In the 1980's I established the NASA Reflectance Experiment Laboratory (RELAB, that operates from 0.3 to 25 microns) at Brown as a multi-user NASA-supported spectroscopy facility. My planetary science research focus is largely on the character and evolution of the Moon and small bodies of the solar system. I became the Principal Investigator leading NASA's Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) experiment launched to the Moon and also worked as Co-Investigator on Dawn, a NASA mission to explore the largest asteroids, Vesta and Ceres.

Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3): As Principal Investigator for M3, an imaging spectrometer (0.4-3.0 µm), I led a team to characterize and map the mineralogy of the Moon at high resolution. M3 was successfully launched on the Indian Chandrayaan-1 mission to the Moon in October 2008. Over its lifetime M3 mapped the global mineralogical properties properties of the Moon, providing a strong baseline for detaied exploration. Principal unexpected discoveries included finding widespread OH/H2O across the surface and a new lunar rock type (a Mg-rich spinel anorthosite).

Laboratory spectroscopy experiments: Relying largely on RELAB capabilities, much of laboratory research involves measuring and modeling the interaction of visible to mid-infrared radiation with geologic materials. This includes extensive measurement and analyses of lunar samples, meteorites, and relevant other materials.

Lunar science: Using remote compositional analysis from spacecraft and telescopic multi-spectral data science questions focus on formation and evolution of the lunar crust. Craters and large basins are used as probes to the interior. The character and evolution of the enormous South Pole-Aitken Basin continues to be under detailed investigation.

Space weathering:  A diverse range of processes are responsible for altering materials in the space environment. We focus on identifying and measuring the effects of these processes on geologic samples. Ultimately, we wish to understand the evolution of the regolith on airless planetary bodies.

Dawn Science Team: As a Dawn Co-Investigator, my role first focused on planning the mission to study the large asteroids Vesta and Ceres in detail. Principal responsibilities later included integration of remote compositional measurements and development of links to meteorites and understanding of early solar system processes.

International collaboration: Emphasis has involved promoting and assisting in planning international exploration with Germany, England, Japan, Russia, and India. Additional topics include quantitative modeling of lunar sample data and geologic analysis of multi-spectral images with scientists at Kharkov University, Ukraine.

Recent Research:

Dawn [a Discovery Mission, C. Russell, PI] (2090 G DC288); C. Pieters CoI, JPL/NASA Discovery Program

Moon Mineralogy Mapper, (NNM05AB26C); C. Pieters, PI, NASA Discovery Program

Trailblazer [a SIMPLEX mission to the Moon, launch Oct. 2023; Bethany Elhmann, PI] C. Pieters CoI

Pieters C. M. and the M3 Science Team (2008) The Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) on Chandrayaan-1, Current Science in press

Pieters C.M., R. L. Klima, T. Hiroi, M. D. Dyar, M. D. Lane, A. H. Treiman, S. K. Noble, J. M. Sunshine, and J. L. Bishop. (2008) Martian Dunite NWA 2737: Integrated Spectroscopic Analyses of Brown Olivine, J. Geophys. Res. 113, E06004, doi: 10.1029/2007JE002939.

Petro, N. E. and Pieters, C. M. (2008) The Lunar-Wide Effects of Basin Ejecta Distribution on the Early Megaregolith, Meteoritics and Planetary Science, v. 43(8), p. 1517-1529.

Nimura, T., T. Hiroi, and C. M. Pieters (2008), An improved scheme for modeling the reflectance spectra of space-weathered regoliths, Earth Planets Space, 60, 271-275.

Klima, RL, CM Pieters, and MD Dyar (2008) Characterization of the 1.2 µm M1 pyroxene band: Extracting cooling history from near-IR spectra of pyroxenes and pyroxene-dominated rocks, Meteoritics and Planetary Science. vol 43, 1591-1604

Isaacson PJ and CM Pieters (2008) Origins of the Northern Imbrium Noritic Anomaly, J. Geophys Res., submitted

Junichi Haruyama, Makiko Ohtake, Tsuneo Matsunaga, Tomokatsu Morota, Chikatoshi Honda,Yasuhiro Yokota, Masanao Abe, Yoshiko Ogawa, Hideaki Miyamoto, Akira Iwasaki, Carle M. Pieters, Noriaki Asada, Hirohide Demura, Naru Hirata, Junya Terazono, Sho Sasaki, Kazuto Saiki, Atsushi Yamaji, Masaya Torii, Jean-Luc Josset (2008b) Long-Lived Volcanism on the Lunar Farside Revealed by SELENE Terrain Camera, Science Express: [Published online 6 November 2008; 10.1126/science.1163382]

Junichi Haruyama, Makiko Ohtake, Tsuneo Matsunaga, Tomokatsu Morota, Chikatoshi Honda, Yasuhiro Yokota, Carle M. Pieters, Seiichi Hara, Kazuyuki Hioki, Kazuto Saiki, Hideaki Miyamoto, Akira Iwasaki, Masanao Abe, Yoshiko Ogawa, Hiroshi Takeda, Motomaro Shirao, Atsushi Yamaji,Jean-Luc Josset (2008a) Lack of Exposed Ice Inside Lunar South Pole Shackleton Crater, Science, Volume 322, Issue 5903, pp. 938- [Published online 23 October 2008; 10.1126/science.1164020]

Dyar, MD., E.C. Sklute, O.N. Menzies, P.A. Bland, D. Lindsley, T. Glotch, M.D. Lane, M.W. Schaeffer, B. Wopenka, R. Klima, J.L. Bishop, T. Hiroi, C. Pieters, and J. Sunshine Spectroscopic Characteristics of Synthetic Olivine: An Integrated Multi-Wavelength and Multi-Technique Approach (2008) Am. Min. in press.

 Elected Fellow of American Astronomical Society, 2020
 Elected Fellow of Meteoritical Society, 2016
 Awarded SSERVI Shoemaker Medal and Lecturer 2015
 Awarded International Cooperation Medal, Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) 2014
 Elected Fellow of Geological Society of America, 2011
 Shoemaker Lecturer, American Geophysical Union, 2010 Fall Meeting
 Awarded GSA G. K. Gilbert Award, 2010.
 Awarded NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal 2010

Elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2008.

Awarded Gerard P. Kuiper Prize, American Astronomical Society, Division for Planetary Sciences, 2004.

President, ILEWG (International Lunar Exploration Working Group), elected 2002-2004.

Chair, American Association Advancement of Science, Astronomy Section, elected 2002/3.

Elected Fellow, American Geophysical Union, 2001.

Asteroid 3713 Pieters named in honor.

President, American Geophysical Union, Planetology Section, (elected office), 1996-1998.

Board of Trustees, Universities Space Research Association (elected member), 1994-1997.

Chair, Division of Planetary Sciences, American Astronomical Society, (elected office), 1992-1993.

Secretary, American Geophysical Union, Planetology Section, (elected office), 1986-1988.

Member, Committee of the Division of Planetary Science, Am. Astron. Soc., (elected office) 1986-1989.

Chair, Universities Space Research Association, Council of Institutions (elected office), 1985-1986.

Member (and Vice-Chair), NASA Advisory Council Science Committee 2013 – 2017

• Member, OSIRIS-Rex Standing Review Board 2013 – 2017

• Chair, AGU Fellows Committee 2013-2014

• Member, AGU Honors and Recognition committee 2010-2014

• Member, Planetary Protection Subcommittee 2002 to 2013 [although the name changes]

• Member, AGU Flinn award committee (2006-2010)

• Member, AGU Planetary Sciences section Awards Committee, 2009-2010.

• Chair, Awards Committee, AGU, Planetary Sciences Section (2006 to 2009)

• Chair, MoonLITE Science Evaluation Board, NASA-UK (2008)

• Co-Chair, National Academies, NRC Space Studies Board, Committee on Scientific Context for Exploration of the Moon (2006-2007)

• Member, AGU Fellows Committee [2001 to 2006]]

• Science Manager, NASA/Keck Reflectance Experiment Laboratory (RELAB) [1980-2014]
• Associate Editor, Meteoritics and Planetary Sciences, 1998-present
• Chair, Solar System Exploration Survey, Inner Planets Panel, NAS/NRC [2001/2]
• Past President, Planetary Sciences Section, American Geophysical Union, 1998 - 2000

GEOL 0160: First Year Seminar: Mysteries of the Earth and Planets: Fact, Fiction, or Undetermined

GEOL 1710: Remote Sensing of Earth and Planetary Surfaces

GEOL 2810: Planetary Science Seminar: Special Topics in Spectroscopy

GEOL 2840: Asteroids and Meteorites

GEOL 2850: Regolith Processes

GEOL 2870: Planetary Evolution: Moon

ADVISING
Former Graduate Students:
Janice Bishop, Ph.D. '94
Daniel Britt, Ph.D. '91
Leah Cheek, Ph.D. '13
Kerri Donaldson-Hanna, Ph.D. '13
Jessica Cohen, Sc.M. '01

Deepak Dhingra, Ph.D. '14
Erich Fischer, Ph.D. '95
Peter Isaacson, Ph.D. '10
Rachel Klima, Ph.D. '08
Daniel Moriarty, Ph.D. '16

John Mustard, Ph.D. '90
Sarah Noble, Ph.D. '04
Noah Petro, Ph.D. '07
Matthew Staid, Ph.D. '00
Jessica Sunshine, Ph.D. '94
Stephanie Tompkins, Ph.D. '97
Steven Yon, Sc.M. '87