Indiana Academy of Science to meet at Purdue
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - A Purdue University distinguished professor of chemical engineering, a NASA astronomer and the state school superintendent of instruction will speak at Purdue on March 10 as part of the 127th annual meeting of the Indiana Academy of Science.
The academy's annual meeting, which will be in Stewart Center, brings together hundreds of Indiana's scientists, science educators, and undergraduate and graduate students. Participants will have the opportunity to share information and research with colleagues from around the state and the Midwest.
Those scheduled to speak include:
* Rakesh Agrawal, who joined Purdue in 2004 and is the Winthrop E. Stone Distinguished Professor in the School of Chemical Engineering. His work has led to more than 100 U.S. patents and 500 international patents. He is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and in 2011 he received the National Medal for Technology. Agrawal will discuss "Solar Economy – Is it Feasible?"
* Michelle Thaller, an astronomer and assistant director for science communication at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Her research interests include hot stars, colliding stellar winds, binary star evolution and evolved stellar companions. Her research has been published in several astrophysics journals. Thaller is the meeting's luncheon speaker and will talk about "NASA's New Universe."
* Tony Bennett, who became Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2009. He has served as a teacher, coach and administrator for more than 20 years; he taught science for nine years. Bennett will talk at 2:30 p.m. about "The Future of Science Education in Indiana."
Registration will begin at 7 a.m. at Stewart Center. The academy's annual meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. For more information, or to register, visit https://www.indianaacademyofscience.org/Events-Meetings/Event/10.aspx
The Ely Lilly Foundation Inc., Subaru of America and Purdue's College of Science are meeting sponsors.
Writer: Greg McClure, 765-496-9711, gmcclure@purdue.edu
Sources: Kim Stockment, conference coordinator for Purdue Extended Campus, 765-494-7225, kstockme@purdue.edu
Delores Brown, executive director of Indiana Academy of Science, 317-974-0827, execdir@indianaacdemyofscience.org