Bethany Theiling

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Bethany Theiling is a planetary scientist and astrobiologist whose research lies at the critical intersection of space exploration and artificial intelligence. Her primary focus is on developing "science autonomy"—machine learning and data science techniques that empower planetary instruments to make intelligent, real-time decisions. Theiling’s major contribution addresses a fundamental bottleneck in space exploration: future instruments can generate far more data than can be transmitted back to Earth. Her work, most notably applied to the ExoMars mission’s Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer (MOMA), creates algorithms that autonomously identify and prioritize the most scientifically valuable data for return, preventing the loss of crucial discoveries on a planet’s surface. Her most cited paper (2022, 9 citations) serves as a seminal case study for this approach, while her 2021 work with Impossible Sensing (8 citations) furthers non-robotic autonomy development. With a growing body of work (including a 2023 study with 3 citations), Theiling is a leading voice in ensuring that the next generation of planetary missions maximizes their scientific return through onboard intelligence.