Harding University professors search for life on Mars
SEARCY, Ark. ⎯ A team of Arkansas researchers has been awarded a $1.5million grant by NASA to develop a system to search for life on Mars.
The team includes Harding University professor Dr. Edmond Wilson and
assistant professor Dr. Constance Meadors.
Wilson and Meadors are members of the Arkansas NASA Experimental
Program to Stimulate Competitive Research team, which also includes
scientists from University of Arkansas at Little Rock and Arkansas
Tech University.
The team won for its proposal titled “Mobile Surveying for Atmospheric
and Near-Surface Gases of Biological Origin” during a national
competition and was among 27 teams NASA selected for funding.
Other scientists on the team include Keith Hudson and Gary Anderson,
both of UALR, and Charles Wu of ATU.
NASA has awarded approximately $19 million to colleges and
universities nationwide to conduct research and technology
development. In addition, the awards enable faculty development and
higher education student support.
The selections are part of NASA’s Experimental Program to Stimulate
Competitive Research. Twenty-seven proposals out of 50 were chosen
through a merit-based, peer-reviewed competition. The grant requires a
one-to-one match of funds.
Wilson will be in charge of building and testing the instruments in
preparation for field testing. He will also perform scientific tests
at local landfills and participate in field science data analysis and
reporting for the project. Meadors will develop and maintain the
project Web site and assist in instrument testing, field tests and
analysis. She will also lead the team’s outreach efforts to local
schools and colleges.
Several students will be awarded undergraduate fellowships as they
train and assist with this project.
