Adam Hughes, a Space Center graduate student, has been selected as a student ambassador for the NASA International Year of Astronomy (IYA) program for 2009.  The program was created by the National Space Grant Foundation to encourage undergraduate and graduate students to participate in NASA’s IYA activities and to help generate excitement about NASA scientific discoveries in astrophysics, planetary science, and solar physics.  At this time, Hughes is working with a colleague from Memphis to create a traveling space exhibit that will travel from Memphis through Arkansas and end in Fayetteville.

Derek Sears, a member of the Space Center and a faculty member in the department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, recently gave a colloquium at the University of Arkansas, Little Rock, in the colleges of science and mathematics, engineering and information technology.  The talk was entitled “Meteorites, Asteroids, and the Earth: An Astronomer’s Menage à Trois” in which he reviewed the complex interelationships between the three.  The colloquium was attended by about 100 students and faculty.  While understanding the relationship between the three can have enormous scientific returns, the Earth has always been under threat from asteroid impact, and sometimes the consequences for life on earth have been dour.  Understanding the nature of asteroids is essential for developing methods for destroying an asteroid on an impact course with Earth.

Kate Coleman, a Space Center graduate student, recently had an article accepted to the European journal Planetary and Space Sciences.  The article is titled “Experimental Simulation of Martian Gully Forms.”  The article focused on the fact that gullies are widespread on slopes on the surface of Mars, yet their formation processes remain elusive.

Julia Kennefick, a member of the Space Center and a faculty member in the department of Physics, recently hosted a Family Astronomy Evening titled “Moon Mission” for second and third grade students at Leverett Elementary School in Fayetteville.  The evening’s events included activities designed as part of the Astronomy Society of the Pacific’s Family Astro Project to get families working together to explore different properties of the Moon and its relation to Earth.  Students from the University of Arkansas Astronomy Society were present to work with the families.  They provided telescopes and binoculars for viewing the Moon and Jupiter and its moons.  Funding was provided by NASA and the Leverett PTO.  Prior to the event, Dr. Kennefick visited the Leverett second grade classes to discuss the phases of the Moon and the Earth-Moon-Sun system.

Photo caption: Tricia Smith and her son Jacksn work on he crash landing project

Po-Hao Adam Huang, a member of the Space Center and faculty member in the department of Mechanical Engineering, recently gave the second lecture of the semester in the Arkansas Public Lectures in Space and Planetary Science series.  It was titled “Photo Structurable Glass Ceramics Enabled Micro-Fluidic Thruster Systems for Pico/Nano-Satellites.”

The Boone County Library in Harrison, Ark., has been selected as one of the forty libraries across the nation to host the Visions of the Universe: Four Centuries of Discovery exhibit.  The exhibit is a joint venture of The Space Telescope Science Institute, the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, and the American Library Association.  Libraries were selected based on the fact that they demonstrate the ability to work with local schools to present the exhibit and they draw attention to space science and careers in space science.  The tour begins in 2009 and continues through 2010.  The Space Center has agreed to participate in some of the educational programming related to the traveling exhibit.  Congratulations to the Boone County Library!

The Space Center recently celebrated the retirement of Hazel Sears, the former manager of the Space Center.  During the reception, Hazel and Derek Sears were recognized for their dedicated service to the Space Center through the years.  Mrs. Sears was presented with a crystal vase and they were both presented with plaques in appreciation for their service.  The event was well-attended by many colleagues from across the campus.

Photo caption: Dr. Collis Geren looks at the plaque presented to Hazel Sears

Fall American Geophysical Union Meeting
December 15-19, 2008
San Francisco, CA

213th American Astronomical Society Meeting
January 4-8, 2009
Long Beach, CA

Planet Formation and Evolution: The Solar System and Extrasolar Planets
March 2-6, 2009
Tuebingen, Germany

Lunar and Planetary Science Meeting
March 23-27, 2009
The Woodlands, TX

72nd Meteoritical Society Meeting
July 13-18, 2009
Nancy, France