University and the Principal Scientist for the Mars Sample Return Mission at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Dr. Wadhwa discusses what it’s like to work in Antarctica, an accident that nearly killed her while on a field expedition, and why representation matters as a woman of color in science.
Dr. Wadhwa and colleagues en route to McMurdo Station in Antarctica. Photo courtesy of Mini Wadhwa
Dr. Wadhwa arriving at McMurdo Station. Photo courtesy of Mini Wadhwa
McMurdo Research Station in Antarctica. Photo by Gaelen Marsden (Wikipedia)
Blue ice field in the Transantarctic Mountains. Photo: Wikipedia
Dr. Wadhwa searching for meteorites in Antarctica. Photo courtesy of Mini Wadhwa
Dr. Wadhwa and colleagues at a meteorite field in Antarctica. Photo courtesy of Mini Wadhwa
A meteorite from Mars (ALH84001), discovered in Antarctica. Photo: NASA
Learn more about Mini Wadhwa at https://search.asu.edu/profile/957644
Watch her TEDx talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iukJJ2u0vlo
McMurdo Antarctic Research Station: https://www.nsf.gov/geo/opp/support/mcmurdo.jsp
This episode of Wild World was produced with support from:
Lindblad Expeditions: https://www.expeditions.com
The Rice University Traveling Owls: https://alumni.rice.edu/travelingowls