Opportunity To Apply To A New International Mars Exploration Working Group on Planetary Protection

The IMEWG (International Mars Exploration Working Group) is planning to stand up a sub-working group to identify international science and planetary protection goals and scope priorities in the upcoming transition period to a future robotic and crewed synergistic exploration of Mars.

This group will operate through regular virtual meetings over an approximately one-year period (through September 2026), with an in-person working meeting scheduled at the midpoint (in March/April 2026).

If you are interested in volunteering to be a part of this group, please prepare a motivation letter and brief CV (details below) and send by October 20, 2025 to [email protected].

Motivation Letter is no more than one page and includes:

• Your motivation to participate
• Your added value
• Recent and relevant expertise/experience
• Choice of science or planetary protection team

CV is no more than two pages and highlights:

• Current and recent (last 5 years) positions and responsibilities
  (e.g., leading or contributing to relevant teams or working groups),
  or significant activities beyond this time frame.
• Up to five most relevant publications.

Gerhard Kminek, ESA
Lindsay Hays, NASA

Source: Planetary Exploration Newsletter at PSI

Astrobiology