From Mars hot seat to endowed chair

Steve Squyres, center, science team leader for the Mars rover mission, is now the Goldwin Smith Professor of Astronomy. At an informal ceremony in the Space Sciences Building Jan. 28, Squyres was saluted by his colleagues for being named to an endowed chair. Among those offering their congratulations are Joseph Veverka, left, professor and chair of the Department of Astronomy, and Peter Lepage, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Attributing the success of the twin-rover Mars mission to the "tremendous efforts by many people, many of them here in this building," Squyres observed of his new appointment, "Something like this is like individual honors in what is definitely a team sport." Nicola Kountoupes/University Photography