NASA's Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute | Yvonne Pendleton | Talks at Google

TL;DR

NASA has created the Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SERVI), a distributed organization that allows researchers from different locations to collaborate and share resources.

Transcript

FEMALE SPEAKER: Hi everyone. Hi everyone on the live stream. I am here today to introduce Yvonne Pendleton, who is the director of solar system exploration research at NASA. And she began her career at NASA and 1979, has a Bachelors degree in aerospace engineering from Georgia Tech, a Masters from Stanford, and a PhD in astrophysics from UC Santa C... Read More

Key Insights

• 👻 SERVI allows for distributed collaboration and sharing of resources, promoting interdisciplinary research.
• ❓ The institute focuses on studying various aspects of the solar system, such as the dynamics, composition, and origins of celestial bodies.
• 🥺 Collaborations between domestic teams and international partners are encouraged, leading to diverse research perspectives.
• 🧑‍🎓 Long-term stability and funding provide support for students and researchers, fostering the development of future scientists in the field.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the purpose of SERVI?

SERVI aims to bring together researchers from different locations to collaborate and share resources in studying various aspects of the solar system.

Q: How does SERVI differ from other activities in the field?

SERVI stands out because it is a distributed organization and does not limit researchers based on geographical location. This allows for the selection of the best investigations, teams, and facilities to build a strong institute.

Q: Are there any existing virtual institutes similar to SERVI?

While NASA was one of the first organizations to create a virtual institute, the National Science Foundation has also experimented with similar models. However, SERVI has a longer history and has successfully facilitated collaborations among teams.

Q: What are some of the specific research areas within SERVI?

The research areas within SERVI include the study of lunar and asteroid surface science, volatiles, regolith, thermal investigations, and the impact processes in the solar system, among others.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• SERVI is a virtual institute that allows researchers to collaborate regardless of their geographical location, promoting interdisciplinary research.

• The teams within SERVI focus on studying various aspects of the solar system, such as the composition, dynamics, and origins of different celestial bodies.

• The institute facilitates collaborations between domestic teams and international partners, encouraging cross-country research.