Faculty on Tour: Amy Mainzer - From Space Telescopes to Global Adventures

Tours to Watch For

Antarctica – November 2026: A dramatic, remote-continent expedition aboard a purpose-built expedition ship. An opportunity to explore icebergs, penguins, marine wildlife, and polar landscapes with expert narration and scientific context from Professor Mainzer herself.
Total Solar Eclipse in Tunisia – July 2027: A rare celestial event coupled with guided travel across North Africa, paired with Amy Mainzer’s expertise on cosmic phenomena.

Amy Mainzer is a planetary scientist at UCLA's Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences and one of the world’s foremost experts on asteroids, comets, and near-Earth objects. With a career that spans major space missions, including her role as principal investigator for NEOWISE, the Earth-orbiting infrared telescope that scanned the skies for Earth-approaching objects, Mainzer has built a reputation for scientific excellence. She is also widely recognized for her commitment to public outreach and real-world scientific impact. Today, she’s leading the development of the next generation space telescope, Near-Earth Object Surveyor, aimed at discovering the large asteroids that pose a regional impact risk to Earth.

Mainzer’s influence reaches beyond telescopes. She’s received multiple honors including NASA awards and being named a Fellow of the American Astronomical Society. She has also served as a science advisor for children’s programming and major films, helping make complex space science accessible to the public.

Now, she’s bringing her passion for exploration and discovery to travel. Through UCLA Alumni Travel, Amy Mainzer will host special tours that combine her deep scientific insight with unforgettable global destinations, offering alumni and science-curious travelers alike a chance to journey the world with a top planetary scientist leading the way.

Whether you’re drawn by the wonders of Earth’s most remote places or the mysteries of space, traveling with Amy Mainzer promises a rare combination of adventure, education, and inspiration.