| February Science Cafe |
Upcoming Café February 21, 2012
“The Search for Life in the Universe”
Lou Mayo, planetary scientist for Honeywell at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Professor of Astronomy at Marymount University
Of all the bodies of the solar system, Earth stands alone as the only planet with clear evidence of life – a diversity of animal, plant, and microbial life is supported by flowing water and a thin nitrogen-oxygen atmosphere, on a planet with conditions that appear optimal for life to thrive and evolve. From the remains of a supernova remnant that provided the raw materials for our solar system, our planet formed around a G-type star. It had a stable orbit, a magnetosphere, was the right distance from its star for liquid water to exist, and had organic compounds. Scientists believe very soon after the planet formed through a process called “accretion,” life began, as simple, single cell organisms and evolved into the diversity of complex life forms we know today. But could there be life beyond the Earth? Are we alone in a vast sea of perhaps 1022 stars and trillions of planetary systems? Or could life be abundant in the universe? Recent research has greatly expanded the conditions we believe necessary to harbor life both here on Earth and beyond. This talk will examine the potential for life to exist outside the Earth and discuss the current research findings and mission results.
Lou Mayo is a planetary scientist for Honeywell at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Professor of Astronomy at Marymount University. He has spent over 30 years supporting NASA space and Earth science research, missions, and data systems including 11 years as a member of the Voyager IRIS and Cassini CIRS instrument teams. Professor Mayo has published a number of papers on the atmosphere of Titan focusing on radiative transfer modeling of aerosols and condensates. |
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| January Science Cafe Events click here |
January 2012 Science
Cafe -- “Vein to Shining Vein: Protecting the Nation's Blood Supply”
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 @ 7:00 p.m. Branded ‘72 Pit Barbecue @ 387 East Gude Drive, Rockville, MD 20850
“Vein to Shining Vein: Protecting the Nation’s Blood Supply” Dr. Kristen A. Alcorn, Medical Director for MedStar Health Blood Donor Services Dr. Kristen A. Alcorn is the Medical Director for MedStar Health Blood Donor Services. A graduate of Catholic University, Washington, DC, Dr. Alcorn worked at NIH in the Lab of Human Carcinogenesis. Dr. Alcorn attended the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, completed a residency in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, and was awarded a fellowship in Blood Banking also at the Medical College of Virginia. Dr. Alcorn currently works at the Washington Hospital Center and MedStar Blood Donor Service. For more information contact Ruth Hanessian at 301-424-4777 or call the Rockville Science Center at 240-FUN-8111 (that’s 240-386-8111).
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Mission Statement: Inspiring a passion for lifelong
exploration of science by cultivating a sense of inquiry, discovery
and understanding of the foundations of everyday life.
The vision and priorities for
Rockville articulated by the Mayor and Council call for the
development of a science center. The Rockville Science Center, Inc.
is dedicated to fulfilling that promise. We aim to provide a vibrant
facility that offers an educational forum for citizens of all ages
to explore the wonders of science that underlie everyday life and
that relates to the scientific community of our region. A
feasibility study, commissioned and funded by the city and completed
and endorsed by the Council in 2006, outlined the needs that such a
center would fulfill, and provides a compelling rationale for how a
science center would impact the personal, cultural, political,
economic, and business sectors of our community. The city's
commitment is further underscored by its continued support of an
experienced science center consulting firm, Informal Learning
Experiences, to guide, advise and support the science center‰s
development.
The feasibility study states,
"Success of the development and operations of the Rockville Science
Center depends on the project achieving a level of visibility and
credibility sufficient to attract both financial and political
support." Thus, to increase our visibility and the awareness of the
community our initial programs will be directed to science-savvy and
curious adults in the Rockville area with a monthly Science Cafe
beginning early in 2009. These Cafes involve leading experts and
interested citizens in a discussion of pressing scientific issues
facing the human race and our planet. Cafes will be a valuable
opportunity for marketing and recruiting members and supporters for
the science center. Additional summer programs for local youngsters
are being discussed with potential partners, especially the Maryland
Science Center.
Washington Post Article  READ
| Keep In Touch |
| Stay in touch with us. You can email us at info@RockvilleScienceCenter.org or call 240-FUN-8111.
For any media and communications inquiries about the
Rockville Science Center, please contact Tim Fahey at 202-276-3263.
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