Carl Sagan Center for Earth and Space Science Education

Harri Vanhala Theoretical Astrophysicist Carl Sagan Center for Earth and Space Science Education Research Specialty: Origin of the solar system Comfortable with the following age ranges: all Comfortable with the following audience sizes: all

Dr. Harri Vanhala is a theoretical astrophysicist at the National Center for Space, Earth, and Flight Sciences Education at Universities Space Research Association, where he divides his time between scientific research and public education. His specialty is the origin of the Solar System and investigating how stars elsewhere in the universe may be similar to (or different from) the Sun. The goal of his research is to help us understand whether there are other solar systems out there and whether they might be similar to ours. He does his research through computer simulations and by comparing the results of his calculations with astronomical observations. Presentation Overviews and AV Requirements: Classroom Visit presentation Life on Earth—and elsewhere? How do you know something is alive? How can you say that a dog walking down the street is alive but a car next to it is not? We discuss what it is that makes something alive and what do you need to survive. Based on these results, we can look for life in surprising places on Earth—and maybe elsewhere! AV Requirements: LCD projector and projection screen; chalkboard and chalk or flipchart

and markers or whiteboard and markers The Origin of the Solar System (specifically for grades 9-12 science or astronomy classes) Are we alone? Is there life elsewhere in the universe? Is our solar system unique or might there be planets just like Earth out there somewhere? How did the Sun and the planets come

to exist? Can pieces of rock falling from the sky help us understand how our planetary system was formed? Did a star have to die to give birth to the solar system? These are some of the questions I will attempt to answer in my discussion of "The Origin of the Solar System." AV Requirements: LCD projector and projection screen Family Science Night presentations Extreme Earth Earth is our home. It is where we humans live and thrive. It is also the only place in the universe where we know life exists. What makes Earth such a special place? What is it like on the global scale? What are some of the extreme environments on Earth? How can these extreme places help us understand other worlds? Come discover answers to these questions as we explore our home planet! AV Requirements: LCD projector, lavaliere microphone and projection screen Fifty of Your Very Own Look up on a starry night far from city lights. What you're seeing is but a tiny portion of the Milky Way, our home galaxy. The Milky Way is a vast and swirling mass of 400,000,000,000 suns—enough to give 50 to every person on Earth! Come explore the different neighborhoods of the Milky Way, and get an understanding of our home world location among the stars. AV Requirements: LCD projector, lavaliere microphone and projection screen A Voyage That Will Forever Change Your Perspective of Home We live aboard a spaceship called Earth. It's the big thing under your feet. It carries us through space at fantastic speeds all the while orbiting one special star we call the Sun. But only when you leave Earth and look back can you truly understand the nature of our existence. How? Get ready to be transformed into a cosmic giant, able to comfortably journey through our solar system - a vast space home to many tiny worlds. Along the way we'll stop at many of these worlds, put them under the cosmic microscope, and see the majesty of the very small. It is a Voyage that will forever change your perspective of home. AV Requirements: LCD projector, lavaliere microphone and projection screen How Big Is Big? It's a big, often intimidating universe out there. How do we even begin to fathom objects and distances that dwarf anything we've ever experienced? Earth's place in space is knowable. The secret is placing the universe in a context that is familiar. Take a magical journey from spaceship Earth to points unknown. AV Requirements: LCD projector, lavaliere microphone and projection screen Featured Presentations [Appropriate Venues: educator workshops and conferences, university non-science majors, business and civic groups, museum and science center staff] RThe Origin of the Solar System Are we alone? Is there life elsewhere in the universe? Is our solar system unique or might there be planets just like Earth out there somewhere? How did the Sun and the planets come to exist? Can pieces of rock falling from the sky help us understand how our planetary system

was formed? Did a star have to die to give birth to the solar system? These are some of the questions I will attempt to answer in my discussion of "The Origin of the Solar System." AV Requirements: LCD projector, lavaliere microphone and projection screen Research Talks [Appropriate Venues: colloquiua for physics and astronomy departments, presentations to astronomy majors and graduate students] RThe Triggered Origin of the Solar System Studies of meteoritic material have revealed the presence of short-lived radioactive isotopes in the early solar system. The short half-lives of the radionuclides—less than a few million years—set strict limits on the time scale of the formation of the solar system. These limits appear to be at odds with the "standard model" of solar system formation, which proposes that solar-type stars form in quiescent conditions without outside interference. Instead, the meteorite data suggests that the formation of the solar system may have been initiated by an external factor, an interstellar shock wave propagating from a nearby supernova explosion. The current state of this proposal, sometimes called the hypothesis of the triggered origin of the solar system, is discussed in this presentation by describing computer simulations investigating the viability of the scenario. Implications on star and planet formation elsewhere in the universe are also discussed. AV Requirements: LCD projector, lavaliere microphone and projection screen

Harri Arto Tapio Vanhala Formal Bio

Research Interests Theoretical astrophysics, star and planet formation, the origin of the solar system, computer simulations

Education 1997 Ph. D. in Astronomy, University of Oulu 1993 Ph. Lic. in Astronomy, University of Oulu 1991 M. Sc. in Astronomy, University of Oulu

Research Experience 2005-present Space Science Researcher, Carl Sagan Center for Earth and Space Science Education/

Universities Space Research Association; investigating the origin of the solar system and triggered star formation.

2002-2005 Astrophysicist, Challenger Center for Space Science Education; investigating the origin of the solar system and triggered star formation.

2000-2002 Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Arizona State University; working with Prof. Sumner Starrfield, investigating the growth of convective instabilities in accreting white dwarfs and neutron stars.

1997-2000 Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution of Washington; working with Dr. Alan Boss, investigating triggered star formation and the origin of the solar system

1993-1997 Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Predoctoral Fellow, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics; under the direction of Prof. A.G.W. Cameron, investigating molecular cloud core formation, compression and induced collapse.

1990-1993 Research Assistant, Department of Astronomy, University of Oulu; under the direction of Prof. K.A. Hämeen-Anttila, investigating the properties of circumstellar disks.

1992 Visiting Research Assistant, Louisiana State University; conducting independent research under the supervision of Prof. J. Tohline, investigating the structure and dynamics of circumstellar disks.

1991 Reserach Intern, Lunar and Planetary Institute; under the direction of Dr. Tomasz Stepinski, investigating the dynamics and magnetic properties of circumstellar disks.

Teaching Experience 2005-present Space Science Researcher, Carl Sagan Center for Earth and Space Science Education/

Universities Space Research Association; giving classroom presentations and talks to the general public; developing education materials for use in teaching space and Earth science; giving educator workshops on K-12 teachers on developed materials.

2002-2005 Astrophysicist, Challenger Center for Space Science Education; giving classroom presentations and talks to the general public; developing education materials for use in teaching space and Earth science.

2001-2002 Guest lecturer, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Arizona State University; giving lectures on undergraduate and graduate astronomy courses.

1990-1993 Lecturer, Department of Astronomy, University of Oulu; teaching undergraduate astronomy courses.

1989-1990 Teaching Assistant, Department of Astronomy, University of Oulu; responsible for overseeing and directing exercises on various undergraduate courses.

Professional Memberships and Service

Member American Astronomical Society Reviewer Peer reviewer for scientific journals: Meteoritics & Planetary Science (1999)

NASA proposal peer reviewer: Origins of Solar Systems (1999, 2002), Cosmochemistry (2003)

NASA proposal peer review panelist: Interdisciplinary Exploration Science (2005) Curriculum materials content reviewer, Challenger Center for Space Science

Education, 2002-2005. Curriculum materials content reviewer, Carl Sagan Center for Earth and Space Science

Education/Universities Space Research Association, 2005-present. Organizer Carnegie/DTM astronomy group meetings, 1999-2000.

Session chair of the ``Origins of Planetary Systems'' session at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference XXIX, Houston, TX, 1999.

Information Technology Experience Unix System Administration; maintaining and upgrading Unix workstations and operating systems,

including HP*UX, Ultrix, OSF/1 and DEC Unix. Macintosh and PC System Administration; maintaining and upgrading personal computers and

operating systems. Web site creation and maintenance; co-creator and maintainer of the Smithsonian Astrophysical

Observatory Predoctoral Fellow Program BBS/FAQ Web site, 1994-1997; creator and maintainer of the Triggered Star Formation Web site, 1997-2000.

Bibliography 29) 2005 Vanhala, H.A.T. Injection of Radioactivities into the Forming Solar System. Protostars

and Planets V, #8456. 28) 2005 Livengood, T.A., Goldstein, J., Vanhala, H., Hamel, J., Miller, E.A., Pulkkinen, K., and

Richards, S. USRA's NCSEFSE: a new National Center for Space, Earth, and Flight Sciences Education. AAS/DPS 37, 13.04

27) 2005 Vanhala, H.A.T., Miller, E.A., and Goldstein, J.J. Teachable Moments in the News – an Online Resource for Solar System Science News. Bull. Amer. Astron. Soc., 36, 1502.

26) 2005 Vanhala, H.A.T. Injection of Radioactivities into the Forming Solar System. Bull. Amer. Astron. Soc., 36, 1435.

25) 2002 Vanhala, H.A.T., and Boss, A.P. Injection of Radioactivities into the Forming Solar System. Astrophys.J., 575, 1144-1150.

24) 2002 Vanhala, H.A.T., Starrfield, S., and Hix, W.R. Nova simulations with VH-1. Bull. Amer. Astron. Soc., 34, 566.

23) 2001 Vanhala, H.A.T. The Stability of Rotating Molecular Cloud Cores. Bull. Amer. Astron. Soc., 33, 885.

22) 2001 Vanhala, H.A.T. Injection of Radioactivities into the Forming Solar System: High-Resolution Simulations. In Lunar and Planetary Science XXXII, Abstract #1170, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston.

21) 2001 Vanhala, H.A.T. The Triggered Origin of the Solar System. Bull. Amer. Astron. Soc., 33, 711.

20) 2001 Boss, A.P., and Vanhala, H.A.T. Injection of Newly Synthesized Elements into the Presolar Cloud. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. A, 359, 2005-2017.

19) 2000 Vanhala, H.A.T., and Boss, A.P. Injection of Radioactivities into the Protosolar Cloud: Convergence Testing. Astrophys. J., 538, 911-921.

18) 2000 Boss, A.P., and Vanhala, H.A.T. Triggering Protostellar Collapse, Injection, and Disk Formation. Space Science Reviews, 92, 13-22.

17) 2000 Goswami, J.N., and Vanhala, H.A.T. Extinct Radionuclides and the Origin of the Solar System. In Protostars and Planets IV, eds. V. Mannings, A.P. Boss, and S.S. Russell, Tucson: Univ. of Arizona Press, 963-994.

Curriculum Materials Development

11) 2005 “The 2005 Space Science Compendium of Lessons in support of Sixth Grade Earth and Space Science, District of Columbia Public Schools”; co-author

10) 2005 “The Voyage Continues Middle School Component”; co-author 9) 2005 Teachable Moments in the News, Issue 6; co-author 8) 2004 Teachable Moments in the News, Issues 2-5; co-author 7) 2004 “2004 Space Science Supplement to a Compendium of Activities in support of Sixth

Grade Earth and Space Science, District of Columbia Public Schools”; co-author 6) 2004 “Voyage: A Journey through Our Solar System – An Education Module for Journey

through the Universe”; co-author 5) 2004 “2004 Space Science Supplement to a Compendium of Activities in support of Sixth

Grade Earth and Space Science, District of Columbia Public Schools”; one of the authors 4) 2004 “Voyage: A Journey through Our Solar System – An Education Module for Journey

through the Universe”; one of the lead authors 3) 2004 “Space Science Supplement to a Compendium of Activities in support of Sixth Grade

Earth and Space Science, District of Columbia Public Schools”; one of the lead authors 2) 2003 “Earth Systems Science – An Education Module for Journey through the Universe”; one of

the lead authors 1) 2003 MESSENGER Education Module “Framing Pathways to Answers: The Scientific Process

in Action, Unit 1: Staying Cool”; one of the lead authors Conference Presentations and Seminar Talks (2001-present) 39) 2005 Protostars and Planets V, Waikoloa, HI; poster presentation Injection of Radioactivities

into the Forming Solar System. 38) 2005 205th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society, San Diego, CA; poster presentation Injection of Radioactivities into the Forming Solar System. 37) 2005 205th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society, San Diego, CA; poster

presentation Teachable Moments in the News – an Online Resource for Solar System Science News.

36) 2004 Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI; seminar The Origin of the Solar System. 35) 2004 Communicating Astronomy to the Public conference, Washington, DC;

one of the authors of the poster presentation Challenger Center’s Education and Public Outreach Activities for the MESSENGER Spacecraft Mission to Mercury.

34) 2004 Communicating Astronomy to the Public conference, Washington, DC; one of the authors of the poster presentation Voyage – A Journey through Our Solar System.

33) 2004 Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI; colloquium The Origin of the Solar System. 32) 2002 Challenger Center for Space Science Education, Alexandria, VA; colloquium The Origin of the Solar System. 31) 2002 University of Washington, Department of Astronomy, Seattle, WA; colloquium The Triggered Origin of the Solar System. 30) 2002 199th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society, Washington, DC; poster presentation Nova Simulations with VH-1. 29) 2001 Arizona State University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Tempe, AZ; colloquium The Triggered Origin of the Solar System. 28) 2001 198th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society, Pasadena, CA; poster presentation The Stability of Rotating Molecular Cloud Cores. 27) 2001 Lunar and Planetary Science Conference XXXI, Houston, TX; presentation Injection of Radioactivities into the Forming Solar System:

High-Resolution Simulations. 26) 2001 University of Georgia, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Athens, GA; colloquium Numerical Simulations of Triggered Star Formation. Presentations for the General Public

7) 2005 Family Science Night presentation Extreme Earth, Altamont, KS, Journey through the Universe, May 5; 120 attendees

6) 2005 Family Science Night presentation Fifty of Your Very Own, National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C., February 22; 367 attendees

5) 2004 Family Science Night presentation Voyage through the Solar System, Martinsville, VA, Journey through the Universe, November 18; 250 attendees

4) 2004 Family Science Night presentation Extreme Earth, Munising, MI, Journey through the Universe, April 22

3) 2004 Family Science Night presentation Extreme Earth, Marquette, MI, Journey through the Universe, April 20

2) 2004 Family Science Night presentation How Big Is Big?, National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C., March 2

1) 2003 Family Science Night presentation Extreme Earth, Menominee, MI, Journey through the Universe, November 11

Classroom Presentations 14) 2005 Washington, DC, Journey through the Universe; total of 9 presentations, 196 students. 13) 2005 Labette County, KS, Journey through the Universe: total of 23 presentations,

1,026 students. 12) 2005 Posion yläaste, Posio, Finland; total of 1 presentation, 50 students. 11) 2004 Martinsville, VA, Journey through the Universe;

total of 18 presentations, 843 students. 10) 2004 Washington, DC, Journey through the Universe;

total of 7 presentations, 220 students. 9) 2004 Marquette, MI, Journey through the Universe; total of 15 presentations, 974 students. 8) 2004 Maret School, Washington, DC; 1 presentation, 75 students. 7) 2003 Dickinson-Iron-Menominee, MI, Journey through the Universe; total of 13 presentations,

802 students. 6) 2003 Washington, DC, Journey through the Universe; total of 23 presentations, 552 students. 5) 2003 Labette County, KS, Journey through the Universe: total of 21 presentations, 602 students. 4) 2003 Marquette, MI, Journey through the Universe: total of 21 presentations, 874 students. 3) 2002 Posion yläaste, Posion lukio, Posio, Finland; total of 2 presentations, 55 students 2) 2002 Washington, DC, Journey through the Universe; total of 7 presentations, 202 students. 1) 2002 Space Camp, Challenger Center, Alexandria, VA; total of 2 presentations, 50 students. Educator Workshop Presentations 12) 2005 MESSENGER Educator Fellowship Program Update Session, Washington, DC;

10 educators 11) 2005 Marquette Journey through the Universe Physics workshop, conducted via Distance

Learning from Alexandria, VA; 20 educators 9-10) 2004 Martinsville Journey through the Universe Staying Cool workshop, Martinsville, VA; 2

workshops for a total of 130 educators 8) 2004 NASA Earth and Space Science Education Products Workshop, via distance learning

from Martinsville, VA, to Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX; 60 educators 7) 2004 MESSENGER Educator Fellowship Program Launch Workshop and Update

Session, Cocoa Beach, FL; 25 educators 6) 2004 Marquette Journey through the Universe Earth Systems Science workshop, Marquette, MI;

120 educators 5) 2003 MESSENGER Educator Fellowship Program Launch Workshop, Cocoa Beach, FL 4) 2004 Marquette Journey through the Universe Earth Systems Science workshop, Marquette, MI 3) 2003 Dickinson-Iron-Menominee Journey through the Universe Earth Systems Science

workshop, Iron Mountain, MI 2) 2003 Challenger Center Annual Conference, MESSENGER workshop, Kansas City, MO 1) 2003 MESSENGER Educator Fellowship Program Workshop, Alexandria, VA