Jonathan Clarke

About

Jonathan Clarke’s research bridges two seemingly disparate worlds: the future of surgical robotics in England’s National Health Service and the geochemical landscapes of Mars. His most cited work, “Uptake and accessibility of surgical robotics in England” (2020, 39 citations), provides the first nationwide analysis of how robotic surgery systems are distributed and accessed across NHS trusts, mapping accessibility for over 32,000 local areas—a critical contribution to health equity and technology adoption. Alongside this, Clarke has made significant contributions to planetary analogue research. His 2011 study on subsurface soil cores from Utah’s Mars Desert Research Station (18 citations) characterized phyllosilicate and sulfate minerals as analogues for Martian landing sites, advancing our understanding of Mars’ mineralogy and potential biosignatures. He also investigated melt-water-formed dark streaks on Haughton crater’s slopes (2019) as seasonal Mars analogues, observed during a Mars Society mission. With a career spanning astrobiology, planetary geology, and health systems research, Clarke’s work exemplifies interdisciplinary impact—from improving surgical access on Earth to decoding Mars’ ancient environments.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Uptake and accessibility of surgical robotics in England

   39 citations · 2020
2. 2
   Mineralogical, chemical, organic and microbial properties of subsurface soil cores from Mars Desert Research Station (Utah, USA): Phyllosilicate and sulfate analogues to Mars mission landing sites

   18 citations · 2011
3. 3
   Melt-water formed dark streaks on slopes of Haughton crater as possible Mars analogues

   3 citations · 2019

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links