Horizons 2024 Archive

February 21
Return to the Moon: Geologic Maps for Artemis Exploration of the Lunar South Pole

Jeannette Wolak Luna, Ph.D.,
Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Earth Sciences, Tennessee Tech University

More than fifty years ago, the Apollo Program made history by landing the first human crew on the Moon. The Artemis Program, so named after the twin sister of Apollo, will parallel this achievement with a series of crewed and robotic missions over the next decade. In this talk, we explore the geologic, scientific, and tactical maps needed to support such an endeavor and how these products are used by mission control and astronauts for lunar surface navigation. We also review the enormous scientific potential of the Lunar South Pole, a terrain that hosts some of the oldest crustal rocks available in the Solar System.

March 26
Life Through A Sea Turtle’s Eyes: Challenges and Opportunities in a Changing World

Maria Fuentes, Ph.D.,
Associate Professor at the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science at Florida State University

Dr. Mariana Fuentes is a marine conservation biologist, whose work provides critical scientific basis to aid the recovery of threatened marine megafauna, in particular marine turtles. The Marine Turtle Research, Ecology and Conservation Group was created by Dr. Fuentes and she currently serves as its Principle Investigator. Her lab of fellows, graduate and undergraduate students, strives to conduct research to address real-world issues related to the conservation and management of sea turtles. In this talk, Dr. Fuentes will explain the challenges that sea turtles face in a changing world from their own perspective and highlight opportunities for the local community to make a difference. This will be illustrated with a combination of cutting-edge research projects and engaging photos and videos from a turtle’s view.

April 29
Digital Specimens and the Future of Natural History Museums

David Blackburn, Ph.D.,
Curator of Herpetology, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Associate Chair, Department of Natural History

Access to the collections of natural history museums has long been restricted to specialists in specific scientific disciplines. By creating digital representatives of specimens and objects, museums are bringing the behind-the-scenes to classrooms, scientists, and the public. These digital specimens enable new, large-scale studies of biodiversity past and present, and provide hands-on learning opportunities for people of all ages. The Florida Museum of Natural History—the state’s only university-based museum—is an international leader in research and education, and offers many research and outreach opportunities for scientists across the state.

May 22
Exploring the Universe with Gamma-Ray Bursts, Space Telescopes, and Citizen Science

Amy Lien, Ph.D.,
Assistant Professor, Physics, University of Tampa

Gamma-ray bursts are one of the most powerful explosions in the universe. These bursts are likely related to supernovae, neutron stars, or black holes. When a gamma-ray burst occurs, it can release more energy within 10 s than the entire 10 billion year lifetime of our sun, which makes them one of the furthest astrophysical objects that can be detected directly by telescopes. However, the exact physical mechanism that creates these extraordinary bursts remains unresolved. In this talk, I will discuss our journey exploring the mysterious origins of gamma-ray bursts with space telescopes, and our recent project that invites all astronomy lovers to help us solve the puzzle.