Visiting Scientists Series

The Visiting Scientists Series (VSS) was established to inspire and educate young people and the public about Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

VSS showcases scientists working in a variety of fields, with the intent to reach a diverse audience and to inspire local students to consider careers in science. VSS also provides resources for educators, educates members of technical organizations, and informs the community on science and technical issues.

The Visiting Scientists Series is a partnership of Bismarck State College, Bismarck Public Schools, Gateway to Science, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, St. Mary’s Central High School, USGS, The University of Mary, and the ND Society of Professional Engineers.

Thanks to the Visiting Scientists Series Committee for bringing yet another quality educational presentation to Bismarck!

Check back in the fall for information about upcoming presentations!

In February, the eight-month long winter season begins at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. During the austral winter, there are no resupply flights in or out of the South Pole because of the extreme weather conditions. The Station and its winter crew of approximately 50 people must be completely selfsufficient. While frozen, dried, and preserved foods are commonly used during both summer and winter, all fresh vegetables consumed during the winter must be grown onsite. Food production has become more routine and efficient since the installation of the South Pole Food Growth Chamber in 2004. Food production information and imagery from the greenhouse and Antarctica will be shared, along with observations of day-today life, including the unique features of the greenhouse and Station that make them ideal planetary analog facilities useful to NASA.

This presentation will be held at the National Energy Center of Excellence in the Basin Electric Auditorium (Room 304), located at 1200 Schafer Street on the Bismarck State College campus.

It is free and open to the public.

While he is in Bismarck, Mr. Rask will also be speaking at local high schools.

Mr. Rask is originally from Bismarck, and graduated from Bismarck High School, Bismarck State College, North Dakota State University, and the University on North Dakota. He is a Research Scientist in the Space Biosciences Division at the NASA Ames Research Center. His current research focuses on synthetic biology composites development, human health risks associated with space exploration, and astrobiology. He has investigated the toxicity of Apollo Lunar dust specimens, and has developed and tested life science hardware and experiments for Space Shuttle missions and the International Space Station. He has performed experiment operations aboard the NASA C9B parabolic aircraft, and been a test subject in hypergravity experiments aboard the centrifuge facilities at NASA Ames. Mr. Rask has also been involved in Mars analog research and field astrobiology in desert and polar environments at the at the Mars Desert Research Station, in the Mojave desert, in the Empty Quarter Desert of the Middle East, in deserts of Western Australia, in the relic glacial terrains and badlands of North Dakota, and in the Norwegian Arctic on Svalbard. In 2011, he helped to organize and complete the testing of University of North Dakota’s pressurizable spacesuit designed for planetary exploration in the Australian Pilbara and in Marambio, Antarctica. Mr. Rask recently returned from a three-month mission at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, where he operated the South Pole Food Growth Chamber and explored the polar plateau as an analog for Mars.

VISITING SCIENTISTS SERIES PAST PRESENTATIONS 2002-2011

Check our Calendar for dates and schedules on Visiting Scientists Series Presentations.

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