The third annual Colin Pillinger memorial talk entitled 'Once explorers, always explorers - Europe's role in space exploration' is organised by the University of Bristol and takes place on Friday 10 November in the Wills Memorial Building.
This year's speaker is Dr David Parker, Director of Human and Robotic Exploration at the European Space Agency, who will give a personal and engaging insight into Europe’s role in the past, present and future of space exploration.
Tim, a PhD student at the University of Bristol who reached the final three of the popular BBC series which concluded in October, will host a Q&A after the talk.
Members of the public are being urged to submit questions for Dr David Parker on the booking form when they book their ticket. The best ones will be selected in advance and those asking will be invited to pose their question in person, as well as winning an exclusive goody bag provided by the European Space Agency.
Dr Parker, who was previously Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, has worked on a number of pioneering missions such as the Rosetta comet chaser and advised a succession of ministers on space policy choices, including the UK’s decision to join the European Space Agency's Programme for Human Spaceflight and Microgravity in 2012, which in turn facilitated Tim Peake’s hugely successful 'Principia' mission to the International Space Station.
Dr Parker, whose home is in Bristol and used to work with Colin, securing funding for the Beagle project, said: "It is a great honour to deliver the Pillinger lecture. My talk will explain what Europe is doing in space exploration today and why everything we do is through international cooperation.
"It's also very rewarding that one of our team of astronauts, Tim Peake, has captured the imagination of a new generation in the UK. Maybe one of our young people will one day go to Mars."
The lecture series was established by the Pillinger family in 2015 in memory of Colin, his career and his connection with the city of Bristol.
Professor Colin Pillinger CBE FRS, who was born and educated in Kingswood, started his scientific career as part of the University of Bristol team analysing the Apollo lunar samples.
Over the next four decades, his famed career found tantalising evidence of life on Mars while his bushy sideburns and westcountry accent became known worldwide.
Colin's widow, Judith, said: "This year's talk will demonstrate how the legacy of the research that Colin was involved in lives on in an ever-expanding range of space exploration applications. It also shows that being involved in space science and technology can offer exciting career opportunities for many young people.
"Colin loved to share his excitement of being involved in cutting-edge science with people who did not think of themselves as scientists, and we hope the talk will appeal to lots of people from different walks of life."
- The Third Annual Colin Pillinger Memorial Talk takes place at 6.30pm on Friday, 10 November, in the Wills Memorial Building. Tickets are free but booking is required.