Madeleine Kerr

In planetary science, there are conflicting ideas about Venus's evolution from its formation to the present. In terms of composition, Venus should be Earth's closest analog; yet it lacks a key feature: plate tectonics, the Earth's main method of heat release. Venus also has two main styles of large scale volcanic features that manifest at scales of 100 km and 1000 km, respectively. Without any recent surface missions to Venus (too hot!), we investigate these theories through numerical simulations of the hot plumes that convect in a planet's mantle. My goal is to understand the mismatch in these two volcanic scales by using 2D numerical models of a Venusian mantle to investigate the relationship between lithosphere subduction, mineral phase transition, and the formation of mantle plumes on Venus. I'm also very interested in learning more about the role that art, particularly performance art and other ephemeral arts, plays in engaging the public in scientific research.