University of South Alabama Press Release

University of South Alabama, Office of Public Relations

March 31, 2010
Contact: Joy Crawford-Washington, (251) 460-6211

Noted Astronomer to Lecture at USA

The University of South Alabama department of physics in the College of Arts and Sciences presents a lecture by astronomer Dr. Dana Backman from the SETI Institute and the NASA Ames Research Center on Thursday, April 1 at 7 p.m. in the Instructional Laboratory Building, Room 140, on the USA main campus. This event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served at 6:45 p.m.

SETI is the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, which is an exploratory science that seeks evidence of life in the universe. Backman specializes in looking for planets similar to Earth, and he will give insight into the search for life on other planets during his lecture "Astrobiology of the Solar System: Looking for Life in All the Right Places."

Dr. Dana Backman

Backman will also lecture earlier that day on "SOFIA: NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy" at 4 p.m. in the Instructional Laboratory Building, Room 250, on the USA main campus. This event is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be served at 3:45 p.m.

SOFIA is a 100-inch telescope mounted in a modified Boeing 747SP aircraft. Backman will also talk about how SOFIA involves training teachers and other educators.

This lecture is a part of the Harlow Shapley Lectureship Program sponsored by the American Astronomical Society. Guests attending the lecture should arrive early for best seating.

For more information, contact the department of physics at 460-6224.