Assessing the evidence for active basaltic volcanism on Venus

NASA planetary research expert to deliver exclusive talk at Space Park Leicester

Dr Justin Filiberto, Deputy Chief of the Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) Division at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, will deliver a Space Park Conversations talk on ‘Assessing the Evidence for Active Basaltic Volcanism on Venus: Current Limitations and Future Prospects’.

The event on Friday, 10 January, will take place in-person at Space Park Leicester at 2:00pm.

The talk will appeal to a broad audience, including astrobiology engineers, space science students, and space enthusiast keen on planetary exploration and astromaterials research.

Dr Filiberto’s presentation will highlight Venus’s volcanic activity, a crucial topic as we enter a new era of exploration for the planet.

The session will begin with an overview of NASA's ARES Division’s work and a brief discussion of the Mars Sample Return Project, offering insights into NASA’s latest efforts in planetary sample collection and research.

Dr Filiberto joined NASA in 2021 as Branch Chief of Astromaterials Research and then expanded their role to include acting Branch Chief of Curation and Acquisition within the ARES Division.

Prior to NASA, they were an associate professor of planetary geology at Southern Illinois University and later managed the geology and petrology group at the Lunar and Planetary Institute, USRA.

Their research spans multiple planetary bodies, including Mars, Venus, Earth, and the Moon, with a focus on planetary volatile budgets, magma genesis, and mineral alterations. Notably, Dr Filiberto’s work on Venus has suggested recent volcanic activity at Idunn Mons, supported by data from the Venus Express mission.

They are also a co-investigator for the upcoming DAVINCI mission to Venus, earmarked for launch in 2029 launch.

Dr Filiberto’s contributions to planetary science extend beyond research. They advocate for inclusivity and diversity in the field, having organised initiatives such as the Advancing IDEA in Planetary Science Workshop and leading discussions on equity through programmes like Braving Diversity.

The talk, which is part of the Space Park Conversations series of events, will take place from 2 to 3pm on Friday 10 January 2024.

Main image: Akatsuki Venus Dayside Synthesized false color image by UVI

Host or Publisher Space Park Leicester (University of Leicester)