The 8th Australian Mars Exploration Conference will be held in Adelaide over the weekend of 4th - 6th July, 2008. Presentations over this exciting two-day event will cover a range of issues concerned with forging, nurturing and developing the pioneering culture and methods required to explore Mars. The conference also serves as a prelude to the Spaceward Bound-Australia expedition immediately following it. MSA will be taking a group of school teachers on a learning and development trek to Woomera, Arkaroola and the central Flinders ranges. They will examine sites of past and present space activity and those with Mars analogue significance and which illustrate major events in the history of Earth. A number of participants are expected to make presentations AMEC. Register before May 31st to catch our special Earlybird rates!
Download a conference poster and help spread the word!
Speakers
A full list of speakers including profiles and presentation titles will be announced over the coming months. Confirmed speakers however so far include ...
Professor Russell Boyce, DSTO Chair of Hypersonics, Division of Mechanical Engineering, University of Queensland
Russell will be delivering a special public lecture on Friday, 4th July beginning at 7pm, 'Australian Hypersonic Research and the Road to Mars'. Entry is by gold coin donation, attendance is open to all.
Dr Jonathan Clarke, Vice-President, Mars Society Australia
Jon is a geologist with 25 years experience in industry, academia, and government. Jon will be talking about missions and roles for rovers supported crewed missions to Mars.
Dr Lizabeth K Coe, Assistant Chief (Acting), NASA Education Division
Spaceward Bound: Training the Next Generation of Explorers
David Cooper, President, Mars Society Australia
Based in Western Australia, David is a former commerical pilot who now runs hobby shop outside Perth. His talk will be on 'Mars Society Australia, 2017AD'.
Mr Michael L. Darby, Lecturer/Researcher, Curtin University of Technology
Michael is a Lecturer in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Curtin University of Technology, Perth WA. He has over 30 years experience in Modelling and Simulation with the US Department of Defense (DoD), Australian Defence Force (ADF), Industry, Standards Organisations, research laboratories, and Academia experience His presentation will describe the engineering framework and educational process for creating and embedding the use of technology within a high school science curriculum.
Mark Gargano, Education Officer Mars Society Australia, Inc.
Mark is Science Coordinator at St Joseph's School, Northam, in Western Australia and a participant in the upcoming Spaceward Bound Mojave 2008 Expedition. Mark will present 'Creating the Next Generation of Space Explorers now'.
Steven Hobbs , 87 Squadron, RAAF Edinburgh, South Australia
Steven's talk is titled 'Colouring Mars: Revisiting Historical Spacecraft Imagery'.
Artemis Westenberg, President, Mars Society Netherlands, Director of International Relations for the Mars Society (US)
Artemis has an M.A. in History, (Classical Studies, International Relations and Islam), from Leyden University. She has organised many Mars Society gatherings and conferences in the Netherlands, including the second and seventh European Mars Society conferences. Artemis is a member of the Mars Society International Steering Committee, and has served on 5 crews at the Mars Desert Research Station.
Call for Papers
You are invited to submit papers for the conference on any subject connected to the exploration and settlement of Mars. Themes covered will include (but are not limited to):
- Theme 1 - Technology
- Theme 2 - Planetary science and astrobiology
- Theme 3 - Human factors
- Theme 4 - Analogue studies
- Theme 5 - Education and outreach
- Theme 6 - Policy and planning
Registration Open - Catch our Special Earlybird Rates!
You can register for AMEC2008 by filling out the online registration form or downloading a printable pdf form here. Be sure to catch our special earlybird rates by registering before May 31st.
Venue
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Centenary Building, University of South Australia, City East Campus, Cnr North Terrace and Frome Rd, ADELAIDE (click here for on campus map. |
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(above) - entry from North Terrace |
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AMEC registrants have a range of different hotels and other types of accommodation available to them in central Adelaide close to the conference venue. Bookings and prices are subject to availability, do check conditions which apply prior to booking. We would particularly like to recommend the following:
Adelaide Central YHA
This is located at 135 Waymouth Street, in the heart of central Adelaide overlooking picturesque Light Square.
$28.50 multi share
$75 twin/double
$90 twin/double ensuite
$105 family
$120 family ensuite
For more information visit www.yha.com.au or call (08) 8414 3010
Pacific International Apartments Adelaide
88 Frome Street (corner of Frome & Grenfell Street) Adelaide SA 5000 With spacious one, two and three-bedroom apartments in the midst of Adelaide's vibrant east end.
1 Bedroom Apartment, $145.00 per room, per night (Queen bed)
2 Bedroom Apartment $195.00 per room, per night (combination of queens /& single beds - with sofas)
For more information visit www.pacificinthotels.com or call (08) 8412 3393
Pacific International Suites Adelaide
55-67 Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide SA 5000. An apartment style hotel, located in the seclusion of Hindmarsh Square, offering the unique combination of a central location with a peaceful environment.
1 Bedroom Suite(Queen bed), $164.00 per room, per night.
Parkview 2 Bedroom Suite, $179.00 per room, per night (combination of queens /& single beds - with sofas).
For more information visit www.pacificinthotels.com or call (08) 8412 3393
Mercure Grosvenor Hotel Adelaide
An historic hotel at 125 North Terrace, right in the middle of all the action of Adelaide. Quote 'AMEC 2008' when booking in order to access the following rates -
Economy Room - 3, $115.00 - Single, Double or Twin
Standard Room, $165.00 - Single, Double or Twin
Deluxe Room, $195.00 - Single, Double or Twin
2-Room Suite, $245.00 - Single or Double
For more information visit http://www.mercuregrosvenorhotel.com.au/ or call (08) 8407 8888
Travel
For information on public transport in the Adelaide metropolitan region visit Adelaide Metro
Some useful travel links for online booking of airfares are:
QANTAS - http://www.qantas.com.au/
Virgin Blue - http://www.virginblue.com.au/
For finding your way around Adelaide and other Australian cities, try Streetdirectory.com You can search Australian telephone directories online at http://www.whitepages.com.au/
Sponsors
University of South Australia School of Natural and Built Environments |
