[FPSPACE] FW: APL: 'The Great Planet Debate' Conference, 14-16 August & Webcast

[LARRY KLAES]

>From: "AAS Press Officer Dr. Steve Maran" <steve.maran at aas.org>
>To: "Steve Maran" <steve.maran at aas.org>
>Subject: APL: 'The Great Planet Debate' Conference, 14-16 August & Webcast
>Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2008 16:19:13 -0400
>

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THE FOLLOWING RELEASE WAS RECEIVED FROM THE JOHNS HOPKINS  UNIVERSITY
APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY, IN LAUREL, MARYLAND, AND IS FORWARDED FOR
YOUR INFORMATION.  (FORWARDING DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT BY THE
AMERICAN ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY.)  Steve Maran, American Astronomical
Society  steve.maran at aas.org  1-202-328-2010 x116

Media Contacts:
Michael Buckley, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
1-240-228-7536 or 1-443-778-7536
michael.buckley at jhuapl.edu

Dr. Hal Weaver, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
1-240-228-8078 or 1-443-778-8078
harold.weaver at jhuapl.edu

Dr. Mark Sykes, Planetary Science Institute
1-520-622-6300   sykes at psi.edu

August 6, 2008

Media Advisory: Scientists, Educators Ready for 'The Great Planet Debate'
Conference Set for Aug. 14-16 at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab

What defines a planet? Is Pluto a planet? Are there more planets to be
discovered?

Members of the media are invited to join scientists and educators as
they explore these basic but controversial questions during "The Great
Planet Debate: Science as Process" conference, Aug. 14-16 at the Johns
Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md.

Held at APL's Kossiakoff Center, the conference includes two days of
scientific sessions and panel discussions covering planet formation
and characteristics, as well as the various criteria by which we can
define and categorize planets. An educator's workshop follows on the
third day, to discuss how teachers can use this debate to explain
science as a process.

As part of the conference, from 4:30-5:30 p.m. (EDT) on Aug. 14, Dr.
Neil deGrasse Tyson of the American Museum of Natural History and Dr.
Mark Sykes of the Planetary Science Institute will square off in a
debate over Pluto's planetary status and related topics. The debate,
moderated by National Public Radio "Science Friday" host Ira Flatow,
is free and open to the public, and will be streamed live on the Web.

Accredited media interested in attending the conference or arranging
interviews with conference participants can contact Michael Buckley at
1-240-228-7536 or michael.buckley at jhuapl.edu. The registration fee is
waived for media, teachers, and students.

To register for Web or in-person participation in The Great Planet
Debate, visit http://gpd.jhuapl.edu/.  Registration to view the
Tyson-Sykes debate online must be received by noon (EDT) on Wednesday,
Aug. 13.

For the conference program and schedule, visit:
http://gpd.jhuapl.edu/schedule. Abstracts are available at:
http://gpd.jhuapl.edu/abstracts.

The Applied Physics Laboratory, a division of The Johns Hopkins
University, meets critical national challenges through the innovative
application of science and technology. For more information, visit
www.jhuapl.edu.

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