Meghann Ribbens was the guest for this Space Show program. As Meghann is a PhD student at USC, we focused our discussion on what space is like for her generation and others in school, including high school. As we found out, its not a burning passion, a hot career subject or even a major point of interest for most her age. However, as she is in a molecular biology program, Meghann did stress the excitement and importance that people have around the search for and discovery of biological life on Mars or anyplace off Earth. You will certainly want to hear the full discussion of this subject. Meghann was asked several technical questions about life on Mars and Martian chemistry by the listeners. In addition, our discussion took us deep in the heart of NASA and VSE talk for interest among her peers. Again, don't miss this discussion as you will hear first hand some of the issues that space will present to our future leaders and tax payers. In response to an extended question by Terry in Dallas, we talked about the proper role for NASA and should its job be to help create a civilian space program based on Terry's view that it is a "right" that we be able to freely go to and from space. Meghann was also asked about issues in her field and being taken seriously because of her gender and if that was an issue. Listen to the program for her response. Our discussion covered the upcoming Mars Conference at the end of the summer at UCLA and we were all invited to her Mars Society party in Santa Monica! Listeners asked Meghann many biological type questions for Mars and her comments pointed out several hearty species here on Earth as well as how harsh the Mars environment would be for life. You can send Meghann Ribbens your comments or question at ribbbens@usc.edu or as always through me at drspace@thespaceshow.com. Meghann Ribbens is a thoughtful, critical thinking, space enthusiast. Her energy and vision are contagious. I am sure she will be returning to The Space Show.
Guest
The Space Show
