A new century of scientific knowledge and exploration of Mars has begun, with the current planning and prospect of many new missions to be launched to the Red Planet.

The Mars Institute was created to respond to this opportunity and, out of a need strongly felt by its initiators, to establish an independent nonprofit organization whose sole purpose is to focus on advancing the scientific study and exploration of Mars, with a central commitment to conducting high quality peer-reviewed research, and on sharing knowledge and experiences of Mars exploration with students and the general public worldwide.

Mars Institute Board Members and Advisors Emeritus Advisors - Audouin Dollfus, Ph.D., Observatoire de Paris-Meudon - Frank Drake, Ph.D., Chairman, SETI Institute Science and Exploration Advisors - Stephen Braham, Ph.D., Simon Fraser University - David Crown, Ph.D., Planetary Science Institute - Stephen J. Hoffman, Ph.D., Science Application International Corporation - Jeffrey E. Moersch, Ph.D., University of Tennessee - Michael Sims, Ph.D., NASA Ames Research Center - Peter Smith, University of Arizona - Steven W. Squyres, Ph.D., Cornell University - Carol Stoker, Ph.D., NASA Ames Research Center - Peter C. Thomas, Ph.D., Cornell University Outreach Advisors - Kim Stanley Robinson, M.A., Author Student Advisors - Darlene Lim, Ph.D. Candidate, Univeristy of Toronto - Paul Wooster, Undergraduate, M.I.T.

The Mars Institute will strive to provide leadership as the premier international non-governmental organization for the peaceful advancement of these goals.

The Mars Institute's founding Board of Directors includes Dr. Pascal Lee of the SETI Institute, Dr. Charles Cockell of the British Antarctic Survey, and Mr. Marc Boucher of SpaceRef Interactive, Inc.

"The exploration of Mars is one of the most exciting combined scientific, technical, and public-inspiring challenges of our time.

It is fitting that an international organization be dedicated to advancing Mars research and the peaceful exploration of our planetary neighbor", said Lee.

The Mars Institute will build in particular on Lee's research experience as Principal Investigator of the NASA Haughton-Mars Project.

"Every time humanity has embarked on a new path of scientific research and exploration, the need for an organization to focus on meeting the new scientific and technical challenges that appear, and on communicating the results of these efforts, has arisen.

Such was the case for the exploration of Earth's oceans, its moon, and other frontiers. Now, with the founding of the Mars Institute, the same can be said for the exploration of Mars", said Boucher.

Today, the Mars Institute also unveiled its inaugural Board of Advisors. Mars Institute Advisors provide independent advice to the Board of Directors on a wide variety of matters concerning the development and implementation of Mars science, exploration, and education and public outreach.

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