Mission to Mars explained for free

A free science lecture series kicking off tomorrow night at the Mississauga Central Library will launch with an exploration of the Canadian content that was part of the Mars lander expedition.
Peter A. Taylor, from York University’s Centre for Research in Earth and Space Science, will speak on the subject, The Phoenix Mission: A Maple Leaf on Mars.
The Phoenix Lander touched down safely on Mars May 25, 2008. The Canadian team, based at York University, was responsible for design and operation of the mission’s meteorological gear. Taylor will describe the mission as a whole, focusing on the Canadian contributions, and will discuss initial findings from the data.
The series is sponsored by Canada’s oldest scientific society, the Royal Canadian Institute for the Advancement of Science.
On Nov. 6, Hugh R. Wilson, a professor of spatial and computational vision at York University, will take the stage.
His lecture, titled Watching Brains Think: Brain Imaging, Face Recognition & Deception, will clarify how brain imaging works. He'll also discuss the ethical issues raised by using brain imaging to “read minds” and describe some of the advancements in computer modelling that brain imaging is enabling.
On Dec. 4, Dr. Debra Inglis from Brock University will expound on The Science of Icewine — Extreme Winemaking.
Inglis will discuss the science and the peculiarities behind making icewine, the beverage that has put Canada on the world wine map.
“Icewine’s uniqueness,” says Inglis, “comes at the price of pushing winemakers to their wits’ end. From draping the crop in miles of awkward netting to thwarting bird attacks to picking in the middle of bone-chilling nights (including on holidays), to the irksome stickiness on everything it contacts in your winery, making icewine can be a ruthless pursuit.”
The free lectures begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Noel Ryan Auditorium, at 7:30 p.m.

jstewart@mississauga.net