News

The Spaceward Bound 2009 Expedition is now well underway, with the team currently spending the night at Marree after three days at Arkaroola Resort. The expedition is proving to be a intensely valuable unique experience for both the participating researchers and educators alike. You can read more on the expedition website, where daily reports and photos are being posted (internet access permitting). Leave your questions and comments on the expedition messageboard.

Dr Jim Bell, International President of the Planetary Society and science team member of many recent NASA planetary missions including the Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunuity, will be giving a free public lecture this coming Friday 10th, July, titled "Mars Exploration Rovers: Overview of Geologic, Geochemical, and Mineralogic Results". It will start at 4pm in the Fritz Loewe Theatre, at the Department of Earth Sciences, at the University of Melbourne. (2nd floor of the McCoy building, corner Swanston and Elgin Streets, Carlton. Admission is free.)

Read an abstract of the lecture and...

The Mars Society Australia is delighted to announce that Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) will be a major sponsor of the Spaceward Bound Australia 2009 (SBA2009) Expedition. To be held in the South Australian Desert over 9th-16th July, SBA2009 will be a unique opportunity for Australian school teachers to work with NASA and MSA scientists in the field, learning to use the space sciences to bring new teaching methods to their students. Mars Society Australia President Mr David Cooper thanks the CSIRO for its generous support. "The CSIRO has shown great vision in supporting a program that will allow leading world class planetary scientists to share their expertise with the Australian educational community".

MSA would like to congratulate and welcome the 5 Australian educators who have been selected and have accepted to participate in Spaceward Bound Australia 2009. After receiving a large range of submissions from very highly qualified, experienced and motivated teachers from all over Australia late last year, and a lengthy review process, the successful teacher candidates were recently informed about their selection.

Looking forward to the Spaceward Bound Australia 2009 expedition from Tasmania are Joanne Berriman, Head of Science at Oatlands District High School, Jane Dobson from Claremont College and Liz Ryan from Campania District High School. Joining these individuals, from New South Wales is Nicolette Burraston from the Armidale School and from Queensland Keith Treschman who is on the academic staff at Brisbane Girls Grammar School.

Read more here.