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Reach for the Stars science event flyer
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On December 10th, 2014, the University of Hawaiʻi Department of Mathematics will present Reach for the Stars at the UH Mānoa Campus Center Ballroom. The goal of the event is to raise science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) interest within the state. The event is an opportunity for the public to learn more about some of the most advanced research in space exploration.

Former astronaut Loren W. Acton will be featured as one of two special guest speakers. Acton flew on Space Shuttle mission STS-51-F in 1985, after seven years of training, as a payload specialist. During his mission, he orbited the Earth about 126 times. He is currently a research professor in the Solar Physics Group at Montana State University.

The second guest speaker is Jennifer Trosper from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA). She is the Mars Curiosity Deputy Project Manager, responsible for leading the Curiosity operational mission. She was named JPL Fellow in Mars rover surface operations, 2013 NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal for Curiosity operations work, and was the 2013 “Breaking the glass Ceiling” California Legislature award recipient.

Professor Monique Chyba from the UH Department of Mathematics will also present a joint project with the UH Institute for Astronomy to design spacecraft transfer missions to near Earth asteroids.

The presentations will be followed by STEM activities for the participants, organized and lead by UH students interested in or majoring in education, engineering, physics, mathematics and various other degree fields. Activities will include rocket launching, building a Hawaiian compass, flying propellers, one giant leap and more, as well as demonstrations of robotics and 3D asteroid simulations in the UH Laboratory for Advanced Visualization and Application’s CyberCANOE.

The event is free and open to the public, recommended for ages 5 to adult. For more information, visit the Department of Mathematics SUPER-M website.

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