Noted Astronomers Share Discoveries & New Ideas
This fall, the Foothill College Astronomy Program is teaming up with leading scientific research organizations to offer Silicon Valley residents a forum for discussing the latest astronomical developments and discoveries. In cooperation with the NASA-Ames Research Center, SETI Institute and Astronomical Society of the Pacific, Foothill will present the Silicon Valley Astronomy Lecture Series, six illustrated, non-technical talks.
Moderated by Foothill Astronomy Instructor Andrew Fraknoi, the lectures will spotlight noted astronomers as they discuss recent discoveries and new ideas in our exploration of the universe. Lectures are from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Smithwick Theater at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills. Admission to the evening lectures is free and the public is invited to attend. Lectures are appropriate for students age 13 and older.
The first three Silicon Valley Astronomy Lecture Series installments will feature:
U.C. Berkeley’s Dr. Geoff Marcy will discuss Finding Other Worlds: The Search for Planets Around Nearby Stars Wednesday, Oct. 13, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The premier planet discoverer in history, Dr. Marcy and his co-workers have found most of the 20 planets now known to orbit other starts.
SETI’s Dr. Jill Tarter will discuss Making Contact: The Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence Wednesday, Nov. 17, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Director of SETI’s Project Phoenix, Dr. Tarter is one of the leading astronomers in the world in the field of searching for radio signals for civilizations among the stars. The role that actress Jodie Foster portrayed in the film Contact was based in part on Tarter’s life and work.
U.C. Berkeley’s Dr. Alexei Filippenko will discuss Einstein’s Biggest Blunder: New Discoveries about Cosmic ‘Antigravity’ Wednesday, Jan. 26, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Science magazine selected the work that Dr. Filippenko will describe as the most important science story of 1998.
Students who enroll in the Foothill College ASTR 36.01 course will receive one unit of college credit for attending the six lectures and writing a short paper. In addition, a special one-unit LINC workshop for K-14 teachers, led by Fraknoi, will be offered in the late afternoon the day before the evening lecture. Teachers will be introduced to the evening topic, will learn effective ways to include it in their science curriculum and will be shown a variety of hands-on activities that can help enhance student understanding.
Series organizers will announce the three remaining lecture dates in September. For additional astronomy lecture series dates, times and speakers information, access the college Web site at www.foothill.fhda.edu or call (650) 949-7888. For LINC workshop registration, call (650) 949-7498. For course registration instructions, call (650) 949-7325.
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