New Worlds
New Worlds – After 400 years of speculation, work over the past two decades has established that our Solar System is not unique. Indeed, it appears that planetary systems are the rule, rather than the exception: thousands of planets have been detected orbiting other stars, a few of which are similar to the Earth in size, mass, and temperature. Dr. Helfand will describe how we both discover new solar systems and establish the existence of other habitable worlds. David J. Helfand, Ph.D.
David J. Helfand, Ph.D.
A faculty member at Columbia University for thirty-eight years, served half of that time as Chair of the Department of Astronomy, Dr. David J. Helfand is also the author of nearly 200 scientific publications and has mentored 22 Ph.D. students. Most of his pedagogical efforts, however, have been aimed at teaching science to non-science majors. He instituted the first change in Columbia's Core Curriculum in 50 years by introducing science to all first-year students. In 2005, he became involved with an effort to create Canada's first independent, nonprofit, secular university, Quest University Canada. He served as a Visiting Tutor in the University's inaugural semester during Fall 2007 and was appointed President & Vice-Chancellor the following to lead this innovative experiment in higher education. He is also in his final year of a four-year term as President of the American Astronomical Society. His first book, A Survival Guide to the Misinformation Age, will appear late this fall.
