Field science goes to extremes at ASU Earth and Space Open House

On Feb. 5, the first Earth and Space Open House of 2016 will take you across the globe and into space in the spirit of exploration.

By Robert Burnham |
February 01, 2016

Himalayan geoscience and Antarctic astronomy are both on the program at the next Earth and Space Open House at Arizona State University, the first of the spring semester. Join ASU Foundation Professor Kip Hodges and School of Earth and Space Exploration postdoctoral researcher Sean Bryan as they talk about ASU research in the Himalayas, and launching balloon experiments in Antarctica.

Kip Hodges' talk is titled "Working in Extremes: Field Geology on Earth and Beyond," and Sean Bryan's is titled "From Texas to Space, and Antarctica in Between."

Find out what's it's all about, from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5, at the Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building IV (ISTB 4) on ASU’s Tempe campus.

The evening's events are all free.

7:15 p.m. First 3-D planetarium show (Marston Exploration Theater).

7:30 p.m. Panel discussion on "Earth & Space Exploration in the Field" (ISTB4, Room 240).

8:15 p.m. Keynote lectures by Kip Hodges and Sean Bryan (Marston Exploration Theater).

9:15 p.m. Second 3-D planetarium show (Marston Exploration Theater).

All seating in the Marston Exploration Theater is on a first-come, first-seated basis, and the theater will be cleared after each event.

As usual, there will be telescope sky viewing outdoors next to the James Turrell Skyscape art installation from 8 to 10 p.m. (weather permitting). There will also be several exciting demonstrations and activities in the state-of-the-art ISTB4 Gallery of Scientific Exploration by experts in astrobiology, geology, cosmology and planetary science. Stop by the Ron Greeley Center for Planetary Studies table for your free New Horizons poster of Pluto.

The open house can be accessed through the main entrance of ISTB 4, on the building’s north side.

The monthly open house is sponsored by the School of Earth and Space Exploration, GeoClub, AstroDevils: ASU Astronomy Club, Icarus Rocketry, Students for the Exploration and Development of Space, the Center for Meteorite Studies and many others.

For more information, visit earthspaceopenhouse.weebly.com or visit the school's Facebook event page. The next open house will be April 8 on the topic of "Cosmic Catastrophes."

The School of Earth and Space Exploration is an academic unit of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.