Page 4 - 2020 GGE Newsletter

Page 4

WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST FACULTY MEMBER:

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR KEVIN CANNON

I’m thrilled to be joining the GGE department at Mines, and to
have recently made the move with my dog from the swamps of
Florida to beautiful Colorado. I grew up just outside Vancouver
BC, then moved out east to complete my undergraduate studies at
Queen’s University in geology. It was there I got interested in ap-
plying my studies to planets beyond Earth, and after graduating I
went to Rhode Island to do a PhD in planetary geology at Brown
University. My thesis research focused on using remote sensing
and sample synthesis & analysis to better understand the crustal
composition and surface processes on Mars. From there, I com-
pleted a postdoc at UCF where I honed in on more practical re-
search related to space resources on the Moon and Mars.

My current work involves basic science to better understand the
nature, distribution, and accessibility of resources on different
planetary bodies. It also includes an applied component where I
work with private companies and space agencies to analyze land-
ing sites, evaluate resource potential, and develop and test new
technologies for making use of the local materials on planetary
surfaces.

At Mines, I’ll be splitting my time between GGE and the Space
Resources Program, which has exploded in popularity since
launching in 2017 (over 100 graduate students currently en-
rolled!). I’m already hard at work setting up some unique capabili-
ties here. This includes the Planetary Cartography Lab in GRL
238, a new space with computing assets and equipment for geo-
spatial analysis, remote sensing, AR/VR, and large-format 2D/3D
printing. I’ll also be setting up shop in the Space Resources Lab in
GRL 140, adding capabilities related to regolith simulants and
space mining technologies.

I’m looking forward to getting to know and working with the stu-
dents and faculty in the department as I grow my research group
and pursue new collaborations. Feel free to reach out, or drop by
my office once we get back to some semblance of normal life!