Mars Science Laboratory Mission: The Search for Methane and Carbonate on Mars – and the VSSEC-NASA Australian Space Prize

Dr. Adrian Brown, NASA Ames Research Center / SETI Institute and Dr. Jennifer Heldmann, NASA Ames Research Center

Dr. Adrian Brown, an Australian scientist working at NASA Ames, and Dr. Jennifer Heldmann, an alumni of the Ames Academy, are visiting Australia and have made time to discuss their work, the academy program, and how students can maximize their chances of winning the Space Prize. They will be speaking at events in five states.

The VSSEC-NASA Australian Space Prize gives an Australian university student the opportunity to participate in a 10 week NASA Academy Program and work on a current NASA project with leading scientists and engineers. The 2009 winner, Elizabeth Blaber will analyse space flown stem cells to investigate “The Influence of Spaceflight Factors on Biological Function” under the direction of Dr. Eduardo Almeida. Follow Elizabeth’s blog http://blogs.vssec.vic.edu.au/vnasp/

The Prize is open to final year and honors students. Entries are sought in five categories: Space Engineering; Geology and Planetary Geology; Biology and Human Physiology; Data Processing and Electronics; Space  Physics and Astrophysics.

Dr. Adrian Brown is a research scientist at NASA Ames Research Center and the SETI Institute in Mountain View, CA. He is a graduate from the Australian Centre for Astrobiology at Macquarie University, where he worked on mapping hydrothermal systems in the 3.5 billion year old rocks of the Pilbara in Western Australia. Adrian is currently working on the  Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer (CRISM) on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

Dr Jennifer Heldmann is a research scientist at the NASA Ames Research Center. She obtained her PhD from University of Colorado, where she studied the nature of gully features on Mars. She is currently working on the Lunar CROSS Mission, which impacted the Moon on the 9th October 2009 in search of water in the Moon’s poles.  Jennifer is a graduate and former staff member of the NASA Ames Academy.

Dates and Venues

Brisbane: Wednesday 30th June (Dr. Brown only)
2.20-3.20pm
In association with AeroSpaceFutures www.aerospacefutures.com.au
Rydges South Bank

Sydney: Thursday 1st July (Dr. Brown only)
1:00-2:00pm
Everyone welcome. No booking necessary.
UNSW, Biological Sciences Building, 1st floor, Biomed B Theatre

Canberra: Monday 5th July (Dr. Heldmann only)
4:00-6:00pm
In association with Australian Earth Sciences Careers Night
Everyone welcome. No booking necessary.
Sir Harold Raggatt Theatre, Geoscience Australia, Cnr Jerrabomberra & Hindmarsh Drv.

Adelaide: Monday 5th July (Dr. Brown only)
8:00-9:00pm
Everyone welcome. No booking necessary.
RiAus, Science Exchange, Exchange Place, Adelaide

Melbourne: Friday 9th July (Dr. Brown & Dr. Heldmann)
6:30-7:30pm
In association with Australian Mars Exploration Conference www.marssociety.org.au
Victorian Space Science Education Centre
Everyone welcome email bookings@vssec.vic.edu.au to reserve a seat

*ALL EVENTS ARE FREE*