Reaching for the Stars: Space Exploration and Humanity's Quest to Understand Everything

Come out to our monthly program showcasing the great work done here at the Goddard Space Flight Center. Each month features different speakers tackling a variety of topics, from Earth Science to Engineering (and everything in between!).

** Our next presentation will be on Wednesday, November 14th given by, Dr. Dave Leisawitz

He will be giving a presentation on:

Reaching for the Stars; Space Exploration and Humanity's Quest to Understand Everything

How are innate human qualities reflected in our quest to explore and comprehend the universe? Our Nation's space science endeavors have practical and sometimes hidden benefits, and can be inspiring, but fundamentally they are a manifestation of human nature, and something in which we can all take pride. Using NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer mission as an example, I'd like to bring a space mission "down to Earth." My goals are to demystify the machines that help us answer some of the deepest questions we've thought to ask, to share the joy of scientific discovery, and to shed a bit of light on the path that lies ahead.

Dr. Leisawitz received a PhD in astrophysics from the University of Texas at Austin, with Dr. Frank Bash as advisor, and then moved to NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center as a National Research Council postdoc to analyze data from the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) with Dr. Michael Hauser. Along the way, he became COBE Deputy Project Scientist and adopted Dr. John Mather as a mentor. Working with John and others, including Dr. Ned Wright, Dave developed concepts for far-infrared interferometers. He is Principal Investigator for the Wide-field Imaging Interferometry Testbed, and served as PI for a study of the Space Infrared Interferometric Telescope (SPIRIT) mission concept and as Goddard study lead for the Submillimeter Probe of the Evolution of Cosmic Structure (SPECS). In 2006, he became Chief of the Science Proposal Support Office at Goddard.

Program Breakdown:

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the lecture will start promptly at 7 p.m. Space is limited. Advance registration is strongly encouraged. Visitors are still welcome to attend without pre-registration. Please note that attendees who have submitted pre-registration forms will have priority for seating, and that overflow seating may be required to accommodate all guests.

NOTE: This event is intended for an older audience. Children are welcome, but please recognize that younger children may Not find the content or format particularly engaging. In order to ensure the enjoyment of all participants, we will ask that noisy children explore the exhibit gallery with their parents.

Event Schedule:

   Reaching for the Stars; Space Exploration and Humanity's Quest to Understand Everything:

    When: November 14, 2012

    Time: 07:00:PM - 08:30:PM

    Where: Auditorium & Science Center/Sphere

    (Registration deadline November 09, 2012) - Register Now

http://visitorcenterevents.gsfc.nasa.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=event.viewEventDetails&event_id=26

http://visitorcenterevents.gsfc.nasa.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=event.registrationForm&event_date_id=129&event_id=26&title=Reaching%20for%20the%20Stars;%20Space%20Exploration%20and%20Humanity%27s%20Quest%20to%20Understand%20Everything&where=3&event_date=November%2014,%202012&start_time=07:00:PM&end_time=08:30:PM&audience=3

Visitors are still welcome to attend without pre-registration. Please note that attendees who have submitted pre-registration forms will have priority for seating, and that overflow seating may be required to accommodate all guests.

** If you are unable to attend the event in person, we hope that you will join us online! The lecture will be streamed live (and available for replay afterwards) at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-gsfc

Directions to Facility: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/visitor/directions/index.html