David Grinspoon
| Dr. David H. Grinspoon |
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| File:2014 June Astrobiology and Theology seminer 04.JPG
In June 2014, at the John W. Kluge Center of the Library of Congress seminar focusing on astrobiology.
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| Education | Philosophy of Science and Planetary Science doctorate in Planetary Sciences |
| Alma mater | Brown University and the University of Arizona |
| Occupation | American astrobiologist |
| Employer | the Planetary Science Institute |
| Notable work | Lonely Planets: The Natural Philosophy of Alien Life "Venus Revealed: A New Look Below The Clouds of Our Mysterious Twin Planet" |
| Title | former (Inaugural) Chair in Astrobiology at John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress |
| Predecessor | none |
| Successor | Steven J. Dick |
| Parent(s) | Lester Grinspoon |
| Awards | Carl Sagan Medal by the Division for Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society PEN Center USA Literary Award for Research Nonfiction by the PEN Center USA Los Angeles Times Book Prize (finalist) NASA Group Achievement Award |
| Website | funkyscience |
David H. Grinspoon (born 1959) is an American astrobiologist. He is Senior Scientist at the Planetary Science Institute.[1] and was appointed Baruch S. Blumberg NASA-Library of Congress Chair in Astrobiology for 2012/2013.[2][3][4]
His research focuses on comparative planetology, with a focus on climate evolution on Earth-like planets and implications for habitability. He has also studied, written and lectured on the human influence on Earth, as seen in cosmic perspective.
He has published two books, Venus Revealed and Lonely Planets: The Natural Philosophy of Alien Life, the latter of which won the 2004 PEN literary award for nonfiction[5] He is adjunct professor of Astrophysical and Planetary Science at the University of Colorado.[6]
Contents
Biography
Grinspoon, the son of Harvard psychiatrist and author Lester Grinspoon, holds degrees in Philosophy of Science and Planetary Science from Brown University and a doctorate in Planetary Sciences from the University of Arizona. He serves as an advisor to NASA on space exploration strategy.[7] He serves as an Interdisciplinary Scientist on the European Space Agency's Venus Express spacecraft mission to Venus.[8] He is a science team member of the NASA Astrobiology Institute Titan Team[9] and serves as science Co-Investigator and team lead for Education and Public Outreach for the Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) on the Mars Science Laboratory.[10] His popular writing has appeared in numerous periodicals, such as Slate, Scientific American, Natural History, The Sciences, Seed, Astronomy, The Boston Globe, LA Times, and The New York Times. His technical papers have been published in Nature, Science, and numerous other journals. Dr. Grinspoon has been featured on many television (PBS's Life Beyond Earth; BBC's The Planets, History Channel's The Universe) and radio (NPR’s Science Fridays, Wisconsin Public Radio, BBC World Service) shows. He has given invited talks at international conferences throughout the U.S., Europe, and Australia. A prolific public lecturer and writer, he also writes the monthly "Cosmic Relief" column for Sky & Telescope Magazine, where he is contributing editor. He has appeared several times as a guest, and also as guest host, of Neil deGrasse Tyson's popular podcast and live shows Star Talk and "Star Talk Live".
Grinspoon is also an award-winning musician who has played guitar and composed for many bands. Currently he is performing with the House Band of the Universe.
In 2006, he was awarded the Carl Sagan Medal by the Division for Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society for excellence in public communication of planetary science. In 2013, he was invited to give the Carl Sagan Lecture at the Fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union.
Works
- Venus Revealed: A New Look Below the Clouds of Our Mysterious Twin Planet (1998)
- Lonely Planets: The Natural Philosophy of Alien Life (2004)
References
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External links
- David Grinspoon giving a TEDx talk entitled "Terra Sapiens: Planetary Changes of the Fourth Kind", in New York City in 2014.
- David Grinspoon appearing with Neil deGrasse Tyson and Sarah Silverman on StarTalk Live
- Public Lecture on "Climate Catastrophes in the Solar System: Lessons for Earth", at Case Western Reserve University
- "Terra Sapiens: The Role of Science in Fostering a Wisely Managed Earth", The 2013 Carl Sagan Lecture presented at the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco.
- Public talk entitled "Can a Planet Be Alive" given at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science
- The House Band of the Universe performing "Life Out There"
- David Grinspoon's Funky Science Website
- "House Band of the Universe"
- Grinspoon's citation for the Carl Sagan Medal
- "Cosmic Relief" columns for Sky & Telescope Magazine
- Library of Congress interviews David Grinspoon about his relationship with Carl Sagan
- Article in Astrobiology Magazine, profiling Grinspoon's "Living Worlds Hypothesis"
- David Grinspoon's Twitter page
