From: edgett@esther.la.asu.edu (Ken Edgett)
Subject: Discovery Show
Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 07:27:45 -0700 (MST)
Mars Folks, Hey, yeah! I managed to catch the Discovery Channel show last night- wish I'd taped it. Oh well. I think they did a very decent, credible job of telling the story right. They also did well to make scientists look like human beings-- that Dave McKay has a family, that Harvey in Cleaveland has backyard BBQ's, that there is a Jesuit priest in the planetary science community, that there are women who are major players in both the science and engineering, etc. They also did well to get accross the incredible interdisciplinary nature of the story of how this rock got here, how we think its from Mars, how some think there is evidence for life in it, etc. To be honest, the most surprising thing for me was to realize that I *know* or have at least *met* most of the folks that they talked to in the show. What fun to be on a small part of the "cutting edge"! It was also fun watching how tickled Dan Goldin is about this whole affair. There is a lot that I (and others) don't like about Goldin and his policies--- however, all that aside, the thing I *do* like about him is that he is GOOD at conveying the child-like curiousity and excitement that I wish more of us adults could convey. This is what space exploration is really all about-- the excitement and wonder and opportunity. Good show. Make sure you see it, show it to your students, etc. Sorry I dont have a copy to share... Take care Ken Edgett Arizona Mars K-12.