About Ari

Ari Koeppel is a remote sensing scientist and educator with experince in and a passion for Mars mission science, tracking Earth surface processes, sustainable development, and science outreach. As a Postdoctoral UMBC/CRESST II Research Associate at NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center, Ari uses mission data, physical modeling, and field experiments to learn about the nature of materials on Mars’ surface and what environmental conditions they record, with a focus on understanding whether life could have survived or could still survive there. Ari also has been studying permafrost thaw processes in Earth's Arctic to better understand the threat from this climate change-related process. Ari's research has taken him on field expeditions around the world, from sand dunes in Namibia to glaciers in Iceland to volcanoes in Hawai’i. In addition to research, he has taught astronomy, geology, and physics courses to undergraduates and high school students, spearheaded outreach activities, and led wilderness excursions for student enrichment. Wilderness exploration, like space exploration, is a wonderful pathway to fostering a connection with our natural world.

Some of Ari's favorite activities outside of science include whitewater sports, skiing, cycling, climbing mountains, sculpting/ceramics, ice hockey, and walking his dog Gwynnie.