David Grinspoon is an astronomer and author of the very cool book Venus Revealed. He’ll also be talking about aliens in Denver on Thursday at 3-5 p.m. at the Auraria Campus, North Classroom Building at 9000 Auraria Parkway. If you’re on Facebook, you can get more details here.
If you’re not, then here they are:
This October 23rd, Metro State Atheists will be hosting a lecture by David Grinspoon, author of “Lonely Planets” and curator of astrobiology at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, on the blunder that is the Denver ballot initiative for an Extraterrestrial Affairs Commission. Lucia Guatney, author of the popular blog “Splendid Elles”, will be presenting Grinspoon.
Grinspoon is the 2006 recipient of the Carl Sagan Medal given for public communication in the Planetary Sciences. You can find his personal website at http://www.funkyscience.net/
Did you see that? Splendid Elles will be there, too!
I’m not sure if I can go yet or not; things are afoot at Chez BA, but right now it looks like I can make it. It should be fun!
October 22nd, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Thank you for your kind offer Phil but I don’t do that sort of thing.
October 22nd, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Aw, man I wish I could go. Have you read his new(er) book “Lonely Planets”?
October 22nd, 2008 at 1:42 pm
I once made the mistake of telling a girl I needed to probe her after a talk she gave.
I didn’t get slapped. I never got those experimentals for her ligand either, though.
October 22nd, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Very nice. I’ve read both of Grinspoons’ books and liked them. ‘Venus Revealed’ is a great book about that planet; I wish he’d update it (I think it’s 10 years old) with the recent results from Venus Express. ‘Lonely Planets’ is, how shall I say it, much more speculative, but it certainly is though-provoking. And, I’ve heard his talk when receiving the Sagan medal award; he’s a very good speaker.
October 22nd, 2008 at 3:57 pm
I hope you’re able to go BA! If you do make it, be sure to tell us all about it.
October 22nd, 2008 at 8:55 pm
I used to work with David when I was at LASP many moons ago. I remember when he came and interviewed for his job… he sure shook up the stuffy ones in our department!
October 22nd, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Thanks for the plug!
October 22nd, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Extraterrestrial Affairs Commission? And they say we do weird things in California. Wow.
http://www.extracampaign.org/
As usual I have a hard time thinking that these people are serious. And then I talk to some of my relatives and I remember what we’re dealing with. Oh well.
October 23rd, 2008 at 2:38 am
The BA said:
There are aliens in Denver???
Figures, I guess.
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:26 am
Perhaps he means talking, in Denver, about aliens. Not as smooth, but more precise.
October 23rd, 2008 at 10:05 am
I used to live in Denver… there were a few folks I thought might have been aliens from other planets who lived there, too. Ask me sometime about Sex-Ray Bob.
October 23rd, 2008 at 10:52 am
Um, I’m sure David’s a very nice guy, but I don’t want to get to know him quite that well.
Not that there is anything wrong with probing in general!
October 23rd, 2008 at 10:57 am
I enjoyed Lonely Planets for the most part. It’s gets wordy at times, but what science writer doesn’t if their passionate about their topic. Regarding SETI, he gives a balanced treatment of the pros and cons of doing it, and I think (but I really couldn’t tell) he came down on the side of “we might as well do it because I need a job and I like this stuff.”
He’s an entertaining writer for sure, and not given to as much hyperbole as Bill Bryson. I’d love to hear him speak, but TN is too far for a quick trip unless someone wants to pick me up in their Tardis. I wouldn’t might a Stargate, either.
October 23rd, 2008 at 10:57 am
Oops!….”their passionate” should be “they’re passionate”
October 28th, 2008 at 9:57 am
I was lucky enough to take David’s class on Extraterrestrial Life while he was teaching at CU-Boulder. He is an awesome (or should I say “funky”?) dude.
Last I talked to him, he was trying to decide whether to write a children’s science book or a book about extraterrestrial spirituality (for lack of a better term) tentatively called “the Cosmist Manifesto.” Still waiting for one of those to come out.