Living things need water to survive, so the discovery of a lake beneath Mars’s south polar ice cap this summer thrilled scientists – and sci-fi fans – worldwide. It means, theoretically, that the red planet could sustain life.
For Frances Butcher, a PhD student at the Open University’s (OU’s) school of physical sciences, the news was effectively an endorsement of her own area of academic focus. Last year, she led research that found rare evidence that a glacier on Mars had produced meltwater 110m years ago.
“Our research challenged the prevailing view that existing glaciers on Mars have never produced meltwater, so the subglacial lake discovered by the Italian researchers was incredibly exciting,” she explains. “Evidence of water on Mars is a very important discovery for the future of human exploration because it means astronauts could one day turn glacial ice into water for use as in-situ resources.”
A graduate of Cambridge University, Butcher says that she was “instantly hooked” on the thought of studying at the OU following her first visit to the campus in Milton Keynes.
“I’ve always wanted to study the planets, but first of all I needed a good grounding in our own planet, so I studied geography at Cambridge and indulged in the study of physical processes on Earth,” she explains.
“The specific area of our planet that interested me was glaciology, but in my final-year project, I wanted to apply what I’d learned to another planet. Studying glaciers on Mars was the perfect research topic.”
When an academic from the OU gave a seminar at Cambridge about ice on Mars, Butcher requested a meeting with her. She was subsequently invited to spend the summer as a visiting researcher in the planetary environments research group at the OU.
“I was really surprised by the facilities; I had no idea there was so much cutting-edge space research going on at the OU, from Mars missions to the lander that was sent to Comet 67P.”
Following an eight-week research placement funded by the OU, Butcher completed her undergraduate degree at Cambridge and applied for a PhD at the OU. “Here I am, three years later, and still loving it,” she says.
The OU’s STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) faculty is also thriving. Considered a leader in planetary sciences, it works with Nasa and the European and UK space agencies.
Particularly noteworthy among its resources are the teaching research tools that can be accessed remotely by OU students through the OpenSTEM Labs, including a scaled-down replica of the landscape on Mars, nicknamed the Mars Yard, and a remote-controlled, multi-user Mars rover for simulating missions.
Regarded as the UK’s leading distance-learning university, the OU is a world leader in developing technology to increase access to education on a global scale.
In the latest research assessment exercise (Research Excellence Framework, 2014), almost three-quarters (72%) of OU research has been assessed as world-leading, or internationally excellent.
In a sector where women are typically underrepresented – they currently account for 14% of the STEM workforce – Butcher says she has had a very positive experience. The gender balance in her postgraduate research group is “about 50/50”, but she has developed unique insights into the challenges facing women in science.
“I was speaking at a meet-the-scientists event for young people and a girl came up to me and said she didn’t realise that women could be scientists too,” she says.
“I was shocked, but that motivated me to encourage as many girls as possible to get into space science. Diversity in research is so important because science is ultimately a human process – it involves people, and their experiences influence how they do their science, so the more diverse your research group, the better your research.”
Access to funding is one of the most significant obstacles for women hoping to pursue careers in science. Recent research indicates that 90% of engineering and physical sciences funding in the UK is distributed to male-led projects. Wider access to the sector, alongside continued investment, is essential to ensuring the UK remains at the forefront of innovation in space science.
“It’s vital that we do more to raise the profiles of the excellent, inspirational women already in science,” says Butcher. “That means ensuring industry keynote speeches don’t always default to men, and that women are given equal opportunities to publicise their science.”
Butcher is unequivocal about the part the OU has played in her own remarkable trajectory: “I’ve had excellent support – my supervisors share my scientific achievements, really, because I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Nonetheless, it is Butcher who is being hailed as a leading light of planetary science. How does that feel? “It’s very encouraging,” she says. “I am so grateful for the opportunities the OU has provided.”
Advancing in STEM
The Open University is a world leader in space science, working closely with international space agencies in cutting-edge research linked to technology and exploration. The university offers part-time qualifications in astronomy and planetary science, as well as a wide range of other STEM subjects, from free online courses and certificates, to undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. For further information, visit: open.ac.uk
