Festival of Science Shoemaker Keynote Presentation

Leading the Flagstaff Festival of Science’s 10-day adventure of programs is planetary explorer and Mars rover boss Professor Steve Squyres.

With the most up-to-the-minute images and information from the nail-biting Mars rover missions and their extraordinary findings, this planetary geologist will set the pace as the Festival’s Shoemaker Keynote Presenter at 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 20 in Northern Arizona University’s Ardrey Auditorium.

Like a New York City taxi driver, Steve Squyres’ and his team have maneuvered Spirit and Opportunity rovers through treacherous conditions. From millions of miles away and for thousands of sols (Martian days), scientists and engineers have helped the Mars Exploration Rovers dodge paralyzing sand traps, weather unearthly cold and persevere through fierce red planet dust storms in search of ancient environments that may have harbored Life in the Extreme. Spirit and Opportunity led the way for their much larger and far more capable cousin, Curiosity that landed and began exploring Mars last summer.

Ironically, curiosity is the reason Squyres became a planetary scientist and the latest rover, Curiosity, brings him to the forefront of space exploration today. “I’ve always wondered about how things work. That’s really what science is all about. The Mars rovers are helping us learn more about the origins of life!”