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Schedule including this lecture.
Goddard Space Flight Center Engineering Colloquium
Date: Monday, November 6, 2000
The foundational concepts in biology and fields relevant to biology have changed dramatically during the past decade providing a much richer context for understanding life. Astrobiology, the study of life in the universe, was inspired by these advances in scientific knowledge but enabled by the historic convergence of three technological revolutions coupled with opportunities to access some of the most biologically interesting sites in the galaxy. Findings that changed our views on life in the universe will be presented, new tools for discovery will be described, and new possibilities for future NASA explorations will be discussed.
Lynn D. Harper is Lead for Integrative Studies for the Astrobiology and Space Research Directorate of the NASA Ames Research Center. She was instrumental in establishing the multi-disciplinary science of astrobiology, for which she received NASA's Outstanding Leadership Medal in 2000.
Harper has served as Senior Systems Engineer for the Center for Mars Exploration and has participated in a number of NASA studies about future human explorations of the solar system. As Acting Chief of NASA Ames Research Center's Advanced Life Support Division, she led the development of technologies that are now being incorporated on Space Station, planned for an ISRU demonstration on Mars, and being considered for advanced EVA systems.
Harper worked at NASA Headquarters for eight years in various leadership positions. As Program Manager, she initiated the Exobiology Flight Program which has resulted in payloads on the Space Shuttle, on Mir, and on the Stardust mission. She also led the development of the Closed Ecological Life Support System Flight Program and served as Program Manager and Deputy Project Manager of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Project.
Lynn Harper is deeply committed to promoting scientific education and was instrumental in developing the Space Life Sciences Training Program, the STELLAR program, and the NASA Astrobiology Academy.
Colloquium Committee Sponsor: Dr. James Heaney
Engineering Colloquium home page: https://ecolloq.gsfc.nasa.gov