Rosaly Lopes

Life and scientific career Lopes was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and in her early life, lived near the neighborhood of Ipanema. Inspired in part by NASA's Poppy Northcutt,

For her doctoral studies, she specialized in planetary geology and volcanology, completing her PhD in Planetary Science in 1986 with a thesis on comparing volcanic processes on Earth and Mars. During her PhD she travelled extensively to active volcanoes She discovered 71 volcanoes on Io that had never before been detected as active. Her main interest on Cassini is in Saturn's largest moon Titan. The synthetic aperture radar data from the RADAR instrument show that Titan has volcanic features, but not like silicate volcanism on the Earth or Io. Titan's flows and other volcanic features are likely the result of ice volcanism (cryovolcanism).

She has participated in several studies of future NASA and European Space Agency missions as a member of the science definition team, including missions to Saturn and Titan. She serves on several committees, including the Annual Program Committee of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and the American Astronomical Society's Division for Planetary Sciences committee. She is the Chair of the Outer Planets group of the International Astronomical Union's Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature. Her past committee experience includes the National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council's Space Studies Board Committee to plan for NASA's New Frontiers missions (2007–2008), the JPL Director's Advisory Committee for Women, the Committee for Minorities and Women in Geosciences of the Geological Society of America, and the Subcommittee on Diversity at the American Geophysical Union. She is a member of the International Astronomical Union, the American Geophysical Society, and a Fellow of the AAAS, the Royal Geographical Society, and the Explorers Club.

quote|You've got to know what you're doing around active volcanoes... I've come across people who are totally unprepared.|Rosaly Lopes in recognition of her efforts in public education, particularly among Hispanic groups and young women. This work includes talks, interviews, articles, a book on planetary volcanism, and efforts to nurture and mentor young scientists. Her hobbies include scuba diving, hiking, visiting volcanoes, and collecting volcano art.

Selected bibliography

Selected media Selected documentaries and TV shows include:

History Channel's "Prehistoric Megastorms" (2008); "Heads Up" Science Series, Knowledge TV, Canada, episode on New Horizons (January 2008); History Channel's "Search for E.T.", in "The Universe" series (August 2007); PBS "Wired Science" interview on volcanoes (October 2007); Discovery Channel's "Titan: Rendezvous with Saturn's Moon" (updated version, May 2007); National Geographic Television's "Naked Science: Deadliest Planets" (December 2006); History Channel's "Ask Mr. Know-It-All", pilot episode (as expert on volcanic dust), 2006; History Channel's "Inside the Volcano" (December 2006); Discovery Channel's "Rewind 2006" (science stories of 2006, December 2006); National Geographic Television's "Hollywood Science: Forces of Nature" (April 2006); Nightline's "Galileo" (September 2003); Discovery Channel's "Planet Storm" (2001); Discovery Channel's "95 Worlds and Counting" (2001)