#masonscience

George Mason Professor calls Super Blood Moon a “teachable moment.”

For all those interested in astrological phenomena, this weekend will be a wonderful celebration. On Sunday night, January 20th,  North and South America will have full view of the lunar eclipse known as the “Super Blood Moon.”

According to College of Science Physics and Astronomy Professor Harold Geller, the type of moon is considered “super” because it will, “be near its perigee, or closest position relative to earth”, therefore making it appear larger than its usual size. The ‘blood’ refers to the red hue that colors the moon during a lunar eclipse.

To Gellar, this celestial event is an exciting ‘teachable moment.’ Some may even call it Instagram-worthy. (Send us your shots #MasonScience)

“We can take this opportunity to teach the public about the nature of the moon,” he says. “Any opportunity we can teach something about the moon should be taken wholeheartedly. Remember, lunar eclipses only occur during the time of full moons.”

Katharine is thriving in STEM--a field where women are minorities. She wasn’t afraid to connect with others to find opportunities. Her tenacity landed her at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she’s working on her PhD.

Check out some of Katharine’s success strategies in her profile.

Professor Aguirre will sign and discuss topics from his new book, “Tropical Conservation: Perspective on Local and Global Priorities”, during the Fall for the Book Festival next Monday.

Get your own copy with a 30% discount using code ASPROMP8 (via the publisher website)

~~~~~~~~~~ Monday, September 26th 3:00-4:30 pm

Fenwick Library Reading Room 2th Floor George Mason University, Fairfax Campus 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030 ~~~~~~~~~~~

Event Description: In Tropical Conservation: Perspectives on Local and Global Priorities, editor A. Alonso Aguirre brings together experts who primarily work in Africa, Latin America and Asia to introduce important conservation concepts and real world applications to issues that affect the tropics and subtropics; a region with 75% of the world’s human population as well as 90% of its biodiversity. These issues, such as climate change, environmental sustainability, and emerging diseases must be studied and addressed on a global scale. Aguirre is joined by his contributors, Thomas Lovejoy who coined the term “biological diversity”; Larry Gorenflo, who focuses on how people adapt to their natural and cultural surroundings; Ingrid Visseren-Hamakers, whose research centers on international biodiversity governance; Harald Beck, who studies mammal-plant interaction and ecosystem engineering in temperate and tropical ecosystems; Andrew Taber, an environmental pioneer and authority on Neotropical wildlife; Elizabeth Loh, who studies anthropogenic land-use change; and wildlife biologist and veterinarian, Iga Stasiak.

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Fall for the Book will feature other science-related events as well! 

Tuesday, September 27 

1:30pm Robin Hanson The Age of Em

6:30pm S. Scott Graham The Politics of Pain Medicine

7:30pm Tim Jorgensen Strange Glow

Thursday, September 29 

4:30pm Jon Mooallem WildOnes: A Sometimes Dismaying Weirdly Reassuring Story About Looking at People Looking at Animals in America