Scott BresslerThirty-five years ago, astronaut Charlie Duke was driving on the moon. On Thursday, he’ll be presenting a prestigious $10,000 scholarship to senior Lonia Friedlander.
Duke will present a talk entitled “A Journey to the Moon” after the awards ceremony. The talk, which is open and free to the public, is scheduled this afternoon. Prior to the talk, Duke will get to see some of the lunar samples that he collected in April of 1972 in the lab.
“I can’t wait to meet him,” said Friedlander. “Astronauts really interest me because they risk their lives for science.”
Friedlander is one of 19 students in the country this year and the second student in the Pathfinder program in the past four years to receive this award from the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. Students are selected by the astronauts for excellence in their science or engineering field as well as their well-rounded contributions outside of the lab.
“We’re very proud of Lonia,” said Raymond Arvidson, who also heads the Pathfinder program in Environmental Sustainability. “She’s off and running.”
It all began when Friedlander visited the University on a whim. Although it was her first college visit, she applied Early Decision and signed up for the Pathfinder program.
“I jokingly say it’s the best arbitrary decision I ever made,” said Friedlander.
In the summer of her sophomore year, Friedlander traveled to Spain after being offered a research opportunity by Arvidson.
“I’m interested in science because I think it is possibly the best way to study the physical world,” said Friedlander.”
Friedlander’s research deals with ground water salts similar to those found on Mars.
“We were studying the spectroscopy of a certain family of minerals that appear to be relatively similar to those in Mars and figure out how they change in various conditions,” said Friedlander.
Friedlander has been working in the Earth and Planetary Remote Sensing Lab analyzing data sent back from the Mars Rovers and making suggestions to mission operations.
“The Earth and Planetary Sciences Department is cool because it’s relatively small but really involved,” said Friedlander.
Fellow Pathfinders are participating in the Phoenix rover, projected to land on Mars in May.
Friedlander plans to use the scholarship to pay for some of her undergraduate tuition.
“I get the check and hand it to Chancellor Wrighton, essentially,” said Friedlander.
When not in the lab, Friedlander likes to dance and help other students with their chemistry. In her freshman year, she was part of Washington University Dance Theater. Last summer, she was part of a West African dance group in St. Louis.
In a statement from Monday’s Record, Duke said, “Lonia will be one of the many leaders who will keep the United States at the edge of breakthrough technology, and I consider it an honor to be presenting her with this check.”
Duke was present in mission control when Neil Armstrong, announcing his arrival on the moon, said “Houston.the eagle has landed.”
Years later, he became the 10th of only 12 men to walk on the moon. He and astronaut John Young stayed on the lunar surface for a record-setting 71 hours and 14 minutes where they collected 213 pounds of lunar samples, drove a Lunar Rover and planted scientific equipment.
The speaker event will begin at 2:30 pm in room 300, Brookings Hall.