Science Lecture Series

Dr. Alex Friess

Engineering in Sports

Thursday, March 21 @ 7:00 PM

While spectator sports such as the Olympics, the America’s Cup, and World Championships celebrate the achievement of world class athletes, their peak performance is often made possible by engineers that design and optimize their equipment and training. This involvement is critical in any sport (one must only think of the advanced swimming suits to reduce drag, or golf balls that fly farther than others), and is particularly noteworthy in sports that utilize sophisticated equipment, such as car and yacht races. Explore the role of engineering in sports and the benefits it yields.

Dr. Alex Friess is an Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Maine. His research revolve around Engineering design, with applications in aerodynamics, energy, and sports, as well as engineering education. He received a Ph.D. in Aeronautical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he researched the position and equipment of the US Speed Skiing team, and has been active as design engineer and consultant for over 10 years in Europe and Africa, where he participated in the first South African America’s Cup Challenge. Dr. Friess’ came to Maine following five years of academic activities in Dubai, where he participated as inaugural professor in the startup of two Universities.

The Science Lecture Series at Emera Astronomy Center will take place the third Thursday of each month and is a partnership project with the Maine Science Festival and will feature research from a variety of science disciplines from around our state and use the digital planetarium to visualize these discoveries in a new dramatic and immersive way.

Season passes are available for the entire October 2018 – April 2019 Science Lecture Series for $30 for adults, and $20 for children under 12. They can be purchased by calling 581-1341, or by inquiring at the box office.

Tickets for planetarium programs are $6 for Adults, $5 for UMaine Students/Veterans/Senior Citizens, and $4 for children under 12. Click here to view our calendar.

Tickets are available online at http://astro.umaine.edu, by calling 581-1341, or at the box office.

Future Speakers

March 21, 2019 Dr. Alex Friess Engineering in Sports	View Event Page
April 18, 2019 Dr. Grant Tremblay Light from the Void: NASA’s Once & Future Great Observatories	View Event Page

Previous Speakers

September 2016 Dr. Elizabeth McGrath A Walk Among Giants: Building the Largest Galaxies in the Universe	View Event Flyer	View Lecture Slides
October 2016 Dr. Caitlin Howell Unlocking the Secrets of Proteins: The Rise of Cryo Electron Microscopy	View Event Flyer	View Lecture Slides
November 2016 Chuck Carter Art and Science: Visualizing Complex Ideas for Everyone	View Event Flyer	View Lecture Slides
December 2016 Dr. Paul Mayewski Journey Into Climate	View Event Flyer	View Lecture Slides (Google Drive link)
February 2017 Dr. Dean Astumian How molecular motors work – insights from the machinist’s toolbox	View Event Flyer	View Lecture Slides
March 2017 Dr. Ali Abedi Wireless Leak Detection for International Space Station	View Event Flyer	View Lecture Slides
April 2017 Dr. Henning Haack Meteorites and the Origin of the Solar System	View Event Flyer
May 2017 Dr. Karissa Tilbury From Lightsabers to Tricorders: Harnessing Light for Biomedical Applications	View Event Flyer	View Lecture Slides
September 2017 Dr. Michaela Reagan Potential Cancer Cures Leveraging 3D Tissue Engineering and Bone Marrow Models	View Event Flyer	View Lecture Slides
December 2017 Dr. Dale Kocevski The Big Bang and the Origin of Our Universe	View Event Flyer	View Lecture Slides
February 2018 Dr. Nicole Rausch The Science of Wellness: Why Your Doctor Continues to Insist You Sleep, Exercise, and Be Well	View Event Flyer	View Lecture Slides
March 2018 Dr. Bill Davids Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator and Rusty Old Bridges	View Event Flyer	View Lecture Slides
April 2018 Dr. Jennifer Page Aquatic chemical signaling: How understanding signals in the sea helps us address interdisciplinary challenges	View Event Flyer	View Lecture Slides
October 2018 Dr. Justin Lap A Bright Energy Future: Powering Industry with Solar Heat	View Event Flyer	View Lecture Slides
November 2018 Dr. James W. Jarvis Vaccines: Heroes or Villains (hint: it’s the first one)	View Event Flyer	View Lecture Slides
December 2018 Dr. Kristy Townsend Remodeling in Our Brain and Nervous System: Connections to Obesity and Diabetes	View Event Flyer	View Lecture Slides
January 2019 Danny Piper Solar for ME! The solar industry in Maine and beyond	View Event Flyer	View Lecture Slides
February 2019 Dr. Lauren Ross Harnessing the power of the ocean currents	View Event Flyer	View Lecture Slides

The Science Lecture Series at Emera Astronomy Center will take place the third Thursdays of each month and is a partnership project with the Maine Science Festival and will feature research from a variety of science disciplines from around our state and use the digital planetarium to visualize these discoveries in a new dramatic and immersive way.