Dr. David Morrison To Deliver The Sixth Icko Iben Jr. Distinguished Lecture

The sixth Icko Iben Jr. Distinguished Lecturer is Dr. David Morrison of the NASA Astrobiology Institute. Dr. Morrison is the Senior Scientist at the NASA Astrobiology Institute, where he works to develop the new science of astrobiology - the study of the living universe, to protect the Earth from potential asteroid impacts, and to improve science education. From 1996-2001 he was the Director of Astrobiology and Space Research at NASA Ames Research Center, managing basic and applied research programs in the space, life, and Earth sciences.

An alumnus of the University of Illinois, Dr. Morrison has been a scientific investigator on the Mariner 10, Voyager, CRAF, and Galileo space missions. Known for his research on small bodies in the solar system, he is the author of more than 130 technical papers and has published a dozen books. In 1993 he was awarded the Klumpke-Roberts Prize by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific for his contributions to public science education. He is a Fellow of both the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the California Academy of Science, past-president of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific and the planetary commission of the International Astronomical Union, and has been awarded two NASA Outstanding Leadership medals. In 1999, he was awarded the Presidential Meritorious Rank for his accomplishments as Director of Astrobiology and Space Research at NASA Ames Research Center. He also has an asteroid named in his honor, Asteroid 2410 Morrison.

For the Iben Lecture, Dr. Morrison will give a talk entitled, "Cosmic Collisions: How Astronomers are Saving the World" on Wednesday, November 5th at 4PM in Foellinger Auditorium. Dr. Morrison will also give a technical talk entitled "Astrobiology -- A New Perspective on the Universe" on Tuesday, November 4th in 151 Loomis Laboratory.

About the Iben Lecture Series
Founded in 1997 and named in honor of Distinguished Professor Emeritus Icko Iben Jr., the Icko Iben Jr. Distinguished Lecture Series brings a noted astronomer to campus to highlight some of the latest developments in astronomy in a forum geared for the general public.