MSOE to host Wisconsin Space Conference
| Published: 07/28/2009 |
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The Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium (WSGC) and Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) present the 19th annual Wisconsin Space Conference on Thursday and Friday, Aug. 13 and 14 at MSOE. The conference will showcase the space science and engineering happening throughout Wisconsin that is funded by the WSGC, as well as bring nationally recognized space scientist Dr. Ellis Miner to speak to students, professors and the general public.
Dr. Miner's keynote address, "The Cassini Encounter with the Gem of the Solar System," will be an overview of the extraordinary success of the Cassini Mission to Saturn. This international venture included a probe of Saturn's rings and Titan, Saturn's largest moon.
Dr. Miner was the science manager for the Cassini Mission to Saturn, which launched in August 1997. He also served as the co-director of the NASA Solar System Exploration Education and Public Outreach Forum. He received his undergraduate degree from Utah State University and his Ph.D. in physics and astronomy from Brigham Young University. Following key roles in the Voyager and Viking missions, he retired from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
The conference also features students presenting their NASA Center experiences and research, as well as students and faculty presenting their research in astronomy, physics, engineering, material sciences, chemistry, biological sciences and many presentations about K-12 and general public outreach programs run throughout the state. There also will be presentations from the WSGC High-Altitude Balloon Launch and Payload Teams and from Rocket Teams that placed during the WSGC WI Collegiate Sounding Rocket Competition.
These teams will receive their awards on Friday, Aug. 14, and the WSGC will present awards for 2009-2010 undergraduate scholarships, undergraduate research, graduate fellowships, Laurel Clark Fellowship, faculty/staff research seed grants, higher education initiative grants, aerospace outreach and special initiative grants.
The WSGC is a joint effort between NASA and organizations statewide. WSGC is dedicated to helping provide Wisconsin students, researchers, educators, businesses, not-for-profit organizations and other stakeholders with the tools, connections and resources they need to make the aerospace community in the state of Wisconsin grow and thrive.
MSOE is an independent university with 2,600 students. MSOE offers 17 bachelor's degrees and nine master's degrees in the engineering, engineering technology, architectural engineering and building construction, computer, business and health-related fields. The university has a national academic reputation; longstanding ties to business and industry; dedicated professors with real-world experience; and extremely high placement rates and starting salaries. MSOE graduates are well-rounded, technologically experienced and highly productive professionals and leaders.