- Day 1 -
Movies:
Earth Volcanoes | Earth
Volcanoes 2 | Mars Impact
Theory | Mars Impact Theory
2 | Earth Plates
Please email Steven.Gutierrez@grc.nasa.gov
for accessible version of videos
i.
ii.
[The following was sent just after our first video connection.
Some pauses were required to allow for translation of my remarks
into Japanese and German. This posed no real problem, however.
I think that the teams on both sides of the Atlantic were extremely
impressed with one another. JCK]
At 11:45 AM 07/23/2001 -0400, LAWRENCEHX@aol.com wrote:
Dear Joe,
I have just "found" a computer, minutes after your
inspirational final remarks. Many thanks for this. The group
is sitting behind me as I am writing, working hard on many aspects
of the project.
Carsten is a gem. We also have Stu, his friend, so the team
is growing. As we mentioned, Professor Steve Sparks gave them
a short introduction to terrestrial vulcanology, so that they
all started at roughly the same point.
I shall e-mail you some of the JPEGS as soon as we get back
to the Porter's Lodge, so that I can download the pics into
my laptop.
Many thanks for your patience while we translated for the Japanese
students. I was aware that this is not your usual format for
a conference, but we are learning together.
More when I have caught my breath.
Warmest regards to you all,
Lawrence
iii.
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 15:39:58 -0400
To: LAWRENCEHX@aol.com
From: Joseph C Kolecki <Joseph.C.Kolecki@grc.nasa.gov>
Subject: Re: From the Physics Department at Bristol
Hi, Lawrence,
I am glad that this morning [10:00 - 10:45 a.m. EDT, 3:00 -
3:45 p.m. Bristol time. JCK ] worked out for everybody. I thought
that the translations were very interesting--especially the
ones from English to Japanese: I cannot imagine two more different
languages!
We were delighted to meet with all of you, and we look forward
very much to seeing the students become involved with their
questions and comments. You certainly have a great deal on your
hands, but you/we are accomplishing something new and unique!
Again, our best hopes and wishes go with you!! See you tomorrow.
Joe
(P.S. I am available for e-mails should the need arise.)
- Day 2 -
Movies:
Q&A1 | Q&A2
| Q&A3 | Q&A4
| Q&A5
[Good morning in Japanese]
i.
At 11:15 AM 07/24/2001 -0400, you (LAWRENCEHX@aol.com) wrote:
Dear Joe,
We are now in Earth Sciences, where the team members are back
at work developing their ideas still further.
Thank you for your full and clear explanations. You are firing
up the team's enthusiasm very effectively indeed.
We will try to tutor the Japanese students in English a bit,
so that you can understand their questions, but they are SHY
as well as new to English...Their research skills are good.
We plan to use the document camera more tomorrow to discuss
actual Martian features, so that the students can develop different
skills.
I am delighted with the way the project is developing. Thank
you for your inspirational support and a kindness that we feel,
even through the technology.
Lawrence
ii.
Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2001 18:56:59 -0400
To: LAWRENCEHX@aol.com
From: Joseph C Kolecki <Joseph.C.Kolecki@grc.nasa.gov>
Subject: Re: From the Physics Department at Bristol
Lawrence,
You and your team are entirely welcome. Tell the students that
they need not be shy. WE are all fellow travelers in a world
that is eternally new and challenging to us - whether we are
age 15 or 50. They are entirely free to agree or disagree with
anything and everything I say. I neither have nor know many
answers. (No scientist does, if he or she wishes to be perfectly
honest about it!) The only thing that they are NOT free to do
is to accept ideas without first [severely] questioning them.
Your students are as much an inspiration to us here at NASA
as we are (hopefully) to them. They are bright, eager, full
of all the stuff that makes an Isaac Newton or an Edmund Halley
emerge, bright and luminous, at an early age, and then continue
to shine throughout their lives and on into all the new generations
that follow.
Tell them to consider us [here at NASA] as their colleagues,
fellow explorers, rather than mere mentors. We are all tackling
an area that is largely unknown. The fun of it is that we can
share our ideas across national boundaries, cultural boundaries,
and even language boundaries. Their language skills are FINE
as they are. Communication is never easy, but GOOD communication
is ALWAYS worth the effort it takes for the respective parties
to understand each other. If world political leaders could do
as well, we would not have all the messes we currently have,
and the News Media would either have to retire, or else find
something more optimistic to report!
Ciao!!!
Joe
iii. (a.)
Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2001 12:21:56 -0400
To: LAWRENCEHX@aol.com
From: Ruth A Petersen <Ruth.A.Petersen@grc.nasa.gov>
Subject: Fwd: Today's videocon
Cc: Joseph C Kolecki <Joseph.C.Kolecki@grc.nasa.gov>
Status: U
Carsten
Here are Joe's responses to the questions he wanted to investigate
further. Hope this helps! See you tomorrow.
Ruth
iii. (b.)
[The following is a set of responses to questions asked by the
students during our first video connection. The actual questions
may be obtained from the videotapes. JCK]
Hi!
The question of Martian magma chemistries is still largely unanswered.
So is the question of formation of such Provinces on Mars as
Tharsis. I have before me a reference that argues a relatively
young age for Tharsis. No numbers are given, and the idea is
based upon the physical conditions in and around Tharsis.
Again, the students must examine ALL possibilities. The best
way to test any theory is to try to tear it apart, not to try
to prove it. If the theory withstands repeated attacks and counterarguments,
then it is more likely to hold some truth. The impact theory
is only one of many, connecting various features on Mars. Remember:
We still do not know whether or how these features might really
be connected. In their further thinking, the students should
try to find as many counter-examples and alternative ideas as
they are able.
As to the question regarding subduction zone formation: I do
not believe that Tharsis is or was a subduction zone. The overall
elevation of the region would seem to argue against this idea.
But...making a comparison between Tharsis and known terrestrial
subduction zone characteristics might prove to be very enlightening!
Now, here are some additional web sites that have good information--including
animated sequences!
(Sites open in new window)
http://ltpwww.gsfc.nasa.gov/tharsis/mola.html
http://ltpwww.gsfc.nasa.gov/tharsis/volcano.html
http://cmex.arc.nasa.gov/MarsEssy/intro.htm
http://www.solarviews.com/eng/marsvolc.htm
The last reference is a sample-return workshop held at NASA/JSC
in 1996. It has a lot of compositional information derived from
various sources, including meteorites that originated on Mars.
Best regards,
Joe Kolecki
iv.
From: Carsten Riedel
Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2001 17:14:10 +0100
To: Ruth A Petersen <Ruth.A.Petersen@grc.nasa.gov>
Subject: Projectiles and fax numbers...
Cc: Joseph C Kolecki <Joseph.C.Kolecki@grc.nasa.gov>,
LAWRENCEHX@aol.com
Status: U
Hello, Ruth and Joe,
Good to hear that there is a positive echo from your side. I
forgot about the calculation with the projectile, because I
was not thinking the students were at it so fast. But since
they are following two lines of research, the question came
up in a brainstorming session and we will pursue this line later
on. We have not yet looked at anything on Mars but Olympus Mons,
and further features will only turn up from tomorrow on when
they have a look at some more pictures. And probably we should
assign names to the volcano types. Till now I tried to avoid
geological terms and they rather know the outlook than the names
of shield, strata, and other cones. But we'll get there. So,
we are okay, and now the fax number:
+44 (0) 117 9253385
Hoping for more sessions like the one today and even better
ones,
Carsten
v.
Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2001 19:13:09 -0400
To: LAWRENCEHX@aol.com
From: Joseph C Kolecki <Joseph.C.Kolecki@grc.nasa.gov>
Subject: Re: From the Physics Department at Bristol
Hi, again, Lawrence,
I have an idea: Carsten wrote, earlier today, that the students
have not yet learned geological terms to classify the volcanoes
by type, etc. So.......Why not have them INVENT terms of their
own--descriptive terms, terms based on their observations of
structure, size, location, etc., and develop their own volcano
taxonomy? (Just think of what the astronomers have done: "Terrestrial
Planets," "Gas Giants," and so on. These young
people ought to be able to do at least as well with the Martian
volcanoes!!!) By making such an attempt, they will become more
naturally open to both the possibilities AND the difficulties
of taxonomy. Afterward, Carsten can show them how the geologists
and volcanologists have actually solved the problem.
Just a thought....
Joe
- Day 3 -
Movies: Rania's
report | Adriano's report
| Lee's Report
| Joe's discussion about reports
i.
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 09:28:31 -0400
To: LAWRENCEHX@aol.com
From: Joseph C Kolecki <Joseph.C.Kolecki@grc.nasa.gov>
Cc: Ruth A Petersen <Ruth.A.Petersen@grc.nasa.gov>
Hi, Lawrence,
Here are some more useful URL's.
http://www.solarviews.com/eng/tervolc.htm
http://www.star.le.ac.uk/edu/solar/tervolc.html
http://cass.jsc.nasa.gov/publications/slidesets/hawaii.html
http://Marswatch.tn.cornell.edu/rsm.html
Joe
ii.
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 11:42:15 -0400
To: LAWRENCEHX@aol.com
From: Joseph C Kolecki <Joseph.C.Kolecki@grc.nasa.gov>
Subject: One more URL...
Cc: Ruth A Petersen <Ruth.A.Petersen@grc.nasa.gov>
Hi, again!
Here is one more URL-- it features the book by Greeley and other
resources.
http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/vwstore/books/c.html
Joe
iii.
[The following correspondence occurred after the students' first
presentation to us. They took many of my comments to heart,
and the response was absolutely outstanding! In fact, one of
our videographers was amazed to learn that these young people
were not college but high school students ranging in age from
15-16 years! JCK]
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 11:04:25 -0400
To: LAWRENCEHX@aol.com
From: Joseph C Kolecki <Joseph.C.Kolecki@grc.nasa.gov>
Subject: WOW!
Hello to all of you at Bristol,
Congratulations! We're all smiling from ear to ear on this side
of the pond! I think that we've caught a glimpse of the future
of space exploration this morning!!!
Joe
iv.
At 11:24 AM 07/25/2001 -0400, you (LAWRENCEHX@aol.com) wrote:
Dear Joe,
We are now working on a summary of what we have collectively
gained ready for a final presentation to you tomorrow. We will
add ideas from the URLs and books that you have kindly suggested.
I confirm that we will see you at 3.45 UK time, and that we
plan to dial in at ISDN 6. The students say that they think
you will look even more distinguished at this speed! But this
is only a hypothesis and will need to be tested......
Thank you for your very kind words of encouragement. I do not
know if I have mentioned this, but all of the students have
been chosen because they come from areas of social deprivation,
where university education is not seen as a natural progression
for them. Their families have no history of higher education,
so we hope that this workshop, together with your warm encouragement
and inspiration, will set them off on a journey that is entirely
new to them.
So the workshop is particularly important socially as well as
educationally. The confidence that the students are visibly
gaining is worth all the effort in the world.
Thank you.
Lawrence
v.
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 11:49:32 -0400
To: LAWRENCEHX@aol.com
From: Joseph C Kolecki <Joseph.C.Kolecki@grc.nasa.gov>
Subject: Re: WOW!
[The following was written after re-reading the previous message
from Lawrence. JCK]
Lawrence,
I also started out with some very serious social and family
disadvantages. My kind is usually assumed slated to make the
skids or worse. But...I had a dream, and the dream was Mars.
Please tell your students that, with perseverance and faith,
they can climb above their respective situations--they can even
touch the sky! It isn't easy, but it is certainly within the
compass of human reach. Tell them that they are interacting
with one whose life has become living proof of that statement!
Joe
vi.
[Lee was one of the students in our group. In the following letter,
I have placed my remarks between paragraphs in Lee's letter. This
is how I originally responded to him. JCK]
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 16:53:38 -0400
To: LAWRENCEHX@aol.com
From: Joseph C Kolecki <Joseph.C.Kolecki@grc.nasa.gov>
Subject: Re: From Lee
Hello Joe,
This is Lee here. I have studied Mars along with the rest of
the group, but have somewhat drifted away from the group's focus
in my own spare time. I have spent a lot of time thinking about
the theory that you suggested. Though I did agree with it in
some way when I heard it, I felt that there had to be something
wrong with it. So I began looking for faults. I decided to look
for some evidence of plate tectonic activity, but could not
find any, of recent date at least. What I did find was some
evidence of some planetary movement much like that of the mid-Atlantic
ridge here on Earth, but it looks dormant at the moment.
Hi, Lee,
The best use of a "Naive" theory (properly so-called)
of the type that I suggested to you at the beginning of the
week is as a seed crystal or catalyst for stimulating new ideas.
Scientists advance them all the time in a process called brainstorming,
then pan through their results to see whether they can find
any gold nuggets. Sometimes the nuggets are there, and sometimes
not. Einstein developed much of his thinking in this manner.
He is reputed to have, "Toppled [his] house of cards,"
on more than one occasion. You are carrying your thinking forward
in a similar manner. Bravo, Lee! You have the spirit of a true
scientist!
Plate tectonic activity on Mars was not
known to have taken place until very recently. The Global Surveyor
(currently in orbit around Mars) has revealed a wealth of new
data in this regard. I like the fact that you are combining
impacts, moving plates, hot spots, and so on. This kind of conjunctive
thinking lies at the very heart of hypothesis building and leads
to eventual experimental work. Ours is a world of connections.
You are making valuable connections in your present thinking.
I have seen some magnetic patterns along
the planet, and have concluded that they are aligned with the
Marineras Valley. Thus I have concluded that this does in fact
support your theory, and does not argue against it, as these
movements would have occurred a long time ago. So the impact
shock waves would have caused the formations as seen today,
but not necessarily caused them by themselves.
What kinds of patterns have you seen?
Magnetic signatures do not always leave visible evidence, but,
rather, evidence that must be gained through the magnetic field
using a magnetometer, or related instrument. How does the magnetic
signature support an impact theory? Your logic seems a little
incomplete here.
Also remember: There is a difference between "Supporting"
a theory and "Not arguing against it." It is possible
to have a situation in which an idea is NEITHER supported nor
argued against. Logic, here, must cut through these matters
with a keen edge--no stone left unturned, no statement left
unqualified.
The theory that you believe in suggests that the shock waves
travelled through Mars and caused the bulge upon the Tharsis
Montes. However, I have noticed that the three volcanoes along
Tharsis Montes are in line, just like those of the Hawaiian
chain. I believe that these are in fact older than the bulge
itself, and that Olympus Mons is younger than the impact crater.
Following this, I have taken care in formulating a theoretical
idea.
Your observation of placement is excellent.
Here, you grasp something that might seem so obvious as to not
merit a second look. The fact that you DO give it a second look
is much to your credit!
Why are the three volcanoes necessarily "older?" I
believe that you are arguing for independence between the three
line volcanoes, the bulge, and O. Mons. Independence might imply
differences in age, differences in processes of generation,
and/or many other things. Be careful, here, not to overstate
your case.
Several investigators have suggested that O. Mons is a recent
feature whereas Hellas is more ancient. Provided that you cite
your references here, you are on solid ground.
Additional comment: In formulating your theory, you may make
conjectures about relative ages, if you feel that there is substance
added. Just be sure to remember where the conjectures lie. Here,
permit me a brief excursion into scientific logic: The more
conjectures (X, Y and Z) you place in series (i.e., "If
X, and if Y, and if Z, then W.") the more you reduce the
probability that your conclusion (W) is correct. In logic, statements
connected with "AND" have their probabilities multiplied.
Since these probabilities are less than or equal to one, odds
are that their product is very, VERY much less than one. Always
bear this idea in mind when doing conjectural thinking. Quite
often, verifying a conjecture becomes the essence of an experimental
investigation!
I have noticed that Olympus Mons is not upon a bulge, but that
the three volcanoes are. Also, there is a crack in the planet
surface near the bulge. Before I explain my idea, I think it
is important for a little background knowledge to be explained.
Background info is ALWAYS necessary in
a scientific argument. Good work!
The hot spot volcanoes on earth are all in a chain, (the Hawaiian
islands) and so are the three volcanoes on planet Mars.
You have just taken a leap into "Comparative
Planetology." Nice step!!!
So I am suggesting that these volcanoes are in fact hot spot
volcanoes. However, the plate that they would have been on would
have been moving very slowly. This would explain why they would
have grown so huge.
Nice connection. Why do you think that
the plate was moving slowly? Be careful of circular logic here:
i.e., "The volcanoes are so huge because the plate was
moving slowly, and the plate must have been moving slowly because
the volcanoes on it are so huge." I am not accusing you
of circular logic here. Please do not misunderstand; but I have
seen many a professional fall into just such a trap! This is
just another piece of 'pontification' on my part!!! :-)
Also, when they would have erupted, the lava would have cooled
extra quickly due to Mars' harsh cold atmosphere.
...assuming a harsh cold atmosphere at
the time of eruption. Probably not a bad assumption...
But what has this got to do with Olympus Mons? If we look at
Olympus Mons, it is not entirely 180 degrees from the impact
sight, and was caused by the reasons explained by you. But I
have tried to think of reasons why along side the reason said
to be the impact energy travelling outwards. One reason is that,
if plate tectonic activity were evident on Mars at an earlier
date, then a weak point in the planet interior would have aided
the construction of today's features.
Excellent! I like the progression of your
thinking here. If there were a major fault system in and around
Tharsis, some sounding experiments with a lander rover mission
might just be able to detect them. If successful, a major contribution
would have been made to our knowledge of this important region
of Mars.
I am suggesting that shock waves sent out from the impact
would have caused sudden movements in the Martian interior near
Olympus Mons, causing some magma from the core to raise up to
the surface, causing a bulge.
[N.B.: Words like "sudden" are
usually avoided since they cannot be easily quantified. Remember
that everything you say much eventually be turned into numbers--either
the results of a calculation, a measurement, or most likely
both.]
Greeley suggests a similar set of phenomena. He speculates about
there being either a hot spot under Tharsis, or increasing gas
pressure because of the accumulation of thermal energy [from
deeper interior sources]. Do you remember the other day when
someone asked whether water would affect the volcanoes? Well,
steam might very well be a component of a deep subsurface gas
pocket!
However, it is evident that the bulge has appeared near the
three volcanoes mentioned above. So why was Olympus Mons formed?
I have thought that it was formed because the magma from the
hot spot down below has found a new way to the surface from
the past happenings. In other words, a weak spot was formed
from the past plate tectonic activity. When the activity became
dormant, these weak points were left undisturbed until the impact
happened. After this, the magma from the hot spot area was caused
to rise. Then it found its way up to the surface, causing Olympus
Mons to form.
OK, Lee, you raise a plethora of good
questions here. Your whole argument needs to be carefully thought
out and expanded. What kinds of evidence would be required from
the Tharsis region to establish the relationships you are suggesting?
I would suggest that you consider both landers, rovers, AND
orbiters. Several instrument suites might be required to completely
determine whether or to what extent these complex relationships
are real on Mars. You've turned up some interesting possibilities
to pursue here!
But why is it so big? I have also put thought towards this area
as well. My suggestion is that this is also due to the fact
that the plates are no longer moving. Comparing Olympus and
Hawaii, we can see that their characteristics are the same,
and their profiles are especially similar.
Good! You've made some more excellent
connections here. Now, ask yourself this question: Is there
a maximum height to which a volcano can grow depending on the
surface gravity of the planet on which it occurs? Mars has 1/3
the surface gravity of Earth. Are the Hawaiian volcanoes at
some limit of growth? (I do not know the answer, but one of
your colleagues at Bristol probably does...). Is O. Mons at
some limit of growth? (Here I can say that Greeley believes
it is!)
So Olympus Mons is concluded to be also a form of a hot spot
volcano. However, the planetary movements have stopped for some
reason, (WHY?) so the plate that Olympus is on is currently
stationary. So the magma is (IS or WAS???) building up and up
under the mount, as is the same case for the bulge under the
three other older volcanoes. So we see a bulge form because
the volcanoes are just sitting there and not moving away from
the stationary hot spot. Part of the bulge, especially under
the three hot spot volcanoes, was caused by the impact shock
wave causing the rock to move, as seen in the Newton cradle
effect.
Now you sound like the geologists that
I met when I was at the Pathfinder Mission Control. (Whew! Nice
scenario!) I might throw in some additional info here: There
is some disagreement today as to whether Mars is STILL volcanically
active. If it is (the minority opinion), how might your ideas
be affected?
I believe that Olympus Mons may have in fact grown bigger because
the shock waves caused the magma to find a different way up
through to the surface by means of a weak point in the interior
of the Martian planet. And (I believe) that it builds because
the plates are not moving. Also brought to notice was the formation
of the trench. There is evidence of magnetic striations in line
with the trench (known as Marineras Valley). (Same question
here as earlier on this point...) I know that I have mentioned
this before, so this will be brief. I just want to bring to
mind that this could have been formed in the early age of the
planet's life, and then left, once again when the tectonic activity
ceased. Nevertheless, it once again widened with shock waves
from the impact, causing it to widen and deepen. So what was
once before a simple ocean-like ridge is now a deep chasm that
is very narrow.
You are suggesting that the Mariners Valley
was originally a ridge that either collapsed or spread apart.
WOW! I'm afraid that I cannot help much on this one pro or con.
I have never studied the Mariner's Valley. But, your point IS
very interesting. If you study photos of the M. Valley, you
will see that it is punctuated by immense regions of crustal
collapse. I do not know what the significance of these regions
is. Please ask one of your mentors at Bristol. I would enjoy
being copied on anything you might learn in this regard.
As a conclusion, I am saying that the formations on Mars, apart
from the bulge and Olympus Mons were there before the impact,
but had risen due to the impact causing magma to rise. Maybe
the magma rose through weak points in the interior that had
become excited by the impact shock waves, or maybe the magma
rose in some other way.
Lee, you have come a long way in your
thinking over the past few days. Congratulations on a job well
done. Whatever you do, KEEP THINKING, make notes, begin a series
of correspondences with your friends at Bristol, with me, amd
with anyone else in research if you are able. Do some reading
on mathematical and scientific logic. I believe that you've
got the mind to pick up the intricacies easily. You're going
to make a dynamite scientist if you keep at it ... so... PLEASE
KEEP AT IT!!!!!!!!!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who
take their time out of important work, thank you very much.
I would especially like to thank Joe at NASA for his time in
working with us here, and I would like to thank Eric for running
this course and Lawrence for helping the course. May special
thanks go to Stu and Carsten here at Bristol University, for
they have helped me and inspired me a lot. Please forgive me
as I do not (know) or have forgotten people's surnames.
This whole experience has also been one
of the great highlights for me!!!
Thank you once again.
Lee Parsons
Best regards --- and Godspeed! Joe
vii.
[I was extremely delighted to receive this photograph of Lee!!!
JCK]
At 04:13 PM 07/25/2001 -0400, you (LAWRENCEHX@aol.com) wrote:
Mugshot attached.
viii.
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 16:58:47 -0400
To: LAWRENCEHX@aol.com
From: Joseph C Kolecki <Joseph.C.Kolecki@grc.nasa.gov>
Subject: Re: A picture of Lee
I'm going to save this picture and watch for Lee's face to reappear
in some future publication on Martian volcanology. Note to Lee:
You had better follow through on this, Lee, because you've got
a friend waiting and watching "just the other side of the
pond!!!" (A little "Americanism" there... :-))
Joe
ix. (a.)
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 15:42:41 -0400
To: Joseph.C.Kolecki@lerc.nasa.gov
From: Ruth A Petersen <Ruth.A.Petersen@grc.nasa.gov>
Subject: Ask a Geologist Web Site
Joe
Do you think this would be a worthwhile URL to send to Lawrence
and his students since we couldn't find a "live" geologist?
http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/docs/ask-a-ge.html/
Ruth
x. (b.)
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 17:10:12 -0400
To: LAWRENCEHX@aol.com
From: Joseph C Kolecki <Joseph.C.Kolecki@grc.nasa.gov>
Subject: Fwd: Ask a Geologist Web Site
Hi, Lawrence,
Ruth found this site. It comes from the U.S. Geological Service.
Your students might like to check it out!!
Joe
- Day 4 -
Movies (Summary): Toshiyuki
| Akiro | Rania
| Adrian | Lee
| Joe discusses the day | Final
Goodbye
i.
[The following exchanges were made after a stunning presentation
from the Bristol students. Everybody - on both sides - was on
a high when it was over! JCK]
At 04:48 AM 07/26/2001 -0400, Lee wrote through Lawrence (LAWRENCEHX@aol.com):
Thank you very much, Joe!
I do intend on pursuing a career in science, but not one in
planetary content. I love cosmology, and follow Stephen Hawkings'
work closely. I wish to make a top cosmologist someday, or just
a scientific reporter on all things scientific.
Nevertheless, I have really enjoyed studying Mars over the past
few days, and would definitely like to keep in touch with everyone
here at Bristol, and especially with you and any one else I
can. I would like to study Mars in my spare time after today,
I feel as though I have taken a real interest to it.
I really appreciate your response to my e-mail. I found it most
helpful, and I want to discuss the points made by you with the
people here at the university in Bristol. Thank you once again,
Joe. Also, could I please have your e-mail, as I would like
to keep in contact with you in the not too distant future.
And Godspeed to all of you on the other side of the pond too...from
Lee.
:)
ii.
Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2001 09:08:32 -0400
To: Lee through Lawrence (LAWRENCEHX@aol.com)
From: Joseph C Kolecki <Joseph.C.Kolecki@grc.nasa.gov>
Subject: Re: A picture of Lee
Lee,
Go for it! I once met a Shuttle astronaut whose favorite saying
was, "Reach for the stars!" If you reach out, Lee,
you will certainly touch them!!!
My e-mail is:
joseph.c.kolecki@grc.nasa.gov
PLEASE feel free to write whenever the spirit moves you!!!
Joe
iii.
At 12:18 PM 07/26/2001 -0400, Lawrence (LAWRENCEHX@aol.com),
Rania, and Adriano wrote:
Dear Joe and all the people in the room there!
Many thanks for your kind support and encouragement. I have
really enjoyed what was a very busy and demanding week.
I am now working on a new idea that will incorporate the Science
through Drama workshop that has also taken place here. Watch
this space!.......
Lawrence
Hi Joe,
Rania here, I'd like to tell you how immensely grateful I am
to you and your team. You have been truly inspirational in your
motivation and encouragement. This workshop has given me an
idea of what higher education and a career in science would
be like, and I will go back to school full of anticipation of
such a path. I am now very excited about what the future holds
and what I, and my new friends in Bristol, can go on to achieve.
I hope to keep in touch with you and will most definitely research
further into this field.
Many thanks once again.
Rania Kashi
Dr. Joe,
I'm absolutely delighted to tell you that I'm glad to have taken
part in this project. I guess we have showed to the world that
it is possible and beneficial to share new information and work
together. An unforgettable experience, a successful mission
itself. Please send my acknowledgements to all our colleagues
that took part at NASA. Thanks again and hopefully we will continue
to keep in touch. GODSPEED
ADRIANO SILVA
This (is) Lawrence again, signing off for the moment. The students
now have to prepare a PUBLIC presentation of their work....
iv.
Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2001 13:18:39 -0400
To: LAWRENCEHX@aol.com
From: Joseph C Kolecki <Joseph.C.Kolecki@grc.nasa.gov>
Subject: Re: Thanks from us all
Dear Lawrence, and all our friends in Bristol,
It was our pleasure to have shared your week with you. Best
wishes from all of us at NASA. Keep those lights burning! Each
of you has something unique to give to the world.
Godspeed!!!
Joe Kolecki
v.
From: Lee Parsons
To: Joseph.C.Kolecki@grc.nasa.gov
Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2001 20:39:03 BST
Subject: Thank you
Hello Joe,
It is Lee here again. I would just like to say a big thanks
to all those at NASA who helped make this experience helpful.
I have truly enjoyed the study that we have done together, and
I hope that we can stay in contact.
I feel as though my eyes have been opened up to a whole new
world that is the world of Mars, and would like to study it
further...but I would need to ask of some help from you and
whoever else can provide help. I would like to be especially
kept up to date with the discoveries about Mars, if that would
be possible with you folks over there at NASA.
I feel as though I have fallen in love with the Planet; it has
so many wondrous features, and I know that we here have really
only touched the tip of the iceberg.
I would also like to thank you personally, Joe, for the things
that you said about a career in science. I felt that it was
very inspiring, and I will definitely pursue a career in the
field of science, even if it means that I have to take it up
as a hobby as a result of me being rejected from university.
Well, thank you for such a great time, may I take this opportunity
to wish you Godspeed with the project on Mars, and I hope to
hear from you soon.
Lee Parsons
- Day 5 -
i.
Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2001 13:45:41 -0400
To: Lee Parsons
From: Joseph C Kolecki <Joseph.C.Kolecki@grc.nasa.gov>
Subject: Re: Thank you
Hello, Lee,
Nice to hear from you. I assume that, by the time you receive
this letter, you will have already made a successful presentation
to your peers at Bristol.
Judging from what we saw of you and your group here, you had
an experience very much like that of any group of scientists
working through a real-life problem. I was reminded, at several
points during our sessions, of my 18 days at the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory, after we had successfully landed the Pathfinder
Mission on Mars. We worked around the clock, had all sorts of
little meetings and conclaves, made presentations, and tried
our best to use our existing knowledge to interpret the new
data that was coming down daily from the Ares Valles on Mars.
It was both a heady and an exhausting experience. When I returned
home, I went through a period of time in which I received calls
from all over the country at almost all hours of the day and
night. I had demonstrated an important point, you see, and,
suddenly, I was regarded as some kind of an expert!
You and your group have experienced something similar this week,
Lee. I hope that those of you who want to will go on into professional
science. We need people of your caliber, especially in the world
of exploration that is opening up throughout the solar system
and beyond. And the best part of all of it is that you get to
meet some of the neatest people anywhere and everywhere across
the globe!
Best wishes, Lee. Keep in touch.
Your friend and colleague in America,
Joe
ii.
At 02:40 AM 07/27/2001 -0400, you (LAWRENCEHX@aol.com) wrote:
Dear Joe,
One of the aims of the Workshops, here at Bristol University,
was to give a combined group of sixty young people, from across
Japan and from the United Kingdom, a new view of themselves
as potential scientists, and an ambition to succeed at the highest
level. I am struggling to find words to express our gratitude
to you and your team for your help in this venture.
Our particular group, in Space Science, at the Department of
Earth Sciences, has had the most wonderful week, and I truly
believe that the students' lives have been transformed by it.
You have some evidence of this already in the e-mail that we
sent just after the final presentation session.
The support you have given, the personal words of encouragement,
and that rare combination of warmth and professional rigor which
we now see as the hallmark of you and your team, have given
these youngsters a new sense of confidence and pride, both in
themselves and in their achievements. You will have felt this
as the conferences unfolded. I am grateful to you for lending
us the legendary NASA name, proud of what we have achieved together,
and joyful at the success of the students. "Thank you"
does not even come close to it.
Today, Friday, our group has a public presentation to give,
to the other nine groups and to many visitors, using PowerPoint,
and will later word-process a full written Report, which of
course we will send you.
Eric and I have only recently joined forces, and would both
be delighted to work with you on future projects: we are hoping
that this is just the beginning of many exciting ways of using
the new technologies to advance the cause of science education,
and to inspire young people.
I believe that during this week we have together taken another
useful step.
With our warmest regards and thanks,
Lawrence
iii.
Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2001 12:06:21 -0400
To: LAWRENCEHX@aol.com
From: Joseph C Kolecki <Joseph.C.Kolecki@grc.nasa.gov>
Subject: Re: Thanks from us all
Dear Lawrence,
Your kind words and the transformation we all saw in the members
of our group say everything! We are proud to have been asked
to join forces with you. All of you at Bristol have achieved
a landmark in education! May its effects be felt everywhere!!
Yes to further involvement with you - by all means, YES!!!
Joe
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