Professor gets grant to figure out Mars

A CMU professor is trying to better understand environments on Mars by
studying similar environments in Chile and Australia.

Kathy Benison, associate geology professor, received a $20,000 grant
in December 2005 from the National Geographic Society to understand
environments on Mars by studying water and rocks in Australia and Chile.

Since some environments in Australia and Chile are similar to those
on Mars, Benison said, conclusions about the planet can be found from
studying the areas.

She said the project will help CMU students.

“Students in my geology courses will benefit because I will use
photos, rocks, sediments and data from these field trips in lecture and
lab classes,” Benison said.

Benison’s grant will fund two field trips to study acid salt lakes
in Chile and Australia.

While there, Benison will take measurements of lake water and
groundwater, samplings of waters, rocks and sediments and make
observations.

Recent findings on Mars show that acid saline surface and ground
waters may have existed on the planet long ago, Benison said.

Brenda Beitler Bowen, a temporary geology faculty member, is
assisting Benison in her research.

Bowen also said she expects the project to benefit students
academically.

“There are a lot of students involved,” Bowen said. “We are
studying unique findings in Australia.”

Benison said acid saline lakes pose problems to the people who live
in Australia because acid saline groundwater has a negative impact on
farming, ranching and suitable drinking water.

“Characterizing and contrasting acid saline lake systems in western
Australia and Chile will help us better understand this natural
system,” she said.