The Future

I hope that in the next few months I will be chosen as a scientist on the meteorology science team for the Mars Pathfinder lander, which NASA will launch toward Mars on December 2, 1996. It is scheduled to land on Mars July 4, 1997. In order to be considered as a member of the science team, I had to write a proposal stating what I would like to study with the weather data sent back by the spacecraft from the surface of Mars. I will find out in mid-December whether or not I have been selected (by NASA and other scientists) to be on the team.

Advice

One thing to keep in mind if you want to become a planetary scientist, or meteorologist, or really anything, is that you do not have to be brilliant. I certainly am not. I work hard and try to learn as much as I can about the subjects I work with, as well as other things that interest me but do not have a direct relationship to my work. By taking the time to learn about the subjects you like, and then applying what you have learned, you can accomplish a great deal. And, it can be very fun!

[Editorial note: Jim participated in the Live From Mars "Weather Worlds" project by supplying Pathfinder atmospheric data.]