Charles S. Cockell

Charles S. Cockell is Professor of Geomicrobiology with the Open University.^[1] Prior to this, he was a microbiologist with the British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK. His scientific interests involve geomicrobiology, life in extreme environments, astrobiology and the human exploration of Mars.

Education and Professional Experience

1989: BSc, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bristol University

1994: D.Phil, Molecular Biophysics, University of Oxford

1995: National Academy of Sciences (NRC) Associateship, NASA Ames Research Centre

1997: Visiting Scholar, Stanford University

1998: Visiting Scholar, University of Arizona

2000: Research Scientist, British Antarctic Survey

2004: Professor, geomicrobiology, Open University

During his doctorate at the University of Oxford, Cockell was Science Correspondent for The Oxford Times for three years, writing a regular science feature column.

Earth and Space Foundation

Cockell is Chair of the Earth and Space Foundation,^[2] a charity which awards grants to expeditions that successfully bridge the gap between environmentalism and the exploration and settlement of space by either using space technologies and ideas in environmental fieldwork or use environments on Earth to advance knowledge of other planets. He founded the organisation in 1994. Since its establishment the Foundation has supported over 60 field projects around the world. The Foundation also has long-term awards which will recognise the achievement of significant exploration objectives in the solar system, including the ascent of Olympus Mons on Mars and the crossing of its ice caps.

Association of Mars Explorers

Cockell was the first President of the Association of Mars Explorers,^[3] an organisation he co-founded in California in 2002. The association, known as the Mars Club, promotes links between explorers of Mars with a focus on the human exploration of Mars and the exploration of its mountains, poles, deserts, and canyon systems.

Expeditions

In 1993 Cockell piloted a modified microlight aircraft over the rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia designed for catching moths over the canopy. The 'Barnes Wallis Moth Machine' had lights for nighttime flying, UV lights to attract moths and a net for scooping moths from the rainforest canopy. The moth machine was flown during an expedition organised by Cockell to the Kerinci-Seblat National Park which also collected plants and insects as part of a biodiversity study. The expedition had the patronage of No. 617 Squadron. During the expedition the moth machine clipped the top of a tree and crashed.^[4] The expedition hired a herd of elephants to continue its moth catching. Over 5,000 moths were caught which were sent to Germany for biodiversity assessments.

Brief political career

In 1992 Cockell stood as parliamentary candidate for the Forward to Mars Party^[5] against incumbent Prime Minister John Major (Huntingdon (UK Parliament constituency). The party advocated the increased involvement of Britain in the exploration of Mars, the European Space Agency's human exploration programme and the construction of a station on Mars. The party received 91 votes in the election.^[6]

Academic Books

Cockell, C.S., Koeberl, C., Gilmour, I. [Editors] Biological Effects Associated with Impact Events, Springer, 2006

Cockell, C.S. [Editor] Project Boreas: A Station for the Martian Geographic North Pole, British Interplanetary Society, 2006

Cockell, C.S. [Editor] Martian Expedition Planning, American Astronautical Association, 2004

Cockell, C.S., Blaustein, A.R. [Editors] Ultraviolet Radiation and Evolution, Springer, 2002

Popular Science Books

Cockell, C.S. Space on Earth: Saving our World by Seeking Others, MacMillan, 2006

Cockell, C.S. Impossible Extinction: Natural Catastrophes and the Supremacy of the Microbial World, Cambridge, 2002

References

1. ^ Professor Charles S Cockell : Charles Cockell - Personal Details
2. ^ Earth and Space Foundation Home Page
3. ^ Association of Mars Explorers
4. ^ Bernard Levin. 'Of Moths and Flames' The Times, Editorial, Nov 23, 1993, p. 18
5. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huntingdon_(UK_Parliament_constituency)
6. ^ Not updated: UK Election April 1992: parties, party candidates, total vote, percentage vote, lost deposits

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