International Public Seminar Series

Presented by

The Space Studies Board

The National Research Council

The National Academies

To Commemorate

The 50th Anniversary

of the

International Geophysical Year and the Space Studies Board

The International Public Seminar Series
The Space Studies Board (SSB) seminar series takes advantage of the 50th anniversary of the International Geophysical Year (IGY) to engage with the public and the scientific community about the advances that have been achieved over the past 50 years in space science, and the discoveries that await us in the next 50 years. In this context, “space science” incorporates space-based astrophysics, heliophysics, earth science, solar system exploration, and microgravity life and physical sciences. The series consists of several “regional events” in the United States and one in Paris, France – the home of the international Committee on Space Research (COSPAR), which, along with the SSB, was created as a result of the IGY. The regional events consist of an afternoon Forum on the Future of Space Science at which local scientists will discuss their views of the future of the space science program with an audience of the public and other scientists. The afternoon panel will be followed by an evening lecture by a prominent space scientist. Two all-day symposia also will take place. The first will be on December 1, 2007 at the National Academies’ Beckman Center on the campus of the University of California, Irvine. The second, on June 26, 2008, will be held at the main National Academy of Sciences building in Washington, D.C. Each link below (Lecture title) is to a page that introduces the lecture topic and contains a link to a registration form. View webcasts and presentations of the Events. Events Schedule:
Forthcoming			Past
2008			2007
June 26 Washington, DC	Space and Earth Science: 50 Years and Counting		September 10 Baltimore, MD		Understanding the Universe
			October 19 Durham, NH		Global Climate Change and Human Causes
			December 1 Irvine, CA		Day-long colloquium
			December 7 Huntsville, AL		Science Goes to the Moon and Planets: Celebrating 50 Years Since the IGY
			2008 January 16 Tallahassee, FL		Leaving the Planet – Science and Technology Development Results on the International Space Station
			February 20 Austin, TX		The Possibility of Life Elsewhere in the Universe
			March 27 Paris, France		International Polar Year: Understanding the Poles of the Earth, Moon and Mars
			April 14 Boulder, CO		Voyager’s Journey to the Edge of Interstellar Space
			April 25 Fairmont, WV		Technology Enabling the Future of Space Science

Sponsored by:
The National Academies
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Boeing
Lockheed Martin
Northrop Grumman
Orbital Sciences Corporation
ATK
Ball Aerospace
Aerospace Corporation

Co-sponsored by:
American Astronautical Society
American Astronomical Society
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
COSPAR
International Space University
National Space Society
Planetary Society

**************************************************************** A Brief History of the International Geophysical Year and the National Academy of Sciences’ Space Studies Board

Following a suggestion by NAS member Lloyd Berkner and British physicist Sydney Chapman, the International Council of Scientific Unions in 1952 proposed a comprehensive series of global geophysical activities to span the period July 1957-December 1958. The International Geophysical Year (IGY), as it was called, was modeled on the International Polar Years of 1882-1883 and 1932-1933 and was intended to allow scientists from around the world to take part in a series of coordinated observations of various geophysical phenomena. Although representatives of 46 countries originally agreed to participate in the IGY, by the close of the activity, 67 countries had become involved. The National Academy of Sciences’ Space Science Board (SSB) was appointed in spring 1958 at the request of the Executive Committee of the US National Committee for the International Geophysical Year. The Board's mission was to survey the scientific aspects of the human exploration of space. Accordingly, the SSB provided advice on the continuation and expansion of the IGY's rocket and satellite program, and later advised the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of Defense, and the National Science Foundation on aspects of interplanetary probes and space stations, potential problems of manned spaceflight, the exploration of Venus and Mars, and other matters related to space. --- Adapted from National Academy of Sciences Archives

**************************************************************** The Space Science Board changed its name to Space Studies Board in 1989. Its advisory interests have expanded to include aspects of space applications, such as remote sensing and microgravity research. Its advisory purview encompasses all federal agencies with programmatic and policy interests in civil space research.

For additional information, please contact the SSB at ssb@nas.edu.