by Michael Wright, Secretary

Our monthly lectures will continue on Tuesday, April 9 at 8:00 pm in Peyton Hall on the Princeton University Campus. Author Michael Lemonick will discuss his three decades on the front lines of astrophysics.

For people who love the universe but don’t have in interest in getting a Ph.D., there are two principal ways to stay involved: become an amateur astronomer; or become a journalist who covers the topic. Mr. Lemonick says “I’m not great with staying up late, enduring the cold or tinkering with delicate equipment, so I’ve gone with the latter.” He will talk about how it’s taken him all over the world, and given him the extraordinary opportunity to meet and talk with some of the world’s leading scientists.

Copies of Mr. Lemonick’s latest book, Mirror Earths, about the race to find Earth-like planets will be available for purchase and signing. Neil deGrasse Tyson said of the book, “Leave it to veteran science journalist Michael Lemonick to not only capture the science behind the search for exoplanets, but to eavesdrop on the occasionally quirky lives of the planet hunters themselves.”

Michael Lemonick is the senior staff writer at Climate Central and a former senior science writer at Time magazine. He has also written for Discover magazine, Yale Environment 360, Scientific American, and others, and has written a number of popular-level books on science and astrophysics, including The Georgian Star, Echo of the Big Bang, and Other Worlds: The Search For Life in the Universe.

A native of Princeton, Mr. Lemonick earned degrees at Harvard University and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He teaches communications and journalism at Princeton University.

Important Business Meeting Item

AAAP’s monthly business meeting will be conducted on April 9, 2013 following the lecture and book signing. The Board urges all members to attend and vote affirmatively on this recommendation:

The Board of Trustees recommends that $2500 of the AAAP’s general funds be used for the 50th Anniversary Celebration to be held on May 11, 2013.

According to AAAP’s by-laws, this expenditure must be approved by a majority of the votes cast and not less than 30% of the paid membership. Your vote is needed! Please stay after the lecture and book signing to discuss and vote on this recommendation.