Scientist to discuss mysteries of the cosmos at Miami Hamilton

August 13, 2008

For those who enjoy astronomy but wonder what it all means, distinguished astronomer and author Dr. Jeffrey Bennett can help put it in context.

Bennett will present On the Cosmic Horizon: Top 10 Mysteries in Astronomy Today, at 11 a.m. Thursday, August 21, in the Schwarm Hall student commons area.

The event is free and open to the public. A question-and-answer session will follow the presentation.

Bennett will discuss how solving mysteries of the cosmos may change our perceptions of the human race and the planet Earth. Children are welcome; those age10 and older should be able to understand most of the talk, and younger children will still enjoy the pictures. The lecture is based on Bennett's 2001 book On the Cosmic Horizon.

Bennett also wrote Beyond UFOS: The Search for Extraterrestrial Life and Its Astonishing Implications for Our Future, which explores the nature of science, modern astrobiology, the search for life beyond earth, and critical questions about galactic civilizations.

A former visiting senior scientist for NASA, Bennett has written several college textbooks in astronomy, astrobiology, and mathematics, as well as children’s books including Max Goes to the Moon and Max Goes to Mars.

Bennett also will be Miami’s convocation keynote speaker August 22 in Oxford, kicking off the 2008-09 academic year. For more information about him, go to www.jeffreybennett.com.