Mars And The Human Imagination

Awe and wonder are universal human emotions. The natural world is often the source of these emotions for Humanists. The Bay Area Humanists, therefore, sponsors scientific programs from time to time. For millennia, Mars has evoked awe and wonder in humankind. Recent exploration has made the red planet that much more awesome.

Mars has long been an object of intense interest in ancient and modern myths. Its ruddy glow inspiring visions of conflict and war, and its surface markings creating a whole genre of popular (mis)representations of Mars as the abode of life in a variety of forms. In this presentation, discover how popular culture has represented, and misrepresented Mars while sparking a special interest most all have in what is actually taking place on the planet most similar to earth in our solar system. NASA missions have returned a plethora of images and information about what Mars is really like. Find out the latest about what is known about the red planet, and what still remains for investigation and discovery on future missions.

Brian Kruse is the Lead Formal Educator for the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP), where he manages and coordinates a variety of programs, including the ASP’s Teacher Learning Center, and Project ASTRO. He also edits the online newsletter for teachers The Universe in the Classroom and is a regular columnist for Mercury Magazine. In addition to his work at the ASP, Kruse is a regional Director for the National Science Education Leadership Association.

A veteran classroom teacher, Kruse has taught middle school science, and high school physics and earth science. He served for three years as a coordinator for the NASA Explorer Schools project at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, CA. Kruse holds a B.S. in Geology from Whitworth University in Spokane, WA, and a M.S. in Aviation and Space Science from Oklahoma State University. He currently holds a California Clear Single Subject Teaching Credential in Physics, Geosciences, and Biological Sciences. He is particularly interested in how people learn and creating opportunities for teachers to incorporate more inquiry-based learning in their classrooms.

When not working he is often found hiking, birding, or looking through his telescopes at the night sky.

This event is free. The Women's Building is on the #33 bus route and within walking distance of the 16th St. BART station.

We will go to a nearby restaurant after hearing about Mars. Everyone is welcome.

To learn more about Bay Area Humanists, check out our website (http://www.sfhumanists.org) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/bayareahumanists) page.