JA Grier (born 1968) is an American

planetary scientist Planetary science (or more rarely, planetology) is the scientific study of planets (including Earth), celestial bodies (such as moons, asteroids, comets) and planetary systems (in particular those of the Solar System) and the processes of their ...

who works as a senior scientist and senior education and communication specialist at the

Planetary Science Institute The Planetary Science Institute (PSI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit research institute based in Tucson, Arizona, focusing on planetary science. , its director is Dr. Mark V. Sykes. PSI, along with Space Science Institute (SSI) Southwest Researc ...

. Grier's research has focused on the weathering of planets, moons, and asteroids, the age of impact ejecta on the

lunar soil Lunar regolith is the unconsolidated material found on the selenography, surface of the Moon and in the Lunar atmosphere, Moon's tenuous atmosphere. Sometimes referred to as Lunar soil, Lunar soil specifically refers to the component of regoli ...

, the chemical composition of

meteorite A meteorite is a rock (geology), rock that originated in outer space and has fallen to the surface of a planet or Natural satellite, moon. When the original object enters the atmosphere, various factors such as friction, pressure, and chemical ...

s, and the existence of

water on Mars Although very small amounts of liquid water may occur transiently on the surface of Mars, limited to traces of dissolved moisture from the atmosphere and thin films, large quantities of ice are present on and under the surface. Small amounts of ...

. They are also active in

science education Science education is the teaching and learning of science to school children, college students, or adults within the general public. The field of science education includes work in science content, science process (the scientific method), some ...

Education and career

Grier completed a PhD in 1999 from the

University of Arizona The University of Arizona (Arizona, U of A, UArizona, or UA) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Tucson, Arizona, United States. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, it ...

with a dissertation ''Determining the ages of impact events: Multidisciplinary studies using remote sensing and sample analysis techniques'' supervised by Alfred McEwen. They started working for the Planetary Science Institute in 1999.

Publications

Grier is a coauthor of books including: *''Guide to the Universe: Inner Planets'' (with Andrew S. Rivkin, Greenwood Publishing, 2010) *''Airless Bodies of the Inner Solar System: Understanding the Process Affecting Rocky, Airless Surfaces'' (with Andrew S. Rivkin, Elsevier, 2019)

Recognition

Grier was named a Fellow of the

American Astronomical Society The American Astronomical Society (AAS, sometimes spoken as "double-A-S") is an American society of professional astronomers and other interested individuals, headquartered in Washington, DC. The primary objective of the AAS is to promote the adv ...

in 2024, "for over two decades of commitment to advancing accessibility, inclusion, and diversity within the scientific community; and for important advances in planetary sciences, particularly in the area of lunar optical maturity effects". Minor planet 7807 Grier is named for Grier.

Personal life

Grier identifies as "queer/trans/non-binary". They have published numerous poems, essays, and short works of speculative fiction, including some under the pseudonym Bryce Ellicott.

References

External links

Home page and blog
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Grier, J. A. 1968 births Living people 21st-century American astronomers LGBTQ astronomers American planetary scientists Non-binary scientists University of Arizona alumni Fellows of the American Astronomical Society American LGBTQ scientists