11th Annual International Mars Society Convention

Dr. Alan Stern To Speak At 11th Annual International Mars Society Convention
We are pleased to announce Dr. Alan Stern will be speaking at the 11th Annual International Mars Society Convention, which will be taking place from August 14-17, 2008 in Boulder, Colorado. Dr. Stern recently served as Associate Administrator, NASA Science Mission Directorate, and is currently the principal investigator for the New Horizons mission to Pluto.
Dr. Stern has had a distinguished career as a planetary scientist and author. He was formerly the Executive Director of the Southwest Research Institute's (SwRI's) Space Science and Engineering Division. Prior to that role, he held several other positions at SwRI, including Director of the Department of Space Studies; leader of the Geophysical, Astrophysical, and Planetary Science section in SwRI's Space Sciences Department; and leader of SwRI's Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences group at Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio. From 1983 to 1991 he held positions at the University of Colorado in the Center for Space and Geoscience Policy, the office of the Vice President for Research, and the Center for Astrophysics and Space Astronomy (CASA).
Dr. Stern has published over 175 technical papers, 40 popular articles, and two books - The U.S. Space Program After Challenger (Franklin-Watts, 1987), and Pluto and Charon: Ice Worlds on the Ragged Edge of the Solar System (Wiley 1997, 2005).
REGISTER NOW FOR A SPECTACULAR CONVENTION!


WHERE:
Back to where it all began in 1998: University Memorial Center, University Of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado.
WHEN:
August 14-17, 2008
REGISTRATION:
Available online
HOTEL INFORMATION:
Available online
SUBMIT AN ABSTRACT:
Do you want to give a talk? Please submit an abstract of no more than 300 words to marsabstracts@aol.com.
SPEAKERS:
We have an impressive list of knowledgeable, inspiring speakers already scheduled.
Some of our other confirmed speakers and programming include:
Dr. S. Pete Worden (Brig. Gen., USAF, ret.; NASA Ames Research Center Director)
Elon Musk (Founder and CEO of SpaceX)
Dr. Jim Garvin (Chief Scientist, NASA Goddard)
Dr. Carolyn Porco (Cassini Imaging Team Leader)
Dr. Chris McKay (NASA Ames Research Center)
Dr. Carol Stoker (NASA Ames Research Center)
Dr. Bill Clancey (NASA Ames Research Center)
Dr, Matt Mountain (Director of the Space Telescope Science Institute)
Dr. Michael Simpson (International Space University)
Dr. Robert Braun (Georgia Tech)
George Whitesides (Executive Director, National Space Society)
Dr. Robert Zubrin (President and Founder, The Mars Society
Dr. Buzz Aldrin of Apollo 11 fame is also tentatively scheduled to speak.
Brother Guy Consolmagno (Vatican Observatory; Curator, Vatican Meteorite Collection)
Dr. Ted Peters (Co-Editor: Theology and Science; The CTNS Journal of Science and Religion)
In addition, we will also be featuring some special programming:
Hubble Space Telescope: Why is it worth the risk and expense to repair HST? We will have speakers to discuss the future repair mission as well as the numerous astronomical discoveries that HST has made over its lifetime.
Mars and Campaign 2008: What will the 2008 elections mean for the future of the space program? We will be holding extensive programming to discuss this topic. We also intend to invite representatives from the Democratic and Republican Presidential campaigns.

Religion and Space Exploration: What impact will space exploration have on religion (if any)? What would the theological implications be of finding life on another planet? What has been the history of religion and space studies? We will be discussing these topics and many more aspects of this profound topic.

Web Advocacy for Mars and Generation Y: There has been much discussion lately about why members of "Generation Y" are not excited about space exploration. We will have in depth discussions on this topic and have presentations on how best to utilize the web for space advocacy.
Mars Project Challenge: Finalists in The Mars Society Mars Project Challenge (MPC) will make presentations explaining why their proposed project should be The Mars Society's next big project.