Fourteen Scientists and Activists Who Are Changing the World

Fourteen Scientists and Activists Who Are Changing the World

Photo: National Geographic Society

Planetary scientist and astrobiologist Kevin Hand

STEVE EMBER: I’m Steve Ember.

SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: And I’m Shirley Griffith with EXPLORATIONS in VOA Special English. Every year, the National Geographic Society honors scientists, wildlife experts and others for their work. Each honoree receives a ten thousand dollar award to help them with their research and future projects. This week we learn about the latest National Geographic Emerging Explorers.

STEVE EMBER: One of the honorees is searching for life in faraway places.

KEVIN HAND: “The big picture for me and many of my colleagues is the search for life beyond Earth. So if we’ve learned anything about life here on Earth, it’s that in general where you find the liquid water, you find life.”

STEVE EMBER: That is Kevin Hand, a planetary scientist and astrobiologist who works at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. This lab works with the American space agency on projects including looking for life in outer space. Kevin Hand is assisting with plans to send an orbital device to Europa, a moon of the planet Jupiter. Space agency officials hope to launch the device in about twenty-twenty.

SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: Europa is covered in ice. Under the ice are deep oceans, which could be home to living organisms.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, leader of Europe's biggest economy, disagrees. However, this moon is not easy to explore. Depending on its orbit, Europa can be over nine hundred million kilometers from Earth. Its environment is freezing, with intense radiation and no atmosphere.

NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

Jupiter's moon Europa has a surface made up of blocks, which are thought to have broken apart into new positions, as shown in the image

KEVIN HAND: “And when it comes to actually searching for this life, that’s a great challenge. We send these robots off as our little planetary emissaries to go and do the science. These robots basically have to take the scientific laboratory with them so they can do the experiments and chemical analysis on the planets.”

SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: Kevin Hand and coworker Robert Carlson have recreated an environment like Europa in a laboratory to study its conditions. Mister Hand also has visited extreme places on Earth to see how organisms survive in cold climates. This could help experts know what to look for when looking for possible life forms on Europa.

STEVE EMBER: The work of several Emerging Explorers aims to improve the lives of people in different ways. Juan Martinez grew up in poverty in the city of Los Angeles. In high school, he won a trip to learn about nature in the Teton Science Schools program in Wyoming. He says experiencing the wilderness and mountains changed his life.

Today, Mister Martinez campaigns to get young people, especially at-risk youth, interested in nature and the outdoors. He works with groups like the Sierra Club to get young people interested in the environment. And, he heads the Natural Leaders Network of the Children and Nature Network. The group creates links between environmental organizations, businesses, government and individuals to connect children with nature.

Grammar notes:

- hornor sb for sth: vinh danh ai vì
Every year, the National Geographic Society honors scientists, wildlife experts and others for their work.

- work with sb on sth: làm việc với ai về vấn đề/ lĩnh vực gì
This lab works with the American space agency on projects including looking for life in outer space.

- do an experiment/ do analysis:
These robots basically have to take the scientific laboratory with them so they can do the experiments and chemical analysis on the planets.”

- to be praised as …: được ca ngợi là ...
He was praised as a skillful negotiator in dealing with Europe and the global financial crisis.