Today, as a scientist, educator and entrepreneur, J.R. reflects on where he’s been since Brown and where he’d like to go, reaching beyond Brown and beyond Earth.
About his current work
I am working to explore Mars and other worlds. As a research scientist with the SETI Institute in Mountain View, California and a NASA contractor, I am developing mission concepts to explore Martian hot springs for evidence of ancient life and working with Martian geologic data to understand the history of that planet. As an entrepreneur, I am building a company called Made of Mars to develop the technology to build the things we need from the materials and minerals that we know are on Mars. This will work toward developing the technological and economic drivers for human exploration. As an educator, I am working as a research professor with Louisiana State University to help advise graduate students on Mars research and field work. I am also serving as a Science Advisor for the company AstroReality, to use augmented reality (AR) and planetary globes to connect the public to the stories of the planets.
My current work allows me to live my lifelong dream of being a professional explorer. I cannot think of any greater or more worthwhile challenge than our drive to become a multi-planetary species. The most exciting part is that this work is fundamentally multidisciplinary, as it allows me to merge many existing fields to solve a big problem. Primarily, I am a scientist, working to understand the data from Mars to create understanding and exploration strategies. However, my mission-building requires close collaboration with engineers to turn scientific dreams into technical reality. My business efforts have taken me to an even more diverse set of fields from design and manufacturing to media outreach and marketing to drive the science outreach and technology innovation. Science and engineering will tell us out how to explore, but economics and education will make it happen.
Looking back on his time at Brown
My time at Brown in the department of Geological Sciences was spent researching Mars, learning how to rigorously explore a planet while figuring out how it formed and evolved. As challenging as this research process was, I always loved exploring new places and ideas. I never doubted that I would continue to explore. However, it was only after I left Brown, that I came to understand the limitations of a government-funded space program to long-term objectives and the power of industry to drive innovation in search of a profit. Many of the big advancements in our world have come when these forces have joined together. The importance of this partnership and the ability of the commercial side of society to drive innovation have been my biggest eye openers since I left Brown.
On what helped him prepare for the challenges of his current roles and projects
One experience that turned out to really influence me was enrolling in the teaching certificate program with the Sheridan Center. I originally enrolled as a way to improve my performance as a Teaching Assistant and prepare for a more deliberate mindset for what I thought was my future in academics. The program made me critically think about the education process as a whole and understand how to use it to reach and inspire people at all levels. One of the most important lessons I gained was about the power of physical artifacts in teaching. In an educational system built on lectures, videos, powerpoints and tests, it can be easy to forget how important it is to hold things in our hands. Good teachers will offer lessons with verbal, written and graphical information to try and reach different learning styles, but they often forget to add physical items that create a tactile learning experience that our minds crave. As a geologist, rocks, globes and models can go a long way to creating this connection. This is exactly why I have jumped at the opportunity to work with AstroReality, which combines the informational potential of Augmented Reality with physical globes that connect students of all ages to the stories of the planets, and why I am developing Made of Mars, which creates real, physical products that connect people to our journey to Mars.
On being a Brown alum
While graduate school was a challenge, I do miss the community that it created and the shared experience of my friends and colleagues all trying to figure out new answers to hard problems while finding their place in the world. Brown has such an abundance of brilliant people working on interesting problems that you start to take it for granted. I have been fortunate to be part of some great groups since then, but they tend to be more focused on specific technical fields, making it far harder to find experts and people passionate to explore new directions. Also, after four years in the Bay Area of California, I do miss the Providence rents as well.
On where he might be in 5 years
On my way to Mars! Figuratively at the very least. I am working hard to build up the technological, economic and educational platforms that will create a self-propelling future in space. At the moment, there are good independent motivations to put robots and satellites into orbit around Earth. However, humans anywhere in space and robots beyond the orbit of Earth, just don’t make economic sense and only exist with to government investments that can, and do, change priority with every administration. In 5 years’ time, I hope to have helped create a good economic reason to reach beyond Earth. This might be through Made of Mars, to help with the technology and demand that makes asteroid mining worthwhile, or to help inspire the public to create a sustainable market for space tourism. It is my hope that in the next 5 years, we can help start a deep space economy that will drive future exploration.
If you are interested in learning how you can help explore Mars, you can follow J.R.’s efforts on MadeofMars.com or contact him directly at JRSkok@MadeofMars.com.