The value of doing space exploration is something many people wonder about.
Join space scientist Martin Barstow at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23, as he addresses this topic and shares his knowledge and experience in how life on Earth has been affected by space research.
The event will be presented in the planetarium at ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo. The cost to attend is $8 for ‘Imiloa members or $10 for nonmembers. Call 932-8901 to purchase tickets.
Space programs often are viewed as an expensive luxury, even for developed nations, and are criticized for swallowing resources that might be better spent on social needs such as hospitals. However, in the 21st century, space is inextricably part of human lives.
Exploration has revealed the incredible diversity of the solar system and contributed vastly to the understanding of Earth’s fragility and the risks to humanity’s continued survival. Space also has become a platform for communications and other applications, without which we would now be unable to function.
Barstow’s talk will discuss how space exploration has been the inspiration for a thriving global space industry, which delivers important social and economic returns to countries, and looks forward to exciting future exploration missions.
Barstow has been a space scientist for 40 years. He joined the University of Leicester in 1979, gaining his Ph.D. in 1983 and becoming professor of astrophysics and space science in 2003. Subsequently, he has been the director of Physics and Astronomy, founding leader of the College of Science and Engineering and pro-vice chancellor for Strategic Science Projects and director of the Leicester Institute of Space and Earth Observation.
He served as the president of the Royal Astronomical Society from 2014-16 and now chairs the Space Telescope Institute Council and the Science Program Advisory Committee of the UK Space Agency. Having been involved in many space missions and published almost 400 research papers, Barstow is the originator of the concept of Space Park Leicester and a leader in its development. He also leads the Space Research and Innovation Network for Technology project, supporting the growth of small to medium enterprises.
‘Imiloa Astronomy Center is located at 600 ‘Imiloa Place. For more information, visit www.imiloahawaii.org.