Lunar & Planetary Lab director Mark Marley awarded prestigious Lecar Prize

Dr. Mark Marley, professor and director of the University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory (LPL), has been awarded the Lecar Prize in recognition of his exceptional contributions to planetary and exoplanetary science.

Endowed by the estate of astrophysicist Myron S. Lecar, the prize honors groundbreaking research in extrasolar planets and theoretical astrophysics.

“I have been exceptionally fortunate that my career overlapped with the first discoveries and atmospheric studies of extrasolar planets,” Marley said. “It has been exhilarating to help bring the methods and insights of planetary science to the new field of exoplanet science.”

Marley’s fascination with space was sparked by the Apollo and Viking missions. As a high school student in Arizona, he once wrote to LPL asking if it was possible to make a career out of studying planets. The encouraging reply helped set him on a path that led to a B.S. in Geophysics and Planetary Science from Caltech, a Ph.D. in Planetary Science from LPL, and ultimately his return to the University of Arizona as its first LPL director who was also a program alumnus.

Marley has authored more than 310 scientific papers exploring subjects from Saturn’s rings to the atmospheres of giant planets, brown dwarfs, and a wide variety of exoplanets. Twice recognized with NASA’s Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement, he is also a Fellow of the American Astronomical Society and has played a key advisory role in shaping NASA’s future space telescope and science initiatives.

To learn more about Dr. Marley and his research, click here.