2005 Media Releases
March 16, 2005
European Space Boss at La Trobe University
The Director of Science for the European Space Agency (ESA), Dr David Southwood, will give a public lecture at La Trobe University Melbourne campus (Bundoora) on Wednesday 23 March.
Dr Southwood will speak on the topic ‘Moon, Mars, Titan and beyond: Europe’s new steps into space’. The free public lecture, sponsored by the University’s Faculty of Science, Technology and Engineering, will take place at 5.30 pm in the Szental Lecture Theatre (Melway Map 573, Ref: 7D, enter from Car park 2).
Dr Southwood became Director of Science, in charge of the ESA Science Program in May 2001.
A space physicist, he has spent most of his career teaching and carrying out research.
He gained a PhD in Physics at Imperial College London, and after post doctoral work at UCLA, returned in 1971 to Imperial College, becoming head of the Blackett Laboratory from 1994 until 1997.
Over the past 35 years he has published more than 200 publications and scientific articles, and has worked on a variety of space missions. One of his most challenging tasks was to head the team that built the magnetometer for the Cassini Saturn orbiter of the NASA/ESA Cassini-Huygens mission.
He began working at ESA in 1977 as head of Earth observation strategy where he introduced a new programme in Earth science, The Living Planet.
In 1999 he returned to academia to become Regents Professor first at UCLA and then at Imperial College, London. In May 2001 he was invited back to ESA to lead the space science programme.
March 16, 2005 European Space Boss at La Trobe UniversityFor further information:
Please contact Ms Margaret Botterill, Tel: +61 3 9479 2059/2556, or Public Affairs, Tel: +61 3 9479 2316.