Public Lectures
We are pleased to announce the return of our public lectures—virtually at this time—beginning on October 7. (Note: New time, 7:00-8:00pm)
Please see below for the current schedule of our Fall 2020 LASP Public Webinar Series. Additional webinars will be listed as they are finalized.
Useful information for attending our webinars:
- Free and open to the public
- 7:00 – 8:00 PM
- Zoom Webinar (Click here to register for the April lecture)
- First Wednesdays, October-May (unless otherwise noted)
For more information, contact the LASP Office of Communications and Outreach at epomail@lasp.colorado.edu.
Videos of the 2018-2020 Public Lecture Series and other seasons can be viewed on the LASP YouTube channel.
Featured Public Event
Current Schedule:
The Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE)—2003 to 2020: Understanding the Role of Our Sun in Climate

Speaker: | Gary Rottman | |
Date: | Wednesday, Oct 07, 2020 | |
Time: | 7:00-8:00pm | |
Location: | Zoom (Video link is on the this lecture's webpage. Click title above.) | |
Abstract: |
Gary Rottman—LASP scientist from 1972-2005 and the first SORCE principal investigator from 1989-2005—will discuss LASP’s decades of solar science missions and the contribution of SORCE to the critical, continuous solar data record. Rottman directed the development, launch, and early operations of SORCE until his retirement in 2005. [Full abstract on lecture web page.] |
New Earth-climate measurements from space: the Libera mission

Speaker: | Peter Pilewskie | |
Date: | Wednesday, Nov 11, 2020 | |
Time: | 7:00-8:00pm | |
Location: | Zoom (Video link is on the this lecture's webpage. Click title above.) | |
Abstract: |
In this presentation, Libera principal investigator and LASP scientist Peter Pilewskie will discuss the Libera mission objectives and expected improvements in the understanding of Earth’s radiative energy budget and climate. [Full abstract on lecture web page.] |
Machine Learning at LASP: How we train computers to identify patterns in space data

Speaker: | Wendy Carande | |
Date: | Wednesday, Dec 02, 2020 | |
Time: | 7:00-8:00pm | |
Location: | Zoom (Video link is on the this lecture's webpage.) | |
Abstract: |
LASP software engineer Wendy Carande will discuss how machine learning is applied to the data collected at LASP. From predicting when a large solar flare is likely to occur to identifying outliers in telemetry data, machine learning has become a valuable tool for many LASP projects, but it has also presented challenges that will be explored. [Full abstract on lecture web page.] |
Juno update at Jupiter: What’s happening to the Great Red Spot?

Speaker: | Fran Bagenal | |
Date: | Wednesday, Jan 13, 2021 | |
Time: | 7:00-8:00pm | |
Location: | Zoom (Video link is on the this lecture's webpage.) | |
Abstract: |
SPECIAL JANUARY LECTURE |
Do habitable worlds require magnetic fields?

Speaker: | David Brain | |
Date: | Wednesday, Feb 03, 2021 | |
Time: | 7:00-8:00pm | |
Location: | Zoom (Video link is on the this lecture's webpage. Click title above.) | |
Abstract: |
LASP Scientist David Brain will explain why it’s obviously true that planets require magnetic fields in order to be habitable. And then he will explain why it’s obviously false. Finally, he will discuss different approaches to answering the question and summarize the progress that has been made over the past few years, including by an international team of scientists led out of LASP. |
A unique journey to Mars: The Emirates Mars Mission (EMM)

Speaker: | Panel of EMM team members: Pete Withnell, Mike Chaffin, Mohsen Al Awadhi and Heather Reed | |
Date: | Wednesday, Mar 03, 2021 | |
Time: | 7:00-8:00pm | |
Location: | Zoom (Video link to come on this lecture's webpage) | |
Abstract: |
In this talk, a panel of EMM engineering and science team members discuss EMM’s project engineering, mission science and the novel and successful space exploration partnership between an Arab nation and US academic research institutions. |
From cereal box to 757: NASA studies extrasolar planets with instruments of all sizes

Speaker: | Kevin France | |
Date: | Wednesday, Apr 07, 2021 | |
Time: | 7:00-8:00pm | |
Location: | (Video link to come on the this lecture's webpage) | |
Abstract: |
In this talk, LASP scientist Kevin France will discuss recent and future missions—from small to large—that study extrasolar planets and their host stars. |
Mars exploration in 2021 and beyond

Speaker: | Bruce Jakosky | |
Date: | Wednesday, May 05, 2021 | |
Time: | 7:00-8:00pm | |
Location: | Zoom (registration link is on the this lecture's webpage) | |
Abstract: |
In this talk, LASP scientist and MAVEN principal investigator Bruce Jakosky will discuss recent, ongoing, and future Mars exploration, international collaboration, possible human missions, and whether we can change the Martian climate to better allow humans to survive on the surface. |