Janet Vertesi is assistant professor of sociology at Princeton University.
Vertesi places what many incorrectly perceive as a purely technological, asocial, non-interactive activity-robotic planetary exploration-squarely in the context of human behavior. Her analysis is thoughtful, insightful, and timely, and is sure to influence future explorers, human and robotic alike. (Jim Bell, member of the Mars Exploration Rover team and author of Postcards from Mars: The First Photographer on the Red Planet)