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Professor Monica Grady

Professor of Planetary and Space Sciences

School of Physical Sciences

monica.grady@open.ac.uk

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Biography

Professional biography

Professor of Planetary and Space Sciences since April 2005. Member of the Cosmochemistry Research Group Prior to that, I was in the Department of Mineralogy at the Natural History Museum in London, where I headed the Meteorite team; I remain a Research Fellow of the Museum.

For more details, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monica_Grady

 

Research interests

My research interests are in the formation and evolution of the Solar System, and what we can learn about this from study of asteroids, meteorites, comets and cosmic dust, the Moon and Mars. I am most specifically interested in the role of carbon in planetary evolution, and the links between the carbon chemistry of extraterrestrial materials and the origin of life on Earth (and beyond).

Teaching interests

SM123 Physics and Space

S283 Astronomy and Planetary Science

S288 Practical Science

S818 Masters in Space Science Technology

Projects

Publications

Book Chapter

A roadmap for a European extraterrestrial sample curation facility – the EURO CARES project (2021)

Subsurface analysis by application of FIB-SEM to samples of geological and historical importance (2012)

Scientific and Technical Aspects of the ESA MarsNEXT Mission (2010)

Evidence for life beyond Earth? (2008)

The Physical constraints on extraterrestrial life (2003)

The abundance and isotope composition of carbon and nitrogen in meteorites. (2003)

Journal Article

The mystery of the missing mantle problem and insights from spectroscopy (2025)

Remnants of a lost Planetesimal: Searching for the Angrite parent body (2025)

Constraining the history of water and climate on Mars through light element stable isotope analysis of volatiles in returned martian samples (2025)

Quantitative evolved gas analysis: Winchcombe in comparison with other CM2 meteorites (2024)

Insoluble macromolecular organic matter in the Winchcombe meteorite (2024)

Meteoritical Society Service Award citation for Richard C. Greenwood (2024)

A primordial noble gas component discovered in the Ryugu asteroid and its implications (2024)

The Scientific Importance of Returning Airfall Dust as a Part of Mars Sample Return (MSR) (2022)

Science and Curation Considerations for the Design of a Mars Sample Return (MSR) Sample Receiving Facility (2022)

Final Report of the MSR Science Planning Group 2 (MSPG2) (2022)

Time-Sensitive Aspects of Mars Sample Return (MSR) Science (2022)

COSPAR Sample Safety Assessment Framework (SSAF) (2022)

Planning Implications Related to Sterilization-Sensitive Science Investigations Associated with Mars Sample Return (MSR) (2022)

Preliminary Planning for Mars Sample Return (MSR) Curation Activities in a Sample Receiving Facility (2022)

The Winchcombe meteorite, a unique and pristine witness from the outer solar system (2022)

Mass-independent fractionation of oxygen isotopes during thermal decomposition of divalent metal carbonates: Crystallographic influence, potential mechanism and cosmochemical significance (2021)

Carbonate assemblages in Cold Bokkeveld CM chondrite reveal complex parent body evolution (2021)

Organic matter and water from asteroid Itokawa (2021)

Mid-infrared reflectance spectroscopy of carbonaceous chondrites and Calcium–Aluminum-rich inclusions (2020)

Exploring Mars with Returned Samples (2020)

Investigating magmatic processes in the early Solar System using the Cl isotopic systematics of eucrites (2019)

The potential science and engineering value of samples delivered to Earth by Mars sample return (2019)

The alteration history of the Jbilet Winselwan CM carbonaceous chondrite: An analog for C‐type asteroid sample return (2019)

The Rosetta Mission and the Chemistry of Organic Species in Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko (2018)

Comets: Where We Are, How We Got Here, and Where We Want To Go Next (2018)

Basaltic Volcanism On The Angrite Parent Body: Comparison With 4 Vesta (2018)

The origin, history and role of water in the evolution of the inner Solar System (2017)

The mineralogy, petrology, and composition of anomalous eucrite Emmaville (2017)

Alteration minerals, fluids, and gases on early Mars: Predictions from 1-D flow geochemical modeling of mineral assemblages in meteorite ALH 84001 (2016)

The abundance and isotopic composition of water in eucrites (2016)

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectral Detection of Life in Polar Subsurface Environments and its Application to Mars Exploration (2015)

Igneous and shock processes affecting chassignite amphibole evaluated using chlorine/water partitioning and hydrogen isotopes (2015)

Isotopic composition of carbon and nitrogen in ureilitic fragments of the Almahata Sitta meteorite (2015)

Dust from collisions: A way to probe the composition of exo-planets? (2014)

WatSen: design and testing of a prototype mid-IR spectrometer and microscope package for Marsexploration (2013)

Light element geochemistry of the Chelyabinsk meteorite (2013)

Analysis of a prehistoric Egyptian iron bead with implications for the use and perception of meteorite iron in ancient Egypt (2013)

Sample return missions to minor bodies (2013)

Martian subsurface fluid pathways and 3D mineralogy of the Nakhla meteorite (2013)

Stable isotope analysis of carbon and nitrogen in angrites (2013)

Radar-enabled recovery of the Sutter's Mill meteorite, a carbonaceous chondrite regolith breccia (2012)

Chondrules born in plasma? Simulation of gas-grain interaction using plasma arcs with applications to chondrule and cosmic spherule formation (2012)

Tissint martian meteorite: a fresh look at the interior, surface, and atmosphere of Mars (2012)

Mid-infrared spectra of differentiated meteorites(achondrites): comparison with astronomical observations of dust in protoplanetary and debris disks (2012)

Gerzeh, a prehistoric Egyptian meteorite (2011)

Sulfur isotopic composition of Fe-Ni sulfide grains in CI and CM carbonaceous chondrites (2010)

Reviewing UK space exploration (2010)

Dating martian climate change (2009)

Astronomy by microscope (2009)

Structure and chemistry of pre-cursor troilite in pallasites (2009)

ESSC-ESF position paper - science-driven scenario for space exploration: report from the European Space Sciences Committee (ESSC) (2009)

WATSEN - A Mid-IR spectrometer, humidity sensor and optical microscope to identify the subsurface water and mineralogy of Mars (2009)

A Combined Synthesis and Modelling Approach to Investigate Formation of Carbonates on Mars (2009)

Mid-infrared spectroscopy of refractory inclusions (CAIs) in CV and CO chondrites (2008)

Studying the oxygen and carbon isotope characteristics of carbonate analogues to ALH 84001 (2008)

2–16 μm spectroscopy of micron-sized enstatite (Mg,Fe)2Si2O6 silicates from primitive chondritic meteorites (2007)

The D-CIXS X-ray spectrometer on the SMART-1 mission to the moon - First results (2007)

Comet 81P/Wild 2 Under a Microscope (2006)

Infrared spectroscopy of comet 81P/Wild 2 samples returned by Stardust (2006)

The carbon cycle on early Earth—and on Mars? (2006)

Searching for signatures of life on Mars: an Fe isotope perspective (2006)

UV-Vis spectroscopy of stardust (2006)

WatSen: searching for clues for water (and life) on Mars (2006)

FT–IR microspectroscopy of extraterrestrial dust grains: Comparison of measurement techniques (2006)

FTIR 2–16 micron spectroscopy of micron-sized olivines from primitive meteorites (2006)

Cryptoendolithic alteration of Antarctic sandstones: Pioneers or opportunists? (2005)

Mineralogy and texture of Fe-Ni sulfides in CI1 chondrites: clues to the extent of aqueous alteration on the CI1 parent body (2005)

Chondrules in Antarctic micrometeorites (2005)

Biologically–induced elemental variations in Antarctic sandstones: a potential test for Martian micro-organisms (2004)

Magmatic carbon in Martian meteorites: attempts to constrain the carbon cycle on Mars (2004)

Extraction and microanalysis of cosmic dust captured during sample return missions: laboratory simulations (2004)

Selection of the landing site in Isidis Planitia of Mars probe Beagle 2 (2003)

Formation of metal and silicate globules in Gujba: a new Bencubbin-like meteorite fall (2003)

Investigating the variations in carbon and nitrogen isotopes in carbonaceous chondrites (2003)

The D-CIXS X-ray mapping spectrometer on SMART-1 (2003)

Scientific rationale for the D-CIXS X-ray spectrometer on board ESA's SMART-1 mission to the Moon (2003)

Elemental and isotopic abundances of carbon and nitrogen in meteorites (2003)

Planetary, stellar and galactic evolution from a rocky perspective (2003)

The D-CIXS X-ray spectrometer, and its capabilities for lunar science (2002)

High molecular weight organic matter in martian meteorites (2002)

Light element geochemistry of the Tagish Lake CI2 chondrite: Comparison with CI1 and CM2 meteorites (2002)

The chemistry of micrometeoroid and space debris remnants captured on Hubble Space Telescope solar cells (2001)

Book review: Search for life (Grady) (2001)

Alteration assemblages in Martian meteorites: implications for near-surface processes (2001)

Exposure age, terrestrial age and pre-atmospheric radius of the Chinguetti mesosiderite: Not part of a much larger mass (2001)

Presentation / Conference

Co-ordinated UV Reflectance and Raman Spectroscopy of Martian Meteorites and Terrestrial Analogue Samples (2019)

EURO-CARES - A European Sample Curation Facility for Sample Return Missions (2019)

Cooling rates of chondrules from diffusion profiles in relict olivine grains (2018)

Cooling rate of chondrules from diffusion profiles in relict olivine grains (2018)

The importance of samples delivered to Earth by Mars sample return for understanding the Martian mantle: a report from the iMOST team (2018)

A Novel Method of Mounting Microsamples for Manipulation and Analysis (2017)

Understanding the Early Martian Environment through the Inventory of Breccia Clasts in Northwest Africa (2017)

Constraining the Cooling Rates of Chondrules (2017)

Chlorine isotope variation in eucrites (2016)

Constraining the cooling rates of chondrules (2016)

Constraining the cooling rates of chondrules (2016)

The isotopic composition of chlorine in apatite from eucrites (2016)

Relationships Between Shock and Fluid Processes (2015)

Weathering as controlled by shock processes (2015)

The Mineralogy and Petrology of Anomalous Eucrite Emmaville (2015)

Containers, sensors and samples to understand desert weathering (2015)

Cold desert weathering effects on magnetic properties of L6 chondrites (2015)

Trace element mobility in cold desert alteration systems (2015)

The origin of water other volatiles in the inner solar system as shown by Howardite-Eucrite-Diogenite (HED) meteorites (2015)

Mineralogical controls on cold desert weathering (2014)

The abundance and isotopic composition of water in howardite-eucrite-diogenite meteorites (2014)

Mid-infrared spectroscopy of calcium-aluminium-rich inclusions: a tool to detect primitive asteroids? (2014)

Chilling in Antarctica - meteorites weathering the cold (2014)

Mid-infrared reflectance spectroscopy of calcium-aluminium-rich inclusions to identify primitive near Earth asteroids (2014)

Mid-infrared reflectance spectroscopy of calcium-aluminium-rich inclusions: a way to detect primitive asteroids? (2014)

Spatial correlations between silicate and metal weathering in Antarctic chondrites (2014)

Carbonate precipitation driven by clay leachates on Early Mars (2014)

The mantle, crust and atmosphere of Mars as illuminated by the light element geochemistry of NWA 7034 (2014)

The Abundance and Isotopic Composition of Water in Howardite-Eucrite-Diogenite (HED) Meteorites and Implications for the Volatile Inventory of the Earth-Moon System (2014)

Linking alteration of noble gas inventories with secondary petrographic features in Antarctic meteorites - an analogue (2013)

The high-temperature release of carbon and nitrogen in the angrites and its relationship to parent body degassing. (2013)

Graphitic Raman spectra in angrites: a source of high-temperature carbon? (2013)

Leachates formed carbonates in ALH84001 and on early Mars (2013)

Low temperature near-surface thermochemical modelling of the alteration assemblage in Martian meteorite ALH84001 (2013)

Antarctic alteration as an analogue for processes on Mars – the noble gas perspective (2013)

Thermochemical modelling of the alteration assemblage in Martian Meteorite ALH84001 at low temperature (15–25 °C) (2013)

CAFE - a new on-line resource for planning scientific field investigations in planetary analogue environments (2012)

A trapped nitrogen component in angrites (2012)

Introducing a new on-line resource for planning scientific field investigations in planetary analogue environments: CAFE (2012)

Simulation of gas-grain collisions: a mechanism for chondrule formation (2011)

Dating of secondary minerals in nakhlites (2011)

Maximizing the science return from 3.3 g of Martian meteorite: a consortium study of olivine-phyric shergottite NorthWest Africa 6234 (2011)

A preliminary study of magmatic volatiles in angrites (2011)

Origin and composition of carbonates, sulphates and halite on Mars (2011)

Even more chondrules born in plasma: simulation of gas-grain collisions (2011)

Pooling of water and the formation of evaporite minerals in the martian sub-surface (2011)

Chondrules born in plasma: laboratory simulations of circumstellar processes (2010)

Experiments in chondrule formation: simulations of gas-grain collisions using plasma arcs (2010)

Enstatite meteorites: samples of the inner protoplanetary disk? (2010)

A combined carbon and oxygen isotopic analysis of ALH84001 carbonates with NanoSIMS (2010)

Trace element distributions in the main group pallasites (2010)

Detection of water and magnesite with WATSEN: the next generation of instrumentation for Mars (2010)

UK CAN: UK Cosmochemical Analysis Network for the study of returned samples from space (2010)

Martian subsurface fluid pathways revealed by 3D mineralogy of the Nakhla meteorite (2010)

Presolar grain inventories of the ungrouped C3 Adelaide and the CV3 RBT 04133 (2010)

Nakhlites and NanoSIMS via micro-CT characterisation (2010)

Determining the carbon isotopic composition of ALH84001 rosettes with NanoSIMS (2010)

Understanding the evolution of Martian carbonates from a combined modelling and synthesis study (2009)

Aqueous alteration processes on Mars (2009)

Sulfur isotopic composition of Fe-Ni sulfide grains in CI and CM chrondrites (2009)

RBT 04133: a new, unusual carbonaceous chondrite (2009)

The effect of water-rock ratios on microbial weathering of basalt (2009)

Clay minerals in nakhlites and on Mars (2009)

Presolar SiC abundances in primitive meteorites by NanoSIMS raster ion imaging of insoluble organic matter (2009)

X-Ray Microtomography of A Sulphide Rich Pallasite (2008)

WatSen – A miniaturized package to detect water on Mars (2008)

Identification (or otherwise) of martian carbon in martian meteorites (2008)

Were Presolar Grains Destroyed by the Nebular Process Responsible for the Volatile Element Fractionation? (2008)

Mineralogy and Geochemistry of Shergottite RBT 04262 (2008)

Revisiting the elemental compositionof Enstatite chondrites (2007)

Fe isotopic composition of inner solar system materials: The fit of Martian basalts and minerals (2007)

UV and Visible Wavelength Reflectance Spectroscopy of Aerogel and of Stardust Grains (2007)

Observations of Past Lunar Landing Sites by the D-CIXS X-Ray Spectrometer on SMART-1 (2007)

Ancient Cosmic Dust from Triassic Halite (2007)

Fe-Ni Sulphides as Indicators of Alteration in CM Chondrites (2007)

Alteration of the Nakhlite Lava Pile: was water on the surface, seeping down, or at depth, percolating up? Evidence (such as it is) from carbonates (2007)

Spectroscopy of Stardust from 200nm to 16µM (with a gap in the middle) (2006)

Dust from collisions in circumstellar disks: similarities to meteoritic materials? (2006)

Textural evidence for melt processes on the pallasite parent body (2006)

Hambleton – a new sulphur rich pallasite (2006)

Ar-Ar age and halogen characteristics of nakhlite MIL 03346: records of crustal processes on Mars (2006)

Dust from collisions: mid-infrared absorbance spectroscopy of Martian meteorites (2006)

Infrared spectroscopy of circumstellar dust: signs of differentiated materials? (2006)

Fe isotopic composition of Martian meteorites and some terrestrial analogues (2006)

Infrared, UV/VIS and Raman Spectroscopy of Comet Wild-2 Samples Returned by the Stardust Mission (2006)

Mid-infrared spectroscopy of matrix materials from chondrites: first heating experiments (2005)

Aqueous alteration of Nakhlites: implications for water on Mars (2005)

Cryptoendolith colonization of diverse substrates (1): cultivation and characterization (2005)

Petrology and geochemistry of nakhlite MIL 03346: A new Martian meteorite from Antarctica (2005)

Mid-infrared spectroscopy of CAI and AOA from the Allende CV3.2 chondrite (2005)

Infrared spectroscopy of extraterrestrial material: comparison with astronomical spectra of dust (2005)

Fe isotopic composition of Martian meteorites (2005)

Fe-Ni Sulphides within a CM1 clast in Tagish Lake (2005)

Cryptoendolith alteration of Antarctic sandstone substrates: pioneers or opportunists? (2004)

FT-IR spectroscopy of CAI and chondrules in primitive chondrites: techniques and first results (2004)

FT-IR microanalysis of mineral separates from primitive meteorites: techniques, problems and solutions (2004)

Sedimentation in Meridiani Terrae, Mars, owing to magma-ice interaction when Tharsis arose? (2004)

An ion probe study of the sulphur isotopic composition of Fe-Ni sulphides in CM carbonaceous chondrites (2004)

Lunar elemental composition and ivestigations with D-CIXS x-ray mapping spectrometer on SMART-1 (2004)

FT-IR micro-spectroscopy of fine-grained planetary materials: further results (2004)

Microbial D/H fractionation in extraterrestrial materials: application to micrometeorites and Mars (2004)

A study of the morphology, composition and mineral associations of Fe-Ni sulphides in CM carbonaceous chondrites (2004)

Infrared spectroscopy of chondrites and their components: a link between meteoritics and astronomy? (2004)

Mid-infrared spectroscopy of CAI and their mineral components (2004)

Fe isotopes in Martian meteorites: role of water and possibility of life on Mars (2004)

FT-IR spectroscopy of fine-grained planetary materials (2003)

From stardust to planets: FT-IR spectroscopy of fine-grained planetary materials (2003)

Fe-Mg composition and modal abundance of martian silicates by Mössbauer spectrometry (2003)

Biologically-induced elemental variations in Antarctic sandstones: A potential test for Martian microorganisms (2003)

Chemical fractionation and alteration trends between five nakhlites (2003)

In situ study of the sulphur isotopic compositions of Fe-Ni sulphides in CI1, CM1, and Tagish Lake carbonaceous chondrites: preliminary study (2003)

An investigation of carbon in Dar Al Gani 319 Polymict Ureilite (2003)

Carbon reservoirs on Mars: Constraints from Martian meteorites (2003)

Different degrees of aqueous alteration in sulphides within the CI1 chondrites (2003)

Cryptoendolith communities in Antarctic dry valley region sandstones: Potential analogues of Martian life-forms (2003)

Trace element signatures of trapped KREEP in Olivine-rich clasts within lunar meteorite NWA773 (2002)

Fe-Ni sulphides in Tagish Lake and CI1 and CM2 carbonaceous chondrites (2002)

Chemistry and valency spectra of Chromite in SNC meteorites (2002)

The distribution of asteroids: evidence from Antarctic micrometeorites (2002)

Stable Chlorine Isotope Reservoirs in Chondrites (2001)

Chromite chemistry in SNC meteorites (2001)

The abundance and distribution of chondrules in the main asteroid belt: evidence from micrometeorites (2001)

Noble gases in Tagish Lake (2001)

Ureilite Graphite: Shocking implications (2001)

The Beagle landing site in Isidis Planitia (2001)

The petrology of fine-grained micrometeorites: Evidence for the diversity of primitive asteroids (2001)

Laboratory capture, isolation and analysis of microparticles in aerogel: Preparation for the return of Stardust (2001)

An integrated mineralogical, petrographic, light stable isotope and noble gas investigation of Sahara 99201 ureilite (2001)

Continued investigation of the light element geochemistry of Tagish Lake (2001)

New data on carbon isotopic compositions of some ureilites (2001)

Gujba: A new Bencubbin-like meteorite fall from Nigeria (2001)

Report

Using Multivariate Statistical Analysis to fit spectroscopy data from remote and in situ analysis of planetary surfaces: Proof-of-Concept Assessment. Technical Note 3: Chemometric Modelling. Technical Note 4: Spectral Matching (2022)

Using Multivariate Statistical Analysis to fit spectroscopy data from remote and in situ analysis of planetary surfaces: A Proof-of-Concept Assessment. Final Report (2022)

Using Multivariate Statistical Analysis to fit spectroscopy data from remote and in situ analysis of planetary surfaces: Proof-of-Concept Assessment. Technical Note 1: Selection and Preparation of Materials for Analysis. Technical Note 2: Raman Spectroscopic Analysis of Selected Materials (2022)

Planning for Mars Returned Sample Science: Final Report of the MSR End-to-End International Science Analysis Group (E2E-iSAG) (2012)