HEARTH ADVISORS and IMPERIAL COLLEGE (London) present …

We send robots to Mars to search for evidence of extraterrestrial life, particularly ancient life. This is no easy task. Success hinges on finding the right rocks that may contain traces of life. Sedimentary rocks are our best bet, serving as natural archives of past environments. The aim is to reconstruct what Mars looked like early in its history, around the time life began on Earth. Were ancient Martian landscapes habitable? Could signs of life have been preserved in stone?

In this Trendspotting session, Professor Sanjeev Gupta will explore how NASA’s Curiosity and Perseverance rovers help us read Mars’ geological record in the quest for life. The talk will be followed by a panel discussion and audience interaction.

A conversation on how Mars rovers are helping us search for ancient life

Led by:

Professor Sanjeev Gupta (Professor of Earth Sciences at Imperial College London)

Sanjeev Gupta is Professor of Earth Sciences at Imperial College London and Academic Co-Director of Imperial Global India. He is an Earth and planetary scientist with research interests in planetary surface processes. He has worked extensively in India on role of rivers in early civilisations in the Ganga basin, and quantifying groundwater depletion, with researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. He currently works on Mars exploration and is on the science teams for NASA’s Curiosity and Perseverance rover missions.

Joining the panel:

Dr Gitanjali Yadav (Staff Scientist, National Institute of Plant Genome Research)

Ms. Mairah Thacker (Student, BD Somani International School)

Shashank Vira (Managing Partner, Hearth Advisors) – moderator

There are three distinct approaches to heritage conservation. The classical stance champions the preservation of physical fabric in its pristine state. The second approach involves engaging with communities intertwined with heritage, though it risks erasing the communities’ futures. The third, radical approach advises communities on preservation yet grapples with questions of whose heritage and interests should take precedence. Striking a delicate balance between tangible history and community values while safeguarding autonomy emerges as a critical imperative.