NSF PR 00-32 - May 12, 2000
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Antarctic Researcher Dies
Rodney Marks, 32, an Australian citizen who was conducting
astrophysical research at the National Science Foundation's
Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, died at approximately
6 p.m. on Friday, May 12, local time. (U.S. Stations
in Antarctica keep New Zealand time.)
Marks was spending the austral winter (February through
November) at the station. He was employed by the Smithsonian
Astrophysical Observatory, working on the Antarctic
Submillimeter Telescope and Remote Observatory (AST/RO)
project. AST/RO is a research project of the University
of Chicago's Center for Astrophysical Research in
Antarctica (CARA).
He previously had spent the winter at the Pole during
the 1997-98 research season as part of CARA's South
Pole Infrared Explorer (SPIREX) project.
Marks apparently died of natural causes, but the specific
cause of death has yet to be determined. His next
of kin have been notified.
Marks' death is the second in the U.S. Antarctic Program
this year. John G. Biesiada, 43, a Canadian citizen,
died at McMurdo Station, the main U.S. scientific
station in Antarctica, on Jan 8, 2000.
Marks was born in Geelong, Australia. He held a bachelor's
degree with 1st Class Honors from the University
of Melbourne and a doctorate in physics from the University
of New South Wales. His thesis research was on the
characterization of the South Pole site for astrophysical
observations.
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