Dr Michaela Dobson
Dr Michaela Dobson investigates the earliest evidence of life on Earth and how extreme environments—past and present—can guide the search for life elsewhere. From Rotorua hot springs to NASA-supported Mars analog missions, her work bridges geology, astrobiology, and science communication.
Professor Kathy Campbell
Professor Kathy Campbell, Chair of the New Zealand Astrobiology Network board, is an expert in paleoecology and extreme environments. Her groundbreaking work on hot springs and marine hydrocarbon seeps, as analogue sites for early life, informs global Mars mission strategies — including choosing Spirit rover’s hot spring sites as high-priority Mars 2020 targets.