Roy Chapman Andrews Society presents 20th Distinguished Explorer Award event

The Roy Chapman Andrews Society will honor Dr. Sarah Stewart Johnson, American planetary scientist, astronomer, biologist, and geochemist during the 20th Distinguished Explorer Award event. Johnson is involved in planetary exploration, analyzing data from current spacecraft, and devising new techniques for future missions. Her recent projects include searching for signs of habitability on Mars with the Curiosity Rover, studying the limits of life in Antarctica, assessing how biology affects patterns of mineralization in Mars analog environments, and helping to develop sequencing as a tool for spaceflight. Her book, The Sirens of Mars, was a New York Times Editor’s Choice and selected as one of the New York Times 100 Notable Books of 2020. It chronicles the personalities, the surprises, the dashed expectations, and the claims of the discovery of life on Mars.

Dr. Johnson will receive this prestigious award at a public ceremony on April 14, 2023, at the Beloit Public Library, followed by her acceptance lecture, “Contending with the Truly Alien.” A celebratory fund-raising dinner, by reservation only, will take place immediately following the presentation at the Beloit Club. Advanced dinner reservations can be made on the Society’s website.