This year we have two opportunities for our families, alumni, and friends to join us for the acclaimed GeoTech Speaker series.

On Wednesday, February 29, 2012, at 7:00 p.m. in Bishop Dunne’s library, we invite our community to a wine and cheese reception to hear Mireya Mayor discuss her work studying animals and conservation around the world. According to The New York Times, “Mireya has the adventurous spirit of a female Indiana Jones”. In 1999, National Geographic was doing a story in Madagascar and asked Mireya to say a few words about the lemurs. Impressed by her passion for the subject, down-to-earth delivery of scientific knowledge and distinct background of an NFL cheerleader-turned-scientist, National Geographic offered Mireya a staff wildlife correspondent position. She has since gone underwater with six-foot Humboldt squids, scoped out gorillas in Central Africa, swum with great white and six-gilled sharks, and worked with leopards in Namibia.

Admission for the evening is $15. Please come and meet Mireya and others on our staff to see how we integrate this spirit of excellence into classes!

On Thursday, March 1, 2012, we invite all Bishop Dunne families to join us at the IMAX theater at the Museum of Science and Nature in Fair Park for our Public Lecture from Kobie Boykins, entitled Rovers of the Red Planet.

In 2002, Boykins joined a team of young scientists for a public education tour—dubbed “Marsapalooza”—to raise awareness of the Mars Exploration Project. Four years later he was featured in the JASON Project Expedition “Mysteries of Earth and Mars,” bringing his passion for space exploration to students and teachers worldwide. An engaging public speaker who puts a fresh face on America’s space program, Boykins recounts the challenges and triumphs of the Mars Exploration Rovers mission, sharing remarkable images and discoveries that continue to come to us from the Red Planet.

Our students will be offered free admission if they are accompanied by an adult. Bishop Dunne parents’ admission fee is the reduced rate of $15.

Visit the GeoTech website for more information, or email Anita if you have any questions about the event. We hope to see you there!

photo of Dr. Mireya Mayor courtesy of  Mireya Mayor Video: An Amazing Adventure!; photo of Kobie Boykins courtesy of NASA