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NASA's chief scientist Ellen Stofan leaves the agency
NASA's chief scientist Ellen Stofan is "departing for new adventures" after more than three years in the top advisory position. The planetary geologist, academic and researcher worked with NASA throughout much of the 1990s, returning to the agency in August 2013 for the chief scientist role. In an online exit interview, Stofan said the search for extraterrestrial life is the most exciting scientific endeavor NASA is currently undertaking, whether that eventually be found on Mars, an ocean world like Jupiter's moon Europa, or perhaps one of the many alien planets spotted by the Kepler telescope -- though she admits the geology of Saturn's moon Titan, where it rains methane, fascinates her also.