Sagan Medal for Steve Squyres, Congratulations Steve! Options

[elakdawalla]

Let me be the first on UMSF to congratulate Steve Squyres for receiving this year's Sagan Medal!

SQUYRES WINS CARL SAGAN MEDAL FOR PUBLIC OUTREACH

http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Oct09/SquyresSagan.html

For his work making the Mars Exploration Rover mission a compelling saga for millions of people, Steven W. Squyres, the Goldwin Smith Professor of Astronomy and principal scientific investigator for the mission, has received the 2009 Carl Sagan Medal from the American Astronomical Society.

The Sagan medal recognizes a planetary scientist for excellence in public communication. Squyres will receive the medal during the AAS’s Division for Planetary Sciences annual meeting, Oct. 4-9, in Puerto Rico (http://dps.aas.org/press/).

Quick to share credit with the entire Mars rover mission team at Cornell and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Squyres said he has always taken seriously the responsibility of giving people -- the taxpayers who have bankrolled the mission -- a clear window into what they are doing on Mars.

“We feel very strongly that the people who pay have a real right to find out in very clear, simple terms what they’re getting for their $900 million,” Squyres said.

Since January 2004, when the first rover, named Spirit, bounced down on the red planet, the Rover team has maintained a publicly accessible database of images taken by the rovers. Atypical of most NASA missions, the rover mission has allowed people to access data almost immediately. It was a conscious decision by the rover team, Squyres said, to pipeline the data straight to the Web.

“If I’m asleep and you’re awake, you can see the pictures from the rover before I do,” he said. “And what that has done is it’s really enabled people to share in this voyage of exploration.”

Squyres hopes these efforts, including a Web site that provides updates of rover activities, has inspired young people to pursue careers in science and engineering.

“NASA does all kinds of wonderful things in space, from cosmology to gamma ray spectroscopy,” Squyres said. “But try explaining gamma ray spectroscopy to a third-grader. It’s hard. But you know, these are robots looking at rocks. It’s not that complicated. What that means is this mission is almost uniquely accessible to people.”

As a Cornell graduate student Squyres ’78, Ph.D. ’81, worked closely with Sagan. “Carl really pioneered, in a very important way, the way in which scientists interact with the media and the public,” Squyres said. “To receive an award that’s named after him for trying to do the same sort of thing that he did so brilliantly is a real honor.”

[nprev]

Outstanding, and BEYOND well deserved!!! Congratulations, Dr. Squyres!

[ElkGroveDan]

Billions and billions of congratulations to Steve.

[Pavel]

Well deserved. Because there is no Nobel prize for astronomers.

[CosmicRocker]

Congratulations to Dr. Squyres.

This is perhaps the best news of the entire year for UMSF members. I can't think of anyone who deserves it more.

The following description of the award comes from the AAS website:

The Carl Sagan Medal (hereafter referred to as the Sagan Medal) was established by the DPS to recognize and honor outstanding communication by an active planetary scientist to the general public. It is to be awarded to scientists whose efforts have significantly contributed to a public understanding of, and enthusiasm for, planetary science.

See the Sagan Medal, read about the award, and learn who won it in previous years on this page at the American Astronomical Society web site. (I had to dig around for this page. Apparently some of the AAS links are broken.)

[Astro0]

More than 20 years ago, Dr Sagan opened my eyes to Science - the beauty, wonder and meaning of it all.
Today, you, Dr Squyres have taken my open eyes and shown me a whole new world of beauty, wonders and meaning.

I take much of the inspiration for my role in Education & Outreach from your exuberance and passion for Mars and exploration.
You also introduced me many years ago to UMSF...so I thank you twice

Congratulations on this well deserved award.

[Shaka]

After 5 years, it's a 'no-brainer', but satisfying just the same.
Let's hope future PI's all become Squyres wannabes.

[Stu]

Fantastic honour for a fantastic Outreacher. I remember having my eyes opened to the wonder and beauty of the universe as a kid by watching COSMOS, and I'm sure that around the world there are millions of kids being inspired in the same way by the images coming back from Spirit and Opportunity. That we can all see these images almost as soon as they come back continues to thrill, amaze and delight me, and everyone else here, I'm sure. This week I'm giving 3 different Outreach talks, and every one of them will feature MER images - and that is only possible because Steve Squyres made it possible.

Many congratulations Steve, well deserved!

[Tman]

That is great news! Congratulations to Dr. Squyres and many thanks again!

[ustrax]

Steve Squyres is one of those human beings that has REALLY made a difference in our lives in a fantastic way, making us richer in knowledge and sharing his vision and passion with those who are willing to learn and to embark in this incredible adventure of knowing Mars day by day.
I am sure he has our personal medals everysol since the first one, but a Sagan Medal is more catchy...
Here are my congratulations for such a special recognition but the word in my head is another one: Thank You for everything SS!
And this is not over yet, we keep on roving!

[Vultur]

Awesome. Congratulations!

Glad the MER outreach effort is being recognized by the AAS.

[Ant103]

Congratulations Steve Squyres, this is a great medal .

I think you changed our life definitly!

[djellison]

The most appropriate possible award to a guy 33% responsible for UMSF

[Tesheiner]

Really, REALLY well deserved!
We've always said that this mission is a milestone in the way to, in how to communicate space exploration to the public. I'm pleased to see it being recognised with this award.

Congratulations Steve Squyres!

[Guest_PhilCo126_*]

Indeed, congratulations Dr Steve Squyres...