Grunsfeld has circled our planet hundreds of times and conducted history-making space walks for surgical repairs on the orbiting telescope. As deputy director of the Hubble Space Telescope Science Institute, Grunsfeld is among the first to experience the dazzling complexity of cosmic chaos occurring in space. He shared Hubble’s expansive collection of spectacular images such as star births in the extreme, sheets of debris, shredded remains of old supernovas and light echoing from supergiant stars.
Among the Festival’s 2011 highlights, National Public Radio’s ScienceFriday will broadcasted live from Northern Arizona University with host Ira Flatow; the Museum of Northern Arizona is presenting Grand Archaeology – Excavation and Discovery along the Colorado River; Flagstaff Medical Center will offer its Fantastic Voyage; NAU will conduct Mountain Campus Science and Engineering Day; and the U.S. Geological Survey will host a field trip to the Apollo mission training grounds. Also in the lineup are star parties at observatories and open houses at research stations. Science-based organizations such as W. L. Gore & Associates will share their discoveries and innovations at Science in the Park and local scientists will offer more than 100 presentations to school children. In addition, the Festival will promote healthy forests through walks and talks as a designated United Nations International Year of Forests event! “With our theme Science Illuminates we have such an opportunity to show how reflected light can reveal the mysteries of distant planets, stars, nebulae and galaxies,” said Festival President Winnie Ennenga. “Science also illuminates ecological processes that are so essential for life here on our planet. The 2011 Festival will no doubt inspire and fascinate the next generation of astronomers, biologists and doctors.” Support from more than 70 businesses, organizations and individuals makes the Flagstaff Festival of Science possible. Among the many sponsors, funding comes from the City of Flagstaff BBB tax revenues, Flagstaff Cultural Partners, the Flagstaff Community Foundation, W. L. Gore & Associates, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, Science Foundation Arizona, the Stardust Foundation and Northern Arizona University. For a complete listing of activities, visit www.scifest.org. |