About this Event
February 21 • Jeannette Wolak Luna, Ph.D.
Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Earth Sciences, Tennessee Tech University
Return to the Moon: Geologic Maps for Artemis Exploration of the Lunar South Pole
More than fifty years ago, the Apollo Program made history by landing the first human crew on the Moon. The Artemis Program, so named after the twin sister of Apollo, will parallel this achievement with a series of crewed and robotic missions over the next decade. In this talk, we explore the geologic, scientific, and tactical maps needed to support such an endeavor and how these products are used by mission control and astronauts for lunar surface navigation. We also review the enormous scientific potential of the Lunar South Pole, a terrain that hosts some of the oldest crustal rocks available in the Solar System.
Founder and CEO of Minorities in Aquaculture; University of Maryland
Passion on The Chesapeake: The Past, Present & Future of the Chesapeake Bay commercial fishing industry through an Ecological Anthropology Lens
The unique history of the Chesapeake Bay commercial fishing industry is a well known story around the world. Imani Black, Founder & CEO of 501c3 Minorities In Aquaculture, is a native Eastern Shore oyster farmer currently researching the Bay's heritage through a social lens at University of Maryland's Center for Environmental Sciences (UMCES) Horn Point Laboratory in Cambridge, MD. From her appreciation of the Bay's commercial fishing industry (past & present), her thesis specifically focuses on the historic timeline & contributions of African Americans in many sectors of Maryland's maritime occupations from the slave era (1865) to present day participation.
Curator of Herpetology, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Associate Chair,
Department of Natural History
Digital Specimens and the Future of Natural History Museums
Access to the collections of natural history museums has long been restricted to specialists in specific scientific disciplines. By creating digital representatives of specimens and objects, museums are bringing the behind-the-scenes to classrooms, scientists, and the public. These digital specimens enable new, large-scale studies of biodiversity past and present, and provide hands-on learning opportunities for people of all ages. The Florida Museum of Natural History—the state’s only university-based museum—is an international leader in research and education, and offers many research and outreach opportunities for scientists across the state.
Assistant Professor, Physics, University of Tampa
Exploring the Universe with Gamma-Ray Bursts, Space Telescopes, and Citizen Science
Gamma-ray bursts are one of the most powerful explosions in the universe. These bursts are likely related to supernovae, neutron stars, or black holes. When a gamma-ray burst occurs, it can release more energy within 10 s than the entire 10 billion year lifetime of our sun, which makes them one of the furthest astrophysical objects that can be detected directly by telescopes. However, the exact physical mechanism that creates these extraordinary bursts remains unresolved. In this talk, I will discuss our journey exploring the mysterious origins of gamma-ray bursts with space telescopes, and our recent project that invites all astronomy lovers to help us solve the puzzle.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Challenger Learning Center, 200 South Duval Street, Tallahassee, United States
USD 0.00 to USD 50.00
