G&G PhD graduate finalist in National Geographic competition

Carolyn Parcheta field-tests a small robot on the island of Hawai‘i. Image courtesy of Carolyn Parcheta.

Geology & Geophysics (G&G) alumna Carolyn Parcheta’s hopes of getting $50,000 from National Geographic for her science project came to an end with a second-place finish recently. Currently at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), she plans to map Kilauea volcanic vents with a wall climbing robot, but is now looking for another funding source. “I’m working with a robotics team that specializes in rock climbing robots,” Parcheta said. In May, Parcheta tested her robot on Hawai‘i Island. After some reworking, “[i]t moves like we want it to move, and it can take better data.” G&G professor Mike Garcia said that thermal images from infrared cameras on such a robot can help volcanologists better understand the dynamics of lava flows.

Read more about it in the Ka Leo O Hawai‘i.