On Monday, November 18th,
Crowell Library will be honored to present Professor MAX COLEMAN, Senior
Research Scientist from NASA/Cal Tech with a lecture on how the agency is
searching for life on other planets. It is likely that the Earth's
surface was habitable shortly after its formation just over 4.5 billion years
ago. Microbial life dominated the Earth until just over half a billion
years ago and signs of microbial activity are the prime targets
of exploration for life on Mars. Amazingly, exhaled “breath” of
microorganisms is one of the best signs of life, preserved in minerals and
recognized by its composition. Until samples can be return to Earth,
instruments must fly to Mars for analysis. Examples will be shown of how
laboratory analytical instruments are miniaturized spectacularly (by
factors of a thousand) and adapted for flight to Mars. Professor Coleman’s presentation
will involve practical demonstrations as well as audiovisual material.
Max Coleman's training combined chemistry, geology and
isotope geochemistry at London and Leeds Universities, but he found that
he needed to encompass microbiology too when studying sedimentary rocks.
He has applied multidisciplinary fundamental scientific research to
elicit solutions to practical problems in petroleum exploration and
production, environmental pollution, radioactive waste storage and
forensic science. He now uses the same approaches to search for life
on other planets. For ten years he ran a national isotope analysis
facility at the British Geological Survey. In 2003, Professor Coleman was enticed to
join the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab, Caltech, and became Director of the
Center for Life Detection and Leader of the Astrobiology Research
Group.
Light refreshments will be served. Please join us for this free program, courtesy of our friends at NASA/Cal Tech.
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