We are currently putting the plans together for this sessions Space Frontiers Lecture Series. We will have 5 lectures this year spanning the two academic semesters and, in keeping with the broad format of this series, we will be visiting some interesting subjects by some very knowlegeable speakers.

I am pleased to announce that our season opener will Mr. Norm Augustine, holder of the National Medal of Technology, the Joint Chiefs of Staff Distinguished Public Service Award, five times Distinguished Service Medal honoree from the U. S. Department of Defense and chairman of the Advisory Committee on the Future of the U.S. Space Program (see The Augustine Report).

CURRENT SCHEDULE

February 16, 2012
Extrasolar Planets: The Discoveries of the Kepler Mission
Natalie Batalha, Ph.D., San Jose State University

March 22, 2012
Exit Strategy: Profit, Cosmology, and the Future of Humans in Space
David Valentine, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Anthropology,  University of Minnesota

BACKGROUND
Rice University has a long and accomplished history of conducting scientific research of direct benefit and interest to our nation. Its high academic standing and its location in Houston, global energy capital and home of NASA and the largest medical center in the world, makes it a natural leader in a number of areas of scientific importance.

One of our goals is to create a multidisciplinary program of education and research in space-related science, technology and policy at Rice. This will be done in partnership and collaboration with local institutions and businesses, with an emphasis on providing an enhanced educational experience for our students that will propel them to the forefront of their respective fields.

We are starting this program with a public lecture series, The Space Frontiers Lectures, designed to introduce our students and the general public to the wide array of issues involved in the pursuit of an advanced presence in space: international policy, technology innovation, commercialization, biological impacts, space science, etc.

This website provides the direct point of contact for information regarding this lecture series.  We welcome your participation in the Space Frontier Lecture Series and will happily entertain suggestions on topics for future lectures.

Subscribe to the Space Frontiers Mailing List to receive email reminders for upcoming lectures.