dying the planets aren’t astronomers, they’re geologists. I finished my geology degree and started an internship doing planetary geology at Arizona State, which led to grad school, which led to the University of Washington and NASA and Mars rover missions and everything else. A lot of my research is basic stuff – there’s a planet out there that’s different than our planet and we have some big basic questions that we’re trying to figure out: What is Mars made of? What is its climate like? Where can we land a rover?” Erika Harnett – “I’ve always been interested in science and space and what’s beyond Earth. When I graduated from high school I wanted to send people to Mars. Towards the end of my physics degree, I got some very bad advice – that I should choose something more practical. After studying hazardous waste containment, I decided to start over. I started my PhD in geophysics and ended up doing computer modeling by accident. I realized that I really, really loved it because I can create any world I want to in my computer. I want to make it safer and easier for humans to explore the solar system. And solar storms are one of the hazards we have to worry about.”
Chemists: Catalysts for Change October 23, 2011 – February 11, 2012 Seattle researchers are doing something really big. The “holy grail” of big in the chemistry realm. And that’s very desirable to most of us since creating less waste, fewer toxins and more energy efficiency in chemicals and fuels is high priority in this savvy, environmentally conscious community. Looking at more efficient, inexpensive and environmentally friendly ways to make chemicals and fuels, this national network of scientists is headquartered at the University of Washington’s Center for Enabling New Technologies through Catalysis (CENTC). What exactly is catalysis? Simply put, it changes how a chemical reaction happens. This process can speed up a reaction, it can make new reactions possible and can allow different starting materials to be used. The chemical that causes these changes is called a catalyst, which can be organic, synthetic or metal. The catalyst is not used up in a reaction (and thus can be used again and again). Catalysis is extremely important to our economy. Nearly all industrial production of fuels, plastics, drugs and other chemicals relies on catalysis to be possible. Development of new catalysts is critical for the development of more efficient, economic and greener technologies.
Life in Extreme Environments May 27, 2011 – October 4,2011 The first exhibit focuses on “Life in the Extreme Environments,” an exhibit and program experience based on Dr. Kelley’s research on hydrothermal vents. According to University of Washington Oceanographer Dr. Deborah Kelley, 70% of the volcanism on Earth occurs beneath the surface of the ocean along a 70,000 km (roughly 43,500 miles) mountain chain that stretches around the planet like the seam of a baseball. As these rocks in the mountains cool and crack, seawater migrates miles down into the oceanic crust, forming the largest fractured aquifer system on Earth, creating hydrothermal vents. Learn more about Dr. Kelley’s research in hydrothermal vents at Pacific Science Center’s newest exhibit and presentation space, Portal to Current Research, bringing guests up close and personal with Dr. Kelley’s work and other fascinating research happening in our region.