The universe is a vast, multi-faceted space that has yet to be fully discovered and understood. One of the leading experts on the matter, Derrick Pitts, chief astronomer and director of the Fels Planetarium at The Franklin Institute, will be discussing “The Diversity of the Universe” at Montgomery County Community College’s 2017 Presidential Symposium on Wednesday, Nov. 8, at 12:30 p.m. in the College’s Science Center Theater, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell.
The program also will be simulcast to MCCC’s South Hall Community Room, West Campus, 101 College Drive, Pottstown.
The symposium is free and open to the community. For free tickets, call 215-641-6518 or visit www.mc3.edu/presidentialsymposium.
Pitts started working at The Franklin Institute while he was a student at St. Lawrence University, and then he was hired as the chief astronomer and planetarium director after he graduated. In these roles, he developed and oversaw all of the Institute’s astronomy and space-related programs and exhibits, and often hosted the live “Sky Tonight” planetarium show, during which he interviewed astronaut John Glenn and astronomer/astrophysicist Carl Sagan.
Pitts also served as the original director of the museum’s Tuttleman OMNIMAX Theater and as vice president. In 2002, he supervised the renovation of the Fels Planetarium and played an integral role in the design of the astronomy exhibit, “Space Command.” In 2008, he became the host of “SkyTalk” on WHYY Radio. One year later, he served as the United States spokesperson for the International Year of Astronomy.
In 2011, Pitts was named a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Solar System Ambassador. He has appeared on many national television shows as a science expert including the “Colbert Report” and “The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson.” He also was a regular contributor on Current TV’s Countdown with Keith Olberman, as well as programs on CNN International and MSNBC.
Pitts has held numerous positions in academic and community organizations, including serving as president of the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. and on the Board of Trustees for his alma mater St. Lawrence University and Widener University.
He is the recipient of numerous awards including the Mayor’s Liberty Bell, the St. Lawrence University Distinguished Alumni Award, the G. W. Carver Medal and Please Touch Museum’s “Great Friend To Kids” Award. Pitts was inducted into the Germantown Historical Society Hall of Fame and selected as one of the “50 Most Important Blacks in Research Science” by Science Spectrum Magazine in 2004. He received the 2010 David Rittenhouse Award and an honorary Doctor of Science degree from LaSalle University in 2011.
In conjunction with the Presidential Symposium, the College is hosting a campus-wide contest, “What Does the Universe Mean to You?” led by Physics Assistant Professor Kelli Spangler. Campus contestants will have the opportunity to share their individual perspectives of the universe through any creative endeavor of their choice, including poetry, essays, artwork, music, videos, inventions, etc. The submissions will be shared during the Symposium.
To kick off the contest, the College’s Theatre Arts students, under the direction of Theatre Assistant Professor, Tim Gallagher, and in collaboration with Assistant Professor Kelli Spangler, and Emerging Technologies Librarian Jerry Yarnetsky, constructed a model of the International Space Station in the library at Central Campus. People can walk through the model and experience firsthand what it is like living in space through the interactive displays.
MCCC’s annual Presidential Symposium was created as a capstone event that advances and facilitates ongoing public dialogue on diversity and inclusiveness among students, faculty, staff and community. Past keynote speakers have included Wes Moore, Richard Blanco, Charles Johnson, Jacqueline Woodson and Judy Shephard. For more information about MCCC, visit www.mc3.edu.
