David Tovar

Current Fields of Work:

Planetary geology, terrestrial analogues, glaciovolcanism on Earth and Mars, extreme environments, and geomicrobiology.

Perspectives for Contribution to the Hub:

As a planetary geologist, I aim to contribute to Europlanet Colombia by training new generations of planetary scientists and astrobiologists in Colombia and Latin America. My focus is on the design and implementation of scientific projects in the fields mentioned above, as well as capacity building in the use of databases and specialised software for planetary geology. Additionally, I can support the Hub by organising local and international research networks to foster the development of scientific publications and outreach materials in planetary and Earth sciences, as well as in astrobiology.

Publications:

Books:

  1. Tovar, D & Leal, M.A. (2025). Astrobiology and Planetary Sciences in Latin America: Research, Education, Public Outreach, and its Potential for Near-Future Investigations. Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025. 173 p. ISBN Softcover: 978-3-032-01449-8 - ISBN eBook: 978-3-032-01450-4. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-01450-4. Available at: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-032-01450-4.

Research articles:

 

  1. Tovar, D., Leal, M.A., Sánchez, J. Reyes, R…& Pelegrin, J. (2025). Astrobiology and Planetary Sciences in Colombia. In: Tovar, D., Leal, M.A. (eds) Astrobiology and Planetary Sciences in Latin America. Springer Nature Switzerland. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-01450-4_7

  2. Leal, M.A., Tovar, D. (2025). Introduction. In: Tovar, D., Leal, M.A. (eds) Astrobiology and Planetary Sciences in Latin America. Springer Nature Switzerland. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-01450-4_1

  3. Leal, M.A., Tovar, D., Abrevaya, X., Sánchez, J., Valdivia-Silva, J. (2025). Latin American Astrobiology Network. In: Tovar, D., Leal, M.A. (eds) Astrobiology and Planetary Sciences in Latin America. Springer Nature Switzerland. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-01450-4_11

  4. Leal, M. A., Tovar, D., de Pablo, M. A., Bonilla, M. A., Bolaños, J., Ruíz, E., Sánchez, J., Buitrago, J., Leone, G., Tchegliakova, N., Molina, A., San-Martín, J., Chacón, Z., Abrevaya, X., Vélez, F., Torres, A., Reyes, R., Cancino-Escalanate, G., & Acevedo-Barrios, R. (2025). Biogeochemical study of the periglacial slopes of the Nevado del Ruíz volcano (Colombia) as a terrestrial analog of Mars. Icarus, 116783. Disponible en: DOI: 10.1016/j.icarus.2025.116783

  5. Acevedo-Barrios, R., Miranda-Castro, W., González, D., Pasqualino, J., Tirado-Ballestas, I., Leal, M.A., & Tovar, D. (2025). Antarctic tardigrades a biological model for geobiology and astrobiology studies: a review. Proceedings of the 23rd LACCEI International Multi-Conference for Engineering, Education and Technology. DOI: 10.18687/LACCEI2025.1.1.1183

  6. Leal, M. A., Tovar, D., de Pablo, M. A., Bonilla, M.A., Leone, G., Tchegliakova, N., Sánchez, J., Molina, A., & San-Martín, J. (2025). The potential of Deception Island, Antarctica, as a multifunctional martian analog of astrobiological interest. International Journal of Astrobiology – 24, e3. DOI: 10.1017/S1473550425000023

  7. Leal, M. A., Tovar, D., Infante, A., Barriga, O., Ruíz, E., Sánchez, J., & Melgarejo, L. M. (2025). Phosphate solubilization by microorganisms in pyroclastic material from Half Moon Island in Antarctica: perspectives for astrobiology. Polar Biology, 48(1), 29. DOI: 10.1007/s00300-025-03348-y.

  8. San Martin, J., Leone, G., Riveros-Jensen, K., Alam, M. A., Cabrera, R., San Martin, D., Oses, R., Blamey, J., Demergasso, C., Abrevaya, X., Guiliani, N., Britt, D., Liu, Y., Silva, W., Slumba, K., Tovar, D., Leal, M., de Pablo, M. A. (2024). Prospecting the first Chilean Martian simulants from the Atacama Desert for ISRU and potential applications. Icarus. 429, 116403. DOI: 10.1016/j.icarus.2024.116403

  9. Acevedo-Barrios, R., Rubiano-Labrador, C., Mercado, H. A., Villalba, J. L., Monroy-Licht, A., Carranza-López, L., ... & Tovar, D. (2024). Identification of tardigrades from the Half Moon Island, Antarctic. Proceedings of the 22nd LACCEI International Multi-Conference for Engineering, Education and Technology. DOI: 10.18687/LACCEI2024.1.1.445

  10. Acevedo-Barrios, R., Martínez, D.A., Rocha, I., Rubiano-Labrador, C. De la Parra-Guerra, C. Carranza- López, L., Monroy-Litch, A. Leal, M.A., Tovar, D. (2024). Perchlorate in Antarctica, origin, effects, treatments, environmental fate, and astrobiological perspectives: a review. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 21, 1-18. DOI: 10.1007/s13762-024-06004-w

  11. Acevedo-Barrios, R., Tirado-Ballestas, I…, Leal, M.A., Tovar, D & Olivero-Verbel, J. (2024). Bioprospecting of extremophilic perchlorate-reducing bacteria: report of promising Bacillus spp. isolated from sediments of the bay of Cartagena, Colombia. Biodegradation, 35, 601-620. DOI: 10.1007/s10532-024-10079-0

  12. Bolanos, J., Buitrago, J., Leal, M., Tovar, D., Ruız, E., & Sánchez, J. (2023). Characterization of cultivable psychrophilic bacteria with phosphate-soluble activity and nitrogen fixation capacity, present in sediments of the Nevado del Ruiz (Caldas, Colombia). Revista Mexicana de Astronomıa y Astrofısica Serie de Conferencias (RMxAC), 55, 65-67. DOI: 10.22201/ia.14052059p.2023.55.17 

  13. Leal, M. A., Tovar, D., Valbuena, M., Guerra, Y., Sánchez, J, Molina, C. A. (2023). The transdisciplinary nature of astrobiology as a transversal axis of the educational processes at the Planetarium of Bogotá. Revista Mexicana de Astronomía y Astrofísica Serie de Conferencias (RMxAC), 55, 29–34. DOI: 10.22201/ia.14052059p.2023.55.06

  14. Figueroa, L., Sánchez, J., Leal, M. A., Tovar, D., Melgarejo, L. M., Fung, Y. W., Ceferino, M.T., Barriga, O., Nocua, I. (2023). Alternative protein sources for human food on Mars. Revista Mexicana de Astronomía y Astrofísica Serie de Conferencias (RMxAC), 55, 104-104. DOI: 10.22201/ia.14052059p.2023.55.40.

  15. Camero, J. R., Leal, M. A., Tovar, D., Velásquez, C. M., Nieves, J. S. (2023). Which terrestrial or extraterrestrial factors could contribute to the Deinococcus radiodurans radiation resistance? Revista Mexicana de Astronomía y Astrofísica Serie de Conferencias (RMxAC), 55, 110-110. DOI: 10.22201/ia.14052059p.2023.55.61.

  16. Buitrago, A. A., Sánchez, J., Leal, M. A., Tovar, D. (2023). Microorganisms in different types of caves in South America and possible survival strategies. Revista Mexicana de Astronomía y Astrofísica Serie de Conferencias (RMxAC), 55, 125-125. DOI: 10.22201/ia.14052059p.2023.55.61

  17. Velásquez, S., Tovar, D., Quiroga, A. (2023). Understanding the origin of chemical elements by teaching the process of nuclear fusion. Góndola, enseñanza y aprendizaje de las ciencias, v18, 1-8. DOI: 10.14483/23464712.21331

  18. Tovar, D., & Sánchez-Aguilar, J. J. (2012). Comparación entre los mayores eventos volcánicos de la Tierra y súper-erupciones en la luna Io de Júpiter. Geología Colombiana, 37(1), 35-37.

In the news:

Is an eruption of Nevado del Ruiz imminent?

david.tovar@corpolaguna.org

dftovarr@unal.edu.co

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Bogotá, Colombia