The Pavilion Lake Research Project (PLRP) launched a citizen science Web site called Morphology Analysis Project for Participatory Exploration and Research (MAPPER) in conjunction with the 2011 field season.
The PLRP has been investigating the underwater environment of Pavilion and Kelly Lake in British Columbia, Canada with DeepWorker submersible vehicles since 2008.
Now with MAPPER, citizen scientists can work side-by-side with NASA scientists to explore the bottom of these lakes from the perspective of a DeepWorker pilot. The PLRP team makes use of DeepWorker subs to explore and document freshwater carbonate formations known as microbialites that thrive in Pavilion and Kelly Lake. Many scientists believe that a better understanding of how and where these rare microbialite formations develop will lead to deeper insights into where signs of life may be found on Mars and beyond.
Morphology Analysis Project for Participatory Exploration and Research (MAPPER)
Help NASA find life on Mars by exploring the lakes of British Columbia
Project Details
- Principal Scientist: Margarita Marinova
- Scientist Affiliation: NASA Ames Research Center
- Dates: Ongoing
- PROJECT TYPE: Observation
- COST: Free
- GRADE LEVEL: All Ages
- TIME COMMITMENT: Variable
- HOW TO JOIN:
Sign up for an account on the MAPPER home page. After logging in, click "Tag Photos" to get started. After a quick tutorial and quiz, you'll be able to tag photos and help NASA learn more about where to look for life on Mars.
