Moon Rocks, as they seem to be referred to often, are coming to Terre Haute and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College would like to invite the public to come view them. Between 1969 and 1972, six Apollo missions returned with lunar rocks, pebbles, sand and dust from the lunar surface. Now Diedre Adams, a local teacher from West Vigo High School and an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow, has received permission to share some of these samples with the general public.
“The lunar samples are a National Treasure. It is rare that anyone gets to view a National Treasure,” said Diedre Adams, Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow (NASA). “Bringing the Moon Rocks to the Wabash Valley gives me the opportunity to let the community know just how much of their lives is affected by the NASA program. It isn’t just about going to space. The journey that takes us there has saved millions of lives and made our everyday lives much better.”
The lunar samples will be on public display on Monday, April 26, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Hayes Auditorium, Room 100 of Hulman Hall at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. Admission is free.
I’m excited about having the exhibit at SMWC because it is a chance for our all of our students to see the space program ‘up close and personal’ in a sense. Most students I teach enjoy astronomy and being able to view the moon rocks in person as opposed to photographs or television documentaries will be great,“ said Janet Clark, Ph.D., assistant professor of Chemistry & Physics at SMWC. ”Also, they will get a chance to talk to Diedre Adams, a local teacher who has spent time at NASA and learn about her experiences working within the space program. SMWC also invited the participants from last Fall’s “Expanding Your Horizons in Math and Science” event to come out to the campus in case the exhibit was not coming to their school.