Patrice Smith said, “We are investigating the stable composition of the Moon’s exosphere, which contains a diverse mix of neutral atoms and ions, ranging from abundant to trace species. To assess which species consistently contribute to the exosphere, we extract and analyze long-term far-ultraviolet (FUV) spectra collected from lunar orbit.”
Student Success! Patrice Smith Named 2025 DPS-NSBP Speaker
We’re thrilled to share some fantastic news from the recent National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP)/National Society of Hispanic Physicists (NSHP) annual meeting! Our very own graduate student, Patrice Smith (advised by Kurt Retherford), has been awarded the prestigious DPS-NSBP Speaker award for 2025.
Patrice was selected by the NSBP EPSS chairs as the top early career or student EPSS speaker. This honor entitles her to speak at next year’s Division for Planetary Sciences (DPS) meeting, with all expenses covered by DPS.
Furthermore, the NSBP EPSS Chairs and the DPS Committee will facilitate an invitation for Patrice to present an academic seminar at an HBCU, NASA center, national laboratory, or a leading planetary science university program or research institute in the coming year.
This is a significant achievement, and we extend our warmest congratulations to Patrice for her outstanding work and well-deserved recognition!
Kurt Retherford, Patrice’s advisor, said, “I’m proud of Patrice’s accomplishment and recognition with the award. She works hard and deserves it.”
For more details, please see the official announcement from the American Astronomical Society: Patrice Smith Named 2025 DPS-NSBP Speaker