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NASA Deputy Administrator Visits Miami for Future Forum

Posted on: Friday, 11 April 2008, 18:00 CDT

WASHINGTON, April 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Friday, April 18, NASA Deputy Administrator Shana Dale will present the keynote address to launch a daylong event at the University of Miami's BankUnited Center celebrating the space agency's 50th birthday.

NASA's Miami Future Forum focuses on how space exploration benefits Florida's economy and is part of a yearlong series. Media are invited to attend the day's events, as well as a media-only question-and-answer session at 10:30 a.m. EDT.

Astronaut Carl Walz, director of the Advanced Capabilities Division in NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, will provide an overview of the agency's plans to return to the moon and explore beyond. Astronaut Steve Frick, who commanded space shuttle Atlantis' STS-122 mission to the International Space Station in February, will deliver the luncheon address.

The event schedule for NASA's Miami Future Forum is:

- 9:00 a.m. Welcome by the mayor and/or other local officials, including Sergio Gonzalez, vice president for university advancement and external affairs, University of Miami

- 9:15 a.m. Keynote address by The Honorable Shana Dale, NASA deputy administrator

- 9:50 a.m. Overview of NASA's Exploration Program by Carl Walz, director of the Advanced Capabilities Division

- 10:30 a.m. Media briefing

- 10:30 a.m. Innovation Panel - "Unleashing the Power of Technology and Creativity"

Moderator - Doug Comstock, director of NASA's Innovative Partnership Program

Steve Kohler, president and CEO, Space Florida

Manny Mencia, Sr. vice president for international trade and business development, Enterprise Florida

Jean Michel Caffin, managing partner, Axis Americas, LLC, and Beacon Council Executive Cabinet (head of the international committee)

Tom Krug, associate and senior engineer, Geosyntec Consultants - 11:15 a.m. Astronaut presentation

- 11:30 a.m. Discovery Panel - "Pushing the limits of knowledge to inspire new generations"

Moderator - Russell Romanella, director, International Space Station and spacecraft processing, Kennedy Space Center

James Tien, University of Miami, dean of engineering Dennis Mills, UTC/Pratt Whitney Rocketdyne

Robert Atlas, director, NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory

- 12:30 p.m. Luncheon with keynote presentation by space shuttle Commander Steve Frick

- 1:30 p.m. Barrington Irving, first African-American and youngest person to fly solo around the world

- 1:50 p.m. Inspiration Panel - "Building Idea Factories for the Future"

Moderator - Penny Haskins, associate director, Florida Space Grant Consortium

Okhee Lee-Salwen, University of Miami, College of Education Bernice Alston, NASA deputy assistant administrator for education

Frank Brogan, president of Florida Atlantic University, former Florida lieutenant governor

Steve Frick, astronaut and commander of the STS-122 space shuttle mission - 3:00 p.m. Closing remarks and wrap-up

Reporters planning to attend should contact Marie Guma-Diaz at 305-284-1601 or m.gumadiaz@umiami.edu, or Allard Beutel at 321-867-2468 or allard.beutel@nasa.gov.

For more information on NASA's 50th Anniversary Future Forums, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/50th/future_forums For complete biographical information about Dale, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/dale_bio.html For more information about the University of Miami, visit: https://www.miami.edu/

NASA

CONTACT: Allard Beutel of NASA Kennedy Space Center, Fla.,+1-321-867-2468, allard.beutel@nasa.gov; or Marie Guma-Diaz of University ofMiami, Fla., +1-305-284-1601, m.gumadiaz@umiami.edu

Web Site: http://www.nasa.gov/https://www.miami.edu/

Source: PRNewswire-USNewswire

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