Steve Elardo is a UNM graduate student doing research at the Institute of Meteoritics. He came to the institute after completing undergraduate research related to rocks on Mars at Stony Brook University on Long Island, N.Y. His primary focus is the moon and its formation.
Daily Lobo: What is the Institute of Meteoritics?
Steve Elardo: The Institute of Meteoritics is a research institution that focuses on the study of extraterrestrial materials. The IOM was founded in 1944 to study primarily meteorites. The research scientists and grad students now focus on a wide range of samples, including Martian and lunar meteorites, primitive meteorites, terrestrial samples and Apollo samples, but also on high-temperature/high-pressure experiments (and) computer modeling, as well as involvement in NASA mission work.
DL: What is the purpose of the research?
SE: To better understand early solar system history and the evolution of the terrestrial planets. The geology of the terrestrial planets is incredibly diverse, but, in general, the geologic processes we see at work here on Earth are the same ones that have shaped Mars or Venus or the Moon. The research scientists and grad students in the IOM aim to apply our knowledge of geology, as well as our arsenal of state-of-the-art instruments, to other planets.
DL: What do you focus your research on?
SE: My research primarily focuses on what happened inside the Moon just after its formation. I use high-pressure/high-temperature experiments to recreate the conditions inside the lunar magma ocean to get a better sense of how the crust and mantle of the Moon formed. The experiments I do provide a way for us to test models of what we think happened in the lunar magma ocean and compare the results to actual lunar samples.
DL: What is your area of focus called?
SE: My primary focus and interest under the umbrella of
geosciences is igneous petrology and geochemistry, especially in planetary settings — meaning I study the chemistry and other features of igneous rocks … to learn what it is that they can tell us about how they form and where they came from.
DL: What interested you about this type of research?
SE: Planetary science was particularly appealing to me because I had always been naturally fascinated with space and the planets. While I enjoy doing Earth-based geology as well, Earth has given up many of her secrets to us already. This is not so with the other planets. Studying the Moon or Mars means you can make very basic, fundamental observations and discoveries about these whole other worlds which we know so little about.
DL: How long have you been doing research for IOM?
SE: I’ve been at the IOM working in the high-pressure lab since August 2008. My interest in the Moon has piqued since I started here. The IOM has a number of research scientists that are known the world over in planetary science and who continue to lead the charge in understanding the terrestrial planets and asteroids. So, with my research interests, this is a great place to be.
DL: What kind of careers will be open to you because of your degree and research?
SE: Once I finish up with my Masters and Ph.D., I’ll be looking to become a professional research scientist. That may take the form of a faculty position at a university, where I would both teach and do research, or it may be at a national research lab like NASA Johnson Space Center or Los Alamos where I could devote all of my time to planetary science research.
