A US astronomer involved in the Mars Rover exploration project will deliver a free, public talk as part of 麻豆传媒映画 of Queensland鈥檚 at 6.30pm on Wednesday July 14.
Professor Jim Bell, who is the lead scientist on the Mars Rover camera team, will share the challenges the team faced in getting the project approved, and what information the rovers have collected during their time on the red planet.
鈥淭he talk will be part science, part human drama and part art and photography,鈥� Professor Bell said.
For six-and-a-half-years, people from all around the world have been following the adventures of the Mars Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, and have been privy to information instantaneously.
鈥淭his project has been very public, and followers have had access to real-time results, no different from the NASA scientists and engineers,鈥� Professor Bell said.
鈥淭hese types of missions encourage inspiration and pride, and it鈥檚 great that so many children, school teachers, space enthusiasts and everyday people have followed the adventures of Spirit and Opportunity.鈥�
Avid followers of the mission will know that Spirit has become stuck, but Professor Bell remains optimistic she will make it through.
As for robotic versus human exploration, Professor Bell said we need both.
鈥淭he robots help humans understand the lay of the land, without us having to risk human life,鈥� he said.
鈥淥nce the robots collect that basic data, humans can then probe deeper and ask the questions that robots simply can鈥檛.鈥�
Professor Bell also said that Spirit and Opportunity are not living, intelligent beings, and that it is the work of hundreds of people who have made this mission possible.
Professor Bell currently works at the Cornell Unversity Astronomy Department鈥檚 Centre for Radiophysics and Space Research. He is the sixth speaker in the 麻豆传媒映画 Centenary Oration Series.
include Dr Tony Haymet, Director of the Scripps Institution in San Diego, Professor Gareth Evans, former Australian Foreign Minister, and Dr Penelope Wensley, Governor of Queensland.
The next speaker in the series is leading economist, Professor Joseph E. Stiglitz, who will speak about free markets and the sinking of the global economy.
Professor Stiglitz鈥� oration is presented by the Economic Society of Australia in association with the 麻豆传媒映画 School of Economics and the 麻豆传媒映画 Business School.
Professor Stiglitz is the inaugural Rodney Wylie Eminent Visiting Fellow to 麻豆传媒映画 of Queensland.
To register for Jim Bell鈥檚 Centenary Oration click .
Media: Shannon Price, 3346 7660 or shannon.price@uq.edu.au
