David Morrison (astrophysicist)
| David Morrison | |
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Lectures at SkeptiCal - April 21, 2012 - "This is the year the world will end - or is it?"
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| Born |
June 26, 1940 (age 76) Danville, IL |
| Residence | United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Fields | Planetary science, astrobiology |
| Institutions | NASA Ames Research Center, SETI Institute, NASA Lunar Science Institute, Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute |
| Alma mater | Harvard University |
| Known for | astrobiology, planetary exploration, search for extraterrestrial life, Near-Earth object detection, defense against asteroids, scientific skepticism |
| Notable awards | Dryden Medal, Sagan Medal, Presidential Meritorious Senior Professional |
David Morrison is a senior scientist at the Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute, at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California. Morrison is the former director of the Carl Sagan Center for Study of Life in the Universe at the SETI Institute and of the NASA Lunar Science Institute . He is the past Director of Space at NASA Ames. Morrison is credited as the founder of the multi-disciplinary field of astrobiology. Morrison is best known for his work in risk assessment of near Earth objects such as asteroids and comets. Asteroid 2410 Morrison was named in his honor for his work on the subject since 1991. Morrison also known for his "Ask an Astrobiologist" series on NASA's website where he provides answers to questions submitted by the public about a variety of topics from 2012 doomsday hoaxes to planetary habitability to discovery of planets outside the Solar System. He has published 12 books and over 150 papers primarily on Planetary Science, Astrobiology and Near Earth Object subjects.
Morrison earned his PhD in astronomy from Harvard University. He served as a science investigator on Mariner, Voyager and Galileo space science mission. Morrison received the Dryden Medal for research of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the Carl Sagan Medal of the American Astronomical Society for public Communication, and the Klumpke-Roberts Award of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific for his contributions to science education. NASA has also awarded him Outstanding Leadership medals twice as well as the Presidential Meritorious Rank.
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