David Grinspoon
David H. Grinspoon (born 1959) is an American astrobiologist. He is the Senior Scientist for Astrobiology Strategy at NASA and was the former inaugural Baruch S. Blumberg NASA/Library of Congress Chair in Astrobiology for 2012–2013.
David H. Grinspoon | |
|---|---|
Grinspoon in June 2014 | |
| NASA | |
| Senior Scientist for Astrobiology Strategy | |
| In office 2023-present | |
| Planetary Science Institute | |
| Senior Scientist | |
| In office 2013-2023 | |
| John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress | |
| Baruch S. Blumberg/NASA Chair in Astrobiology | |
| In office 2012-2013 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Steven J. Dick |
| European Space Agency's Venus Express | |
| Interdisciplinary Scientist | |
| In office 2008-present | |
| Denver Museum of Nature & Science Department of Space Sciences | |
| Curator of Astrobiology | |
| In office 2006-2012 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1959 (age 64–65) |
| Nationality | American |
| Parent |
|
| Relatives |
|
| Alma mater | Brown University (B.A. and B.S.) University of Arizona (Ph.D.) |
| Occupation | Astrobiologist |
| Awards | Asteroid Grinspoon Carl Sagan Medal PEN Center USA Literary Award for Research Nonfiction. Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science |
| Website | funkyscience |
His research focuses on comparative planetology, with a focus on climate evolution on Earth-like planets and implications for habitability. He has also studied, written and lectured on the human influence on Earth, as seen in cosmic perspective.
He has published four books, Venus Revealed, which was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times book prize, Lonely Planets: The Natural Philosophy of Alien Life, which won the 2004 PEN literary award for nonfiction, Earth in Human Hands, which was named one of NPR's Science Friday "Best Science Books of 2016" and Chasing New Horizons: Inside the Epic First Mission to Pluto, co-authored with Alan Stern. He is adjunct professor of Astrophysical and Planetary Science at the University of Colorado, a former Fellow of the Institute for Cross-Disciplinary Engagement at Dartmouth College and a former Distinguished Visiting Scholar in the College of the Environment at Wesleyan University.