Research Scientist, SETI Institute & NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA.

Alberto G. Fairén is a Planetary Scientist and Astrobiologist investigating the early Mars environment. His research interests in Martian science span from geomorphology, hydrogeology, aqueous mineralogy, surface composition and habitability, to robotic exploration and mission design. His research activities include a combination of theoretical modeling, laboratory experiments, field work and spacecraft data analysis. He started his career in 2002 and has published over 60 scientific contributions and has presented over 100 meeting communications since then. He is also an active writer of popular science, counting over 140 pieces published. He has been awarded the 2012 Urey Prize by the Division of Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society for outstanding achievement in planetary research by a young scientist. He has been working at the NASA Ames Research Center for the past 6 years, and is on the verge of starting a new venture in the Department of Astronomy at Cornell University.