Rachel W. Obbard
Adjunct Associate Professor
Appointments
Adjunct Associate Professor
Senior Lecturer
Area of Expertise
Microstructure of planetary ice,
X-ray based techniques for materials characterization,
Instrument design for polar studies,
Microplastics in the marine environment,
Social implications of technology,
Sports, ethics and philosophy,
Scientific writing,
Science writing
Biography
I'm an engineer and a professor in Dartmouth's Writing Program, where I teach Expository Writing (WRIT 5) and First Year Seminars (WRIT 7) that examine the intersection of sport, technology, and culture. The introduction of new technology and scientific understanding change sports, often threatening the ideals attributed to them—purity and the natural body, fairness or a level playing field, and success as the result of hard work. Students in The Machine in the Game examine how the resulting ethical dilemmas play out for athletes, regulatory bodies, the media, and fans.
My NSF and NASA funded research for the SETI Institute lies in the characterization of planetary ice and the development of instruments for the exploration of frozen environments. I have worked in both the Arctic and Antarctic, and am currently leading a team to develop a portable micro computed tomography system to be used on Mars'.
My experience in grant funded science and engineering informs my teaching, as I make sure that students understand how to find, use, and engage with peer-reviewed scientific writing.
Education
Ph.D. Engineering, Dartmouth College
M.S. Materials Science and Engineering, University of New Hampshire
B.S. Engineering Physics, Colorado School of Mines
Publications
Remotely monitored buoys for observing the growth and development of sea ice in situ. R. Obbard, A. Bradley, I. Rigor (2022) Journal of Oceanic and Atmospheric Technology. https://doi.org/10.1175/JTECH-D-20-0183.1
Emerging Capabilities for Mars Exploration: Whitepaper #315 Submitted to the Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey 2023-2032. C. Edwards, M. J. Amato, J. D. Baker, N. J. Barba, J. Balaram, E. J. Brandon, P. Briggs, B. D. Davis, J. C. Day, A. Freeman, M. R. Grover, G. S. Hubbard, D. B. Lavery, L. Mandrake, L. H. Matthies, G. Meirion-Griffith, M. M. Munk, I. A. Nesnas, R. W. Obbard, M. Ono, M. A. Peck, V. Stamenković, S. A. Townes, T. G. Trenkle, E. Venkatapathy, and K. A. Zacny (2021) Bulletin of the AAAS. https://doi.org/10.3847/25c2cfeb.e7f8e763
Micro computed tomography for in situ analysis of subsurface structure. R. W. Obbard, P. Sarrazin, N. T. Vo, J. Palmowski, P. Ngo, K. Zacny, Z. Begland (2021) 2021 IEEE Aerospace Conference (50100), pp. 1-10, doi: 10.1109/AERO50100.2021.9438421 https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9438421
In situ microCT for planetary exploration: Whitepaper #190 Submitted to the Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey 2023-2032. P. Sarrazin, R. Obbard, N. Vo, K. Zacny, N. Hinman, B. Lafuente, J. Chen, D. Blake, T. Bristow, E. Rampe, S. Byrne, S. Eckley (2021) Bulletin of the AAAS. https://doi.org/10.3847/25c2cfeb.9d6a5500
Towards the Integrated Marine Debris Observing System. N. Maximenko, P. Corradi, K. Lavender Law, E. Van Sebille, S. P. Garaba, R. S. Lampitt, F. Galgani, V. Martinez-Vicente, L. Goddijn-Murphy, J. M. Veiga, R. C. Thompson, C. Maes, D. Moller, C. Regina Löscher, A. M. Addamo, M. Lamson, L. R. Centurioni, N. Posth, R. Lumpkin, M. Vinci, A. M. Martins, C. D. Pieper, A. Isobe, G. Hanke, M. Edwards, I. P. Chubarenko, E. Rodriguez, S. Aliani, M. Arias, G. P. Asner, A. Brosich, J. T. Carlton, Y. Chao, A.-M. Cook, A. Cundy, T. S. Galloway, A. Giorgetti, G. J. Goni, Y. Guichoux, B. D. Hardesty, N. Holdsworth, L. Lebreton, H. A. Leslie, I. Macadam-Somer, T. Mace, M. Manuel, R. Marsh, E. Martinez, D. Mayor, M. Le Moigne, M. E. M. Jack, M. C. Mowlem, R. W. Obbard, K. Pabortsava, B. Robberson, A.-E. Rotaru, M. T. Spedicato, M. Thiel, A. Turra, C. Wilcox Frontiers in Marine Science. Front. Mar. Sci., 28 August 2019 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00447
A Network Model for Characterizing Brine Channels in Sea Ice. R. M. Lieb-Lappen, D. D. Kumar, S. D. Pauls, R. W. Obbard. The Cryosphere. DOI:10.5194/tc-2017-169
The first physical evidence of subglacial volcanism under the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. N. Iverson, R. Lieb-Lappen, N. W. Dunbar, R. Obbard, E. Kim, E. Golden. Scientific Reports 7: 11457 (2017) DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-11515-3
Synchrotron X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy of Salts in Natural Sea Ice. R.W. Obbard, R. Lieb-Lappen, K. V. Nordick, E. J. Golden, J. R. Leonard, A. Lanzirotti, M. G. Newville. Earth and Space Science. 11/30/16 DOI:10.1002/2016EA000172
X-ray computed microtomography of sea ice. R. Obbard (2015) Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss., 15, 13167-13171. http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/15/13167/2015/acpd-15-13167-2015…
Microplastics in Polar Regions: the role of long range transport. R. W. Obbard. Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health. Volume 1, February 2018, Pages 24–29 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coesh.2017.10.004 - INVITED
Global warming releases microplastic legacy frozen in Arctic Sea Ice. R. Obbard, S. Sadri, Y.-Q. Wong, A. A. Khitun, I. Baker and R. C. Thompson (2014) Earth's Future, 2 (6), 315-320. doi: 10.1002/2014EF000240
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