9 May 2013

Planetary Science Institute Establishes Pierazzo International Student Travel Award

Mark Sykes Planetary Science Institute

The Planetary Science Institute (PSI) in Tucson, Arizona, has established the Pierazzo International Student Travel Award in memory of PSI senior scientist Betty Pierazzo, an expert in the area of impact modeling throughout the solar system and on the astrobiological and environmental effects of impacts on Earth and Mars. In addition to her research Pierazzo was passionate about education and public outreach. She developed planetary-related classroom materials, conducted professional-development workshops for teachers, and taught college-level classes herself. Pierazzo believed in the strength of broad collaborations in all of her research and education activities. This award memorializes the scope of how she lived her life and the good she sought to bring to our profession and communities.

Two awards, each consisting of a certificate and up to $2,000, will be made each year, contingent upon there being meritorious applications. One will be awarded to a graduate student working on his or her Ph.D. at an institution within the United States to support travel to a planetary-science-related conference or workshop outside of the U.S. The other will go to a graduate student working on his or her Ph.D. at an institution outside of the U.S. to support travel to a planetary-science-related meeting within the U.S.

The subject matter of the work by the recipient of the Pierazzo International Student Travel Award may be in any area of planetary science.
     
“I am very pleased that at a time when support for international conference travel has been cut back by NASA, PSI can offer an opportunity for graduate students to meet and build possibly life-long relationships with planetary colleagues from other countries,” said Mark Sykes, PSI CEO and director, in a press release. “Solar-system exploration is increasingly international. We honor Betty by helping build bridges between the U.S. and other nations with this award.”
     
For more information, visit the Pierazzo International Student Travel Award page. For information on contributing to the Betty Pierazzo Memorial Fund, please visit the Memorial Fund page.