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Jim Bell

Professor

Biography

Jim Bell is a planetary scientist, educator, author, public speaker, and President of The Planetary Society. He works at Arizona State University and is heavily involved in NASA solar system exploration missions like those of the Mars rovers Spirit, Opportunity, and Curiosity. In 2011 he received the Carl Sagan Medal for Excellence in Public Communication from the American Astronomical Society. He is an avid writer for space-related magazines and blogs, and often appears in media interviews on space-related topics (check out Jim Bell's YouTube channel). His popular science and space photography books include Postcards from Mars(Dutton, 2006), Mars 3-D (Sterling, 2008), Moon 3-D (Sterling, 2009), The Space Book (Sterling, 2013) and most recently, The Interstellar Age (Dutton, 2015). Jim is a Professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration at ASU and is also an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Astronomy at Cornell University.

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Education

    • Ph.D.: 1992, University of Hawaii at Manoa;  Planetary Geosciences
    • M.S.: 1989, University of Hawaii at Manoa; Geology and Geophysics
    • B.S.: 1987, California Institute of Technology; Planetary Science and Aeronautics

Research

Research Interests
  • Surface composition and geology of terrestrial planets, moons, asteroids, comets
  • Spacecraft instrumentation and operations (multispectral imaging and spectroscopy)
  • Reflectance & emittance spectroscopy (telescopic, laboratory, spacecraft)
  • Image processing and data reduction/calibration/analysis (telescopic, spacecraft)

Research Activity: 

  • Hardgrove,Craig J*, Barnaby,Hugh James, Bell III,James. Next Generation Neutron and Gamma-Ray Spectrometer for Planetary Spacecraft. NASA-GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CTR(8/20/2015 - 8/19/2018).
  • Finn,Edward Frederick*, Finn,Edward Frederick*, Bell III,James, Miller,Clark Anson, Wylie,Ruth. Narrative Projections for Commercial Space Futures. NASA(7/1/2015 - 6/30/2016).
  • Bell III,James*. Mastcam-Z: A Geologic Stereoscopic and Multispectral Investigation for the NASA Mars-2020 Rover Mission. JPL(8/26/2014 - 10/31/2016).
  • Bell III,James*. Planetary Robotics Vision Data Exploration (PRoViDE). (2/1/2014 - 12/31/2015).
  • Bell III,James*, Asphaug,Erik, Saripalli,Srikanth. Student Led Design of Scientific Investigations for Small Body Exploration with Nanosats. JPL(11/6/2013 - 9/28/2014).
  • Bell III,James*. Technology Development for a Topographic Imager on the NASA Europa Clipper Mission. NASA-GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CTR(9/1/2013 - 8/31/2015).
  • Bell III,James*. Reconstructing the Tectonic Evolution of the Moon- Student: Nathan Williams. NASA-GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CTR(9/1/2012 - 8/31/2015).
  • Bell III,James*, Finn,Edward Frederick. Imaging and Spectroscopic Studies of the Martian Surface. NASA-GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CTR(5/16/2012 - 5/15/2016).
  • Bell III,James*. MINERALOGIC AND MORPHOLOGIC ANALYSIS OF THE MOON DURING LRO OPERATIONS. NASA-GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CTR(5/8/2012 - 5/7/2015).
  • Bell III,James*. Mineralogic and Morphologic Studies of Mars and Implications for Observed Water-Rock Interactions. NASA-GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CTR(3/17/2011 - 3/16/2013).
  • Saripalli,Srikanth*, Bell III,James. A High Resolution Short-Wave Near IR Imager for the Ames K-10 Rover. SGT(1/12/2011 - 5/31/2013).
  • Bell III,James*. MSL Mastcam MAHLI MARDI Science Team Co-I Research. MALIN SPACE(1/1/2011 - 9/30/2016).
  • Bell III,James*. Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter MARCI and CTX Team Co-I Activities. MALIN SPACE(1/1/2011 - 11/30/2014).
  • Bell III,James*, Greeley,Ronald. NESSF: Onboard event and feature detection to enhance science for a potential Europa flagship mission (Melissa Bunte). NASA-GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CTR(9/1/2010 - 8/31/2015).
Publications

http://molokai.sese.asu.edu/~jimbo/Bell_Pubs.pdf

Teaching

Fall 2021

Course Number Course Title
SES 107 Journey Through Solar System
SES 191 First-Year Seminar
SES 494 Special Topics
SES 592 Research
SES 598 Special Topics
SES 692 Research
SES 792 Research
SES 799 Dissertation

Public Work

Professional Associations
  • American Astronomical Society (Division for Planetary Sciences)
  • American Geophysical Union (Planetary Sciences Section)
  • International Astronomical Union
  • American Association for the Advancement of Science
  • Geologic Society of America (Planetary Sciences Div.)
  • The Planetary Society  (President: Board of Directors; 2008-)
Service

Study Team Member, "Space Science Opportunities Augmented by Exploration Telepresence", Keck Institute for Space Studies, 2016-2017

            Member, NASA Mars International Collaboration Science Analysis Group, 2016

            Member, NASA Chief Scientist's Office Citizen Science Advisory Forum, 2016

            Member, NASA Human Exploration Mission Directorate (HEOMD) Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM) Formulation Assessment and Support Team (FAST), 2015

            Member, Science Definition Team for the NASA Mars-2020 Rover mission, 2013

            Study Team Member, In Situ Instrumentation for Primitive Bodies, Keck Institute for Space Studies, 2012

            Organizing Committee, International Space Science Institute, Quantifying the Martian Geochemical Reservoirs; Workshop and Book, 2011-2012

            Member, Mars Science Laboratory Participating Scientist Review Panel, 2011

            Member, NASA ROSES Education and Outreach Review Panel, 2010-2011

            Contributing Editor, Sky & Telescope magazine, 2011-

            Consulting Editor, Icarus, 2011-

            Member, NASA/JPL Mars Critical Data Products Program Review Panel, 2011

            Chair, NASA Lunar Science Institute Review Panel, 2008

            Member, Committee on the Review of Planetary Protection Requirements for Mars Sample Return Missions; National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences, 2008

            Member then Chair, AAS/DPS Federal Relations Subcommittee, 2006-2008; 2008-2010

            Member, NASA Planetary Data System Geosciences Node Advisory Group, 2008-

            Member, National Academy of Sciences Committee on the Review of Planetary Protection Requirements for Mars Sample Return Missions, 2008

            Local Organizing Committee Co-Chair, 2008 AAS/DPS Conference, Ithaca

         Member, NASA Mars Instrument Development Program Review Panel, 2007

            Elected to AAS/DPS Committee, 2004-2006 

            Chair, NASA Mars Fundamental Research Program Review Panel, 2005

            Editor, Icarus (International Journal of Solar System Studies), 1998-2010

            Consulting Editor, Cambridge University Press Planetary Science book series, 2002-

            NSF Planetary Astronomy Review panel, 2003

            Group Chief, NASA Mars Scout '07 mission Review Panel, 2002

            Group Chief, NASA Planetary Geology & Geophysics Review Panel, 2001-2002

            Hubble Space Telescope Cycle 10 Review Panel (Solar System Committee), 2000

            Group Chief, NASA Mars Data Analysis Program Review Panel, 2000

            Member, NASA Planetary Astronomy NEO Program Review Panel, 2000

            Program Committee Member, AAS/DPS annual meeting, Pasadena CA, 2000

            Member, Italian Space Agency/NASA 2003 Mars Lander Instrument Review Panel, 1999

            Member, NASA Mars Exploration Program Assessment Group (MEPAG), 1999-

            Chair, NASA Mars-98 Participating Scientist Program Review Panel, 1999

            Member, AAS Working Group on Professional-Amateur Collaboration, 1999-

            Group Chief, NASA Mars Data Analysis Program Review Panel, 1998

            Member, NASA Planetary Geology & Geophysics Program Review Panel, 1998

            NASA Planetary Astronomy Program Management Operations Working Group, 1996-98

            Eos Planetary Sciences Editor, AGU Weekly newspaper, 1997-1999

            Member, NASA Mars Science Working Group (MarsSWG), 1996-1997

            Member, SIRTF Solar System Working Group, 1996-

            Member, SIRTF Large Projects/Survey Working Group, 1995-96

            National Research Council Panel on Reducing Space Science Mission Costs, 1996

            NASA Planetary Instrument Definition and Development Program Review Panel, 1995

            Hubble Space Telescope Cycle 6 Review Panel (Solar System Committee), 1995

            NASA Discovery Missions and Planetary Astronomy Review Panels, 1994

            Lunar and Planetary Science Conference Program Committee, 1994-1995

            Member, NASA MSATT, MECA, MEVTV, and MSATT Study Groups, 1988-1993

Expertise Areas: 

Planetary Geoscience

Image and Video Processing

 

Graduate Faculties/Mentoring
  • Member, Barrett Honors College, ASU
  • Adjunct Professor, Dept. of Astronomy, Cornell University
Work History

Since 2013:  Distinguished Visiting Scientist, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory/Caltech

Since 2011:  Professor, Honors Faculty, School of Earth & Space Exploration, ASU

Since 2011:  Adjunct Professor, Department of Astronomy, Cornell University

2009-2010:  Professor, Department of Astronomy, Cornell University

2003-2008:  Associate Professor, Department of Astronomy, Cornell University

2005: Visiting Scientist,  CNRS/Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, Toulouse, France

1998-2003:  Assistant Professor, Department of Astronomy, Cornell University

1997 to 1998:  Senior Research Associate, Department of Astronomy, Cornell

1995 to 1997:  Research Associate, Department of Astronomy, Cornell

1994 to 1995:  Postdoctoral Research Assistant, U. Washington Remote Sensing Lab

1992 to 1994:  NRC Postdoctoral Research Fellow, NASA Ames Research Center.

1989 to 1992:  NASA Graduate Student Researchers Program Fellow, NASA/JSC

1987 to 1989:  Graduate student researcher, U. Hawaii Planetary Geosciences Dept.

1983 to 1987:  Undergraduate researcher, Caltech Department of Planetary Sciences

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