2019-09-18: Living on Mars: Can We Do It? Should We Do It?

Date: Wednesday, 18 September 2019

Topic: Living on Mars: Can We Do It? Should We Do It?

Speaker: Dr. Herb Frey is the former Chief of the Planetary Geology, Geophysics and Geochemistry Lab at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.

Dr. Frey explores how humankind has been fascinated by Mars and its supposed “Canals.” But the spacecraft exploration of Mars for the past 50 years have been driven mostly by the prospect that we might find life there, but also more recently by the possibility we might some day live there. The current Mars environment is not very hospitable for life, either indigenous or invasive, but earlier Mars did have conditions that would support at least simple life, and technology may make it possible for humans to have a permanent presence there. This talk looked at some of the many challenges for life and living on Mars, and the possible conflict that could arise if these two collide.

Watch the video of the presentation

Dr. Herb Frey, the former Chief of the Planetary Geology, Geophysics and Geochemistry Lab at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, explores the question - Can We or Should We Live on Mars? Dr. Frey begins his story as an idealistic young man wanting to be the first to step on Mars to finally accepting the enormity of such an undertaking, both technologically, ecologically and logically.