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INTERACTION, THE 63rd WORLD SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION
http://www.interaction.worldcon.org.uk/

PRESS RELEASE #32 - European Space Agency Director to Deliver 
Keynote Lecture in Interaction Science Programme


GLASGOW, Wednesday 6 April 2005


Professor David Southwood to participate in Interaction science programme – 
Science Director of ESA since 2001 – will deliver keynote address
 

The European Space Agency and Interaction, the 63rd World Science Fiction 
Convention are pleased to announce that ESA Science Director Professor 
David Southwood will give the keynote talk in the Interaction Science 
Programme. The title of his lecture will be “Titan and the Imagination, 
Huygens and Cassini.” Professor Southwood will also participate in other 
programme items, including an interview with leading British science 
fiction author, Stephen Baxter.

Simon Bradshaw, Interaction's Science Programme Area Head, notes that the 
science programme is an integral part of every Worldcon. “Many science 
fiction fans and writers are working scientists and many working scientists 
are inspired by science fiction,” he said. “We are delighted that a scientist 
of Professor Southwood’s experience and renown has agreed to participate 
in our programme.”

Professor Southwood has been working in space research for nearly 40 years. 
He has spent much of his career at London's Imperial College, where he was 
head of Space Physics and latterly of the Blackett Laboratory. In this time 
he has published over 200 scientific papers and articles and worked on several 
space missions including Ulysses, Galileo and most recently the joint 
NASA/ESA Cassini-Huygens probe to Saturn and its giant moon Titan. 
Professor Southwood has had a long association with ESA, serving as chair 
of the Space Science Advisory Committee (1990-1993, the Science Programme 
Committee (1993-1996) and as Head of Earth Observation Strategy (1997-2000). 
After a short spell as a Regent's Professor at the University of California, 
Professor Southwood was chosen by the ESA Council to become the Director of 
Science, a post he has held since May 2001.

The World Science Fiction Convention takes place every year and science fact 
plays a major part in the programme. Other participants include Dr Jack Cohen 
from the University of Warwick and Dr Geoffrey Landis, award winning author 
and member of the science team overseeing the Spirit and Opportunity 
Mars rovers.



                                                                ENDS


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Contacts

General: info@interaction.worldcon.org.uk
Press/Media: David Stewart - press@interaction.worldcon.org.uk

The 2005 World Science Fiction Convention, known as Interaction, will
take place in Glasgow, UK from 4-8 August 2005. More information about
Interaction, including current membership rates, is available from its
web site (http://www.interaction.worldcon.org.uk/) or by writing to
info@interaction.worldcon.org.uk.

Specific press contacts, or requests to be removed from the
Interaction press release mailing list should be directed to
press@interaction.worldcon.org.uk.

"WSFS", "Worldcon", "World Science Fiction Convention" and "Hugo Award" 
are service marks of the World Science Fiction Society, an unincorporated 
literary society.