EL FIN!

On Wednesday, May 18, we did our final presentation for the project. We presented to Don Boonstra, Sheri Boonstra, and Dr. Michael Meyer, the lead Scientist for the Mars Exploration Project. Before the beginning of the presentation, we had trouble with our headsets and hearing one another. After half an hour of stumbling through technology, we were connected. Alex Longo introduced the presentation and everyone who had worked on it. Following Alex, Adam Pohlman, and Niamh Cannon went through the background and hypothesis slides to set up the presentation and start it rolling. Following them, everyone else presented their work about their assigned Mars site. The presentation went by smoothly and we finished with comments. Dr Michael Meyer pointed out that Olivia's discovery of a mountain that collapsed between MO year 2 and MO year 4. Alex is hopeful that this could be a possible reason to cancel the 2020 launch to this site. Clayton 's discovery of Gusev crater's mini crater getting smaller could just be a difference in lighting between the two pictures. As these comments were being spoken, a couple of our students and Dr Meyer discovered a mini crater inside the crater with the lighting difference that we could have studied. Niamh likes to gloat about the fish picture she picked on our hypothesis slide as Dr Meyer said that he loved the picture and might use it in some of his future presentations. During creation of this slide Alex said that, "due to the picture having fish in it, it is not relevant to our project because we are looking for water on Mars not fish." To this Niamh replied, "Too bad" and kept the picture. At the end of the presentation the group members that did not leave were asked what they thought of the project and what they learned. Adam stated that before the project he wanted to be a surgeon but, after this experience, he is thinking of studying to be an engineer for NASA. Adam also made the comment that Mars indeed does not like to cooperate so we had to change our ideas and hypothesis. Grace learned so much more about Mars than what she was expecting, and she had a lot of fun doing it. Niamh said she learned a great deal of patience while dealing with the hypothesis due to how many times they had to rework the hypothesis. Which was a LOT.  She also mentioned how when you look out to the night sky Mars feels so far away, but as the years go on and our scientific discoveries increase, Mars just continually gets closer and closer to us. Eventually Mars will just be a step away for humanity. Being a part in that discovery is a huge bragging right to her. Ms. Rip explained how Alex's enthusiasm caused enthusiasm throughout the group and let us progress. Finally Alex stated that, "It really reinforced my beliefs about how important educating the next generation is to NASA.  They have devoted an incredible amount of time and resources to education.  What the Mars Odyssey team has done (operating spacecraft for 15 years) is incredible, and has allowed our research to take place.  We could be the generation to get to Mars; motivating students is important." With these comments our part in this story has ended but, with our ending, someone else can begin a new one.
By: Adam Pohlman and Niamh Cannon