Scientists are among the most interesting people you’ll ever meet, and they do some of the most exciting and creative work imaginable. But for most of us, that work can often seem abstract and hard to grasp.
Joe Palca, NPR science correspondent, is ready to come to the rescue. He’s gathered a group of notable scientists working in six hot-topic disciplines and planned a series that offers insights into what they do—and why it’s important to you. Informal conversations will reveal dynamic fields filled with innovation, passion, and promise that are worlds away from coolly clinical, lab-coated stereotypes. You’ll come away from these entertaining and accessible sessions with plenty of new information, as well as a deeper confidence in your ability to make the connection between science and your life.
Featured Topic: Planetary Science
Featured Scientist: Sean Solomon, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University
This evening, Palca welcomes Sean Solomon, geophysicist and director of the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University. Solomon has spent his professional life studying the moon, Mars, Venus, and most especially Mercury, serving as principal investigator on NASA’s MESSENGER, which is in orbit around Mercury. A pioneer in astrobiology, which seeks to understand how life on Earth arose and its potential to exist elsewhere, Solomon also enjoys the very cool distinction of having an asteroid named after him: Asteroid 25137 Seansolomon, about a mile and half wide, is currently orbiting the sun between Mars and Jupiter.
Click here to view the full lecture series.
