Prof. Jim Bell

 

Oration topic:
Postcards from Mars: Six and a half years of science and exploration with the Spirit and Opportunity Rovers

Professor Jim Bell is an astronomer and planetary scientist who has been heavily involved in many NASA robotic space missions, most recently as the lead scientist for the color cameras on the Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity.
On 14 July, he spoke about his involvement in these missions and what life really is like on Mars.

About the speaker

Jim is a professor in the Department of Astronomy at Cornell University and is the president of The Planetary Society, the world's largest public-interest space exploration organisation. He received his B.S. in Planetary Science and Aeronautics from Caltech in 1987 and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Geology & Geophysics from the University of Hawaii in 1992. Jim's research focuses on the geology, geochemistry, and mineralogy of planets, moons, asteroids, and comets using data obtained from telescopes and spacecraft. In addition to the Mars rovers, Jim has also been actively involved in the NASA Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous, Mars Pathfinder, Comet Nucleus Tour, Mars Odyssey, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, and Mars Science Laboratory missions. He has published extensively in scientific journals, and has edited two scientific books for Cambridge University Press. Jim is also a prolific science communicator, frequently contributing to popular magazines, blogs, and radio/TV shows. He has authored three space photography books: "Postcards from Mars", "Mars 3-D", and "Moon 3-D". 

View the Oration

Professor Jim Bell's Centenary Oration is available for viewing on iTunesU.   Make sure you have iTunes on your computer, then go to UQ Centenary on iTunesU.

Download iTunes.

During his visit, Jim Bell was also interviewed by ABC Radio, a UQ Centenary Oration partner.  You can listen to the interviews, or download them, from ABC Conversations website / ABC Future Tense website.

When

Wednesday 14 July @ 6.15pm for 6.30pm

Where

Queensland Bioscience Precinct Auditorium
John Hay Building (80)
Chancellor's Place
St Lucia, Brisbane QLD
[see map]

Info

 

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