Andy Hock
Expertise: Geophysics/Space Physics
Expedition Role: Physics of Environment
Affiliation: UCLA
Who I am and what I Do
My name is Andy Hock and I am a third-year
graduate student en route to a Ph.D. in
Geophysics and Space Physics from the University
of California, Los Angeles Department of
Earth and Space Sciences. I use geophysics
to study aqueous environments on Earth
and Mars in an effort to better understand
their ability to support biological communities.
In particular, I am interested in the habitability
and longevity of heated lake environments
on Mars and targeting astrobiology missions
to the red planet. I was recently awarded
a NASA Graduate Student fellowship, which
provides support for my participation in
the Licancabur expedition as well as my
collaboration between UCLA and NASA Ames
Research Center for my thesis research.
Explain what you learned from last year's
expedition
During the 2002 Licancabur Expedition,
we first noticed that the area around the
refuge and Lagunas are geothermally active;
which means that the volcano is still providing
heat to the environment. One effect of
this geothermal activity is the hot spring
('Thermales') that we were lucky enough
to study and relax in. The Lagunas ('Blanca'
and 'Verde') also provided very interesting
study. Laguna Blanca is a large, shallow
basin, which provides food for the local
flamingo population, while Laguna Verde
is deep and has high concentrations of
Arsenic. Both lakes are cold and much saltier
than seawater.
Upon arrival at the summit, we found the
crater lake cold (but not ice-covered)
but with a much lower salt content. Its
pH is slightly basic, and it hosts a diverse
population of microorganisms. The results
from my task in 2002 suggest that the lake's
presence and relative warmth may be explained
by a volcanic source; in 2003, we will
investigate this and other hypotheses more
fully.
Describe how you will use information
from last year's expedition to perform
experiments for this year's mission
In addition to performing reconnaissance
for other high lakes and general mission
support, the Geophysics Task has the following
objectives for the 2003 Licancabur Expedition:
- gather environmental and meteorological
data to quantify the analogy between
this site and ancient lake environments
on Mars;
- provide a physical explanation for
the anomalous warmth of the lake waters.
We will collect data from instruments
deployed in 2002, water samples for chemical
analysis, and in situ data to investigate
the hypotheses that the summit lake a)
has saline deep waters warmed by solar
heating or b) is heated by a volcanic source.
An additional objective of this task is
to characterize environmental constraints
on life in the lake, and provide context
for the study of the survival strategies
it may employ.
Career Journey
My career technically began in Ohio, where
I grew up with my mother, father, two brothers,
and more than enough dogs. I think my interest
in science began with my parents’ fostering
and a love of airplanes—I remember
my dreams of learning how to fly and understanding
more about aerodynamics. From there, my
interest in the space program was an easy
transition: as soon as I figured out that
you could go faster and farther and actually
study other worlds, I was hooked. I left
for New England after High School in Worthington,
Ohio with a passion for science and attended
Colgate University in Hamilton, New York.
How did you get to where you are?
I was initially torn between the study
of medicine and astrophysics. After my
first year, I did research on pediatric
pneumonia at a hospital in Ohio. I had
a wonderful experience, expanded my interest
in biology, but learned that practicing
medicine in a clinical setting wasn’t
for me. In a further attempt to discover
a fusion between astrophysics and the life
sciences, I found NASA’s Astrobiology
website, learned as much as I could and
began working. Through the course of time
and several research endeavors (Quasar
Variability – Colgate, Convection
and Lightning on Jupiter – Cornell,
Underwater Ecology – University of
New Hampshire, Asteroid Rotation - Colgate,
Biogeography of Hydrothermal Vent Worms – Colgate)
I graduated with a major in Astronomy-Physics
and a minor in Biology, focusing on planetary
science and molecular evolution.
Hobbies, Interests, etc.
Outside of the academic arena, I enjoy
hiking and camping, sports, and traveling;
I grew up hiking around the Midwest, and
since then have taken my backcountry adventures
across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. I
rowed competitively in college, and much
of my spare time in Los Angeles is taken
up coaching for one of the finest high
school rowing programs in the nation at
the Marina Aquatic Center. I also have
a passion—as do many of you—for
seeking out new experiences and new places.
My travels abroad have taken me across
Europe and through parts of Egypt, Israel,
and Jordan. Next on the list, after an
amazing adventure exploring the world’s
highest lake in Chile, is Turkey or Thailand.
Parting words or advice
If I were to impart any advice upon students,
it would be to remain in touch with your
individual passions and follow wherever
they lead. Additionally, whether your interest
is in business, sports, science, or something
out of this world, higher education will
provide you the leverage to grab on to
an amazing opportunity when the time comes.
Experience the world around.
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