Last
Thursday, at Starry Night, we had the opportunity to attend to a lecture by Dr.
Michael Mumma titled “The search for life in Mars”. If you missed it, it's
available in UF astronomy department’s account in Youtube.
Michael J.
Mumma was educated at Franklin and Marshall College
(A.B. 1963, Physics), and the University
of Pittsburgh
He is
founding Director of the Goddard
Center
He thrice
received the NASA's rarely given Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement;
the fist time was in 1988 for originating and developing a concept for
detecting cometary parent volatiles by solar infrared fluorescence, with it
achieving the first detection of water vapor in comets. He also led the team
that discovered the saturated hydrocarbons methane and ethane in comets, being
awarded for the second time in 1997 for that work. In 2009 he was awarded for
the first definite detection of methane on Mars with the John C. Lindsay Memorial
Prize, Goddard’s highest recognition for scientific achievement, and also the
NASA’s Medal for the third time.
He is an
elected Fellow of the American Physical Society and of the Washington Academy
of Sciences. In 1999, the International Astronomical Union named Asteroid 8340
"Michael J. Mumma" in his honor.
He received the Alumni Citation for Distinguished Career Achievement
from Franklin & Marshall College
 |
| During the lecture at Starry Night “FLMNH photo by Kristen Grace.” |
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