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Are We Alone? |
This Web Seminar, developed in collaboration with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
(JPL) and Arizona State University’s (ASU) Mars Education Program, took place on
January 31, 2008 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time. The presenter was
Dr.
Jack Farmer, Professor in the Department of Geological Sciences
and Director of Arizona State University’s Astrobiology Program. Dr. Farmer talked
about astrobiology, extreme environments and some of the extreme places we have
found life thriving on Earth and the applications of this data in regards to Mars
exploration.
Dr. Jack Farmer shared three conclusions with the audience: (1) The search for Martian
life involves two distinctly different paths: Looking for extant life and looking
for fossil biosignatures. (2) Life is found over a much broader range of environmental
extremes than once believed, including extremes of temperature, pH, salinity, water,
and oxygen availability. (3) Evidence of life in extreme environments expands exploration
for life elsewhere in the Solar System to an equally broad range of surface and
subsurface environments. Dr. Farmer completed his presentation discussing ways we
are designing Mars missions to look below the surface of Mars in the search for
life.
Twenty-eight (28) participants were present at the live Web Seminar in addition
to the presenter, the ASU moderator, and NSTA staff. Participating educators represented
the states of Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana,
Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma,
Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wyoming. One participant tuned in from Brazil
and another participant tuned in from New Zealand. All seminar participants received
a one year subscription to one of NSTA’s SciGuides for completing the evaluation
form at the end of the program.
Here are some comments provided by the participants at the end of the Web Seminar:
- “This was an excellent format for a seminar. I enjoyed getting to hear
first-hand
experience and expertise without having to travel to some place
far, far away.”
- “I was already familiar with much of the content, but having it presented
live
by an expert like Dr. Farmer was a unique privilege. I learned a lot
about the Eluminate
Live! technology, this being my first Web Seminar.”
- “Dr. Farmer was very knowledgeable, yet was able to explain things in a
way
that a layman could understand. I've learned that there are a lot of
resources that
are more readily accessible to me than there were 10
years ago."
- “When Dr. Farmer talked about his research and showed slides it made me
wish
I could do that. I am sure some of my students would feel the same if
they heard
his presentation.”
Thanks to the participants and the presenter for the learning opportunity, the interactions, and a job well done!
Websites
For more information contact webseminars@nsta.org
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Underwritten by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory
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