Laurie Rogers

Laurie Rogers was born and raised in Tempe, Arizona. She began working at the Mars Space Flight Facility at Arizona State University as an undergraduate worker in August 2003 while pursuing a degree in Anthropology. In January 2004, the Rock Around the World program was announced over live TV during the landing of the Mars Exploration Rovers. Shortly thereafter, Laurie and a team of undergraduates began processing the thousands of rocks that came in the mail! To date, the Rock Around the World program has received over 8,000 rocks from every continent on Earth! In addition to being Program Coordinator for the Rock Around the World program, she began working as a Mars Student Imaging Instructor in November 2005. As an instructor, Laurie helps facilitate students through the scientific process while students research their science question and take their very own picture of Mars.

As an Arizona State University undergraduate, Laurie participated in a highly competitive summer program in Ecuador through the Arizona State University Center for Latin American Studies. This month long field school in the Amazon rainforest allowed her to put some of her anthropology training to work. She began learning Kichwa, the native indigenous language of Amazonian Ecuador while living with indigenous people of the area. In addition to her anthropology background, Laurie has always had an interest in space. At age 12 she attended the NASA Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama.

The Mars Student Imaging Project along with the Rock Around the World program allow Laurie to interact with children of all ages and abilities from around the world. This allows her to incorporate her love of anthropology and space education.