Susan Niebur wins NASA Public Service Award

After today’s panel on “Why have so many women become involved/interested in Mars exploration?” at the Women and Mars Conference, a surprise visit by Jim Green was announced to present an award. Today’s award recipient was our own Susan Niebur!

Susan was awarded the Public Service Award from the NASA Planetary Science Division. The text of Jim Green’s acknowledgement was as follows:

NASA’s Planetary Science Division on very special occaisions really recognizes key individuals for their outstanding role model, their ability to work with the community in many different ways, it’s not just all about science, it’s a lot of the other aspects that we want to recognize. We have our highest honor, it’s where we give back to the community, and that is our Public Service Award and I’m here today to recognize Doctor Susan Niebur. Susan, your exemplary leadership abilities have helped many women in the field, both planetary and astrophysics, and by helping them figure out ways to cope with the specific issues and concerns when blending family and career, you richly deserve this award. And it’s really important for us, and for you to know, that you have made a difference. So Susan, let me give you the Planetary Science Division’s Public Service Award.

There’s a fabulous quote on this, it’s from Ruth Benedict, and I’d like to read it. “I long to speak out the intense inspiration that comes to me from the lives of strong women. They have made of their lives a great adventure.” Susan, you are the strongest woman I know.

Congratulations to Susan!