Nininger Meteorite Award
The Center for Meteorite Studies is pleased to announce that Mary Sue Bell, a graduate student at the University of Houston and a senior scientist at NASA Johnson Space Center, and Anat Shahar, a graduate student at UCLA are the dual recipients of the 2007 Nininger Meteorite Award!
Mary Sue Bell
Anat Shahar
Mary Sue's paper, "Experimental shock decomposition of siderite and the origin of magnetite in Martian meteorite ALH 84001", was published in Meteoritics and Planetary Science and investigates impact shock as the source of microscopic magnetite crystals in the Martian meteorite ALH 84001, which were hypothesized by other researchers as biologic in origin.
Anat's paper, "Astrophysics of CAI formation as revealed by silicon isotope LA-MC-ICPMS of an igneous CAI", was published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters and describes a novel isotopic analysis technique which constrains the timing and conditions of formation of the earliest formed solids in the Solar System, calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions (CAI).
Mary Sue and Anat's papers were selected from among 14 Nininger Meteorite Award submissions received from students across the country. Each submission was reviewed by a panel of experts from a broad array of fields in meteoritical science.
History of the Award
In 1965, Dr. H.H. Nininger and Mrs. Addie D. Nininger endowed the Nininger Science of Meteoritics Fund to the Center for Meteorite Studies at Arizona StateUniversity in order to promote interest in meteorite-related topics among young scientists. The Fund supports the Nininger Meteorite Award, which recognizes outstanding student achievement in the “Science of Meteoritics” as embodied by an original research paper. Past recipients include Harry Y. McSween (University of Tennessee), Edward Stolper (California Institute of Technology) and the recipients of the 2005 Barringer Award (Billy P. Glass, University of Delaware) and Leonard Medal (Joseph Goldstein, University of Massachusetts, Amherst).
Download a list of the past recipients.
Permitted Topics
The original text of the Nininger endowment states that the “Science of Meteoritics embraces all aspects of the study of inert natural matter existing in space, passing through the atmosphere, or having come to Earth from space, together with any or all of the phenomena occasioned by its fall and its effect upon the Earth or upon any other member of the Solar System. Such science shall also be considered to include theoretical consideration as to the origin of such matter and special relationships”. Research topics covered under this description include, but are not limited to, physical and chemical properties of meteorites, origin of meteoritic material and cratering. Observational, experimental, statistical or theoretical investigations are allowed.
Eligibility Requirements
· Applicant must be an undergraduate or graduate student enrolled at a United States college or university.
· The student must be first author of the paper, but does not have to be the sole author.
· Qualifying papers must have been written, submitted or published between November 16, 2006 and December 31, 2007.
· Qualifying papers must cover original research conducted by the student.
Submission Instructions
The 2007 Nininger Meteorite Award application opportunity is closed. Please check this site for information regarding the 2008 Nininger Meteorite Award over the coming months.
Email nininger@asu.edu with any questions or comments.