| 1 | Name: | Dr. Maria T. Zuber | |
| Institution: | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | ||
| Year Elected: | 2005 | ||
| Class: | 1. Mathematical and Physical Sciences | ||
| Subdivision: | 105. Physical Earth Sciences | ||
| Residency: | Resident | ||
| Living? : | Living | ||
| Birth Date: | 1958 | ||
Maria Zuber is E.A. Griswold Professor of Geophysics and Vice President for Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A world leader in the study of planetary topography and interior structure, she co-led the team that produced the topographic map of Mars that is more accurate than Earth's. Her team also developed the first reliable models of the interiors of the moon and Mars that showed that both bodies cooled rapidly after accretion. Dr. Zuber also served on the Presidential Commission tasked with implementing President Bush's space exploration plan and has authored or co-authored over 140 peer-reviewed publications. In 2002 she was named to Discover magazine's list of the 50 most important women in science. | |||