She visited St. Joseph's School science co-ordinator Mark Gargano, who worked with her earlier in April this year at NASA's Ames Research Centre near San Francisco during the Spaceward Bound Mojave expedition.

Dr Coe is the deputy director of NASA education, co-principal investigator in astrobiology and the founder of NASA's Spaceward Bound project which searches for signs of life and life itself in extreme environments.

The Phoenix Project, which currently has an exploration vehicle on Mars, is an extension of Dr Coe's work and has already found water.

"We do a lot of research at places we consider analagous to Mars," Dr Coe said.

Mark was in the United States as part of Spaceward Bound's investigation of geology and biological systems and Dr Coe was his partner in the project.

Scientists and teachers undertake field work and research together so teachers can take their knowledge back to schools, hopefully to encourage more students to become scientists.

"Mark is a key person in this," Dr Coe said.

This was indicated by his accompanying Dr Coe on a visit to the venue for the 2009 Spaceward Bound exercise - Woomera and Arkaroola in South Australia.

It will begin on American Independence Day, July 4.

Another part of the Spaceward Bound project is work on instruments and all-terrain vehicles.

"Working on them in a hostile environment is a means of ensuring they should work when they are on Mars," Dr Coe said.

Also involved in the project is Curtin University engineering lecturer Michael Darby, the main proponent of establishing the Australian Science Academy in the Avon Valley.

"Michael's project would be a natural link with NASA and Spaceward Bound," Dr Coe said.

Mark is enthusiastic about the program.

"Spaceward Bound is an ideal way to promote fresh professional development for teachers and this knowledge can then be passed on to their students who potentially may take up careers in science," he said.

Mark is also education director of Mars Society Australia (MSA).

"MSA and NASA have an agreement to provide field training and experiences through the Spaceward Bound program," Mark said.