Houston Science Enthusiasts

IN-PERSON: The Rice Space Institute will host a talk by Sean Raymond titled "The Solar System as a Peculiar Outcome of Planetary Formation."

More details to follow. (See event flyer in the photos below.)

Sean Raymond is an astronomer at the Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux in Bordeaux, France. His research focuses on the formation and orbital evolution of planets both in the Solar System and extra-solar planetary systems.

Location: Brockman Hall for Physics, Room 101.
4-5 p.m.
Reception to follow.

Brockman Hall for Physics on Rice Interactive Map: https://map.concept3d.com/?id=473#!ct/71275,71276,71277?m/119182?s/Brockman%20Hall%20for%20physics

Parking: The closest parking is in the "North Lot", between entrances 20 and 21. Use a credit card for entry and exit. Less expensive parking in the Greenbriar lot, west of the stadium.

North Lot on Rice Interactive Map: https://map.concept3d.com/?id=473#!m/126305?s/key=North%20Parking%20Lot

Parking Facilities and Rates: https://parking.rice.edu/parking-facilities-and-rates

Rice Space Institute: Rice Space Institute | Rice University

Rice Space Institute YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@ricespaceinstitute2211/videos

To be placed on the RSI Spaceport Lecture Series newsletter list, visit https://mailman.rice.edu/mailman/listinfo/rsi

Top image: In this artist's conception, a possible newfound planet spins through a clearing in a nearby star's dusty, planet-forming disc. NASA/JPL Caltech

IN PERSON: Let's meet and talk about the science of how The Arts save lives (amazon link).

"From cradle to grave, engaging in the arts has remarkable effects on our health and well-being. Music supports the architectural development of children’s brains. Artistic hobbies help our brains to stay resilient against dementia. Dance and magic tricks build new neural pathways for people with brain injuries. Arts and music act just like drugs to decrease depression, stress, and pain, reducing our dependence on medication. Going to live music events, museums, exhibitions, and the theater decreases our risk of future loneliness and frailty. Engaging in the arts improves the functioning of every major organ system in the body, even helping us to live longer.

"This isn’t sensationalism, it’s science: the results of decades of studies gathering data from neuroimaging, molecular biomarkers, wearable sensors, cognitive assessments, and electronic health records. From Daisy Fancourt, an award-winning scientist and science communicator and director of the World Health Organization’s Collaborating Centre for Arts and Health, this book will fundamentally change the way you value and engage with the arts in your daily life and give you the tools to optimize how, when, and what arts you engage in to achieve your health goals. The arts are not a luxury in our lives. They are essential."

Everyone is welcome whether you have explored the topic before or not.

You can:

• read sample
• view past selections
• view pool of candidates
• add your ideas to the pool of candidates

At this meeting each person can nominate a publication to be voted on whether it is from the pool of candidates or not.

We'll be meeting at Cafe Express. There is ample parking in the nearby lot.

Come prepared to discuss and share ideas on the topic and have a good time.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

ONLINE: "National Academy of Sciences President Marcia McNutt will discuss the status of the United States’ research enterprise, global leadership in science, and implications for economic competitiveness in the third State of the Science address, to be delivered on June 2 in Washington, D.C.

"The address — McNutt’s last before she steps down as NAS president on June 30 — will present data and evidence on the state of the research enterprise, trends in education and employment, and strategic and funding priorities.

"The address will be followed by a panel discussion with other research leaders. Policymakers and leaders in academia, government, the private sector, and philanthropy are invited to discuss how the U.S. research enterprise can meet current challenges and persevere in making essential contributions to the nation in the years ahead."

Click here for more information or to register to attend.

HYBRID: The Johnson Space Center Astronomical Society will hold a meeting featuring a presentation by Dr. Andrzej Steward, JSC- Solar System Ambassador, titled "Life in Simulated Space."

Andrzej Stewart is a Hardware Payload Systems Engineer, providing technical support to human research experiments aboard the International Space Station. He has previously served in flight operations for a wide variety of NASA missions, including the Spitzer Space Telescope, Juno, GRAIL, NASA's Mars orbiter fleet, and, most recently, Artemis I. He is also a 1st Lieutenant in the Civil Air Patrol, supporting CAP's Emergency Services mission as a Mission Pilot, Mission Check Pilot, and Airborne Photographer.

The meeting at will be held at the University of Houston-Clear Lake STEM Building, Room 1203 starting at 7:30 p.m.. People should arrive between 7 and 7:15 p.m. Attendees should park in Parking Lots D3 or D4 no earlier than 7 p.m.

Please see the UHCL Map here -- Please park in lots D3 and D4. The STEM building is building #5 on the map. Come in from the east side and go left. When you come to the end of hallway, you should find the auditorium where the meeting will be.

The meeting can be accessed by going to the JSCAS YouTube Channel at the link: https://www.youtube.com/c/JSCAstronomicalSociety

Also, the JSCAS YouTube Channel link will be posted on the JSCAS web page: http://www.jscas.net

To submit questions for our presenters during the meeting, please either enter your questions as a YouTube comment (if you have an account that will allow doing so) or send your questions to: jscaslive@gmail.com

JSCAS is open to anyone who wants to learn about astronomy and membership is free. After joining, you’ll have access to our amazing Astronomy DVD Library with 100’s of choices to learn from (from Astronomy Magazine, NASA, The Great Courses, Discovery Channel, etc.).

Top image: The Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) at NASA’s Johnson Space Center (NASA)