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Making Moon Rocks Accessible Transdisciplinary artist Erika Blumenfeld ’90 has built a career connecting art and science and nature and culture. Most recently, her talents have landed her at NASA.
Photos: Mark Poucher, NASA / Astromaterials 3D
She leads a research project in which she creates 3D digital models of space rock samples in collaboration with NASA’s Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Division (ARES). “I wanted to understand how we’re made of stars,” Blumenfeld says. She wanted to learn the science behind astronomer Carl Sagan’s famous statement that human beings come from “star stuff” — that the elements that make up our bodies were originally created by stars billions of years ago. Blumenfeld believes this elemental human connection to space can lead people to a deeper understanding of themselves. Studying space rocks is a tangible way to see these connections. “I see these rocks as a scroll of knowledge,” she says. They’re “inscribed with the stories of our cosmic heritage.” Blumenfeld and her team at NASA created the first 3-D model of the first Moon rock ever collected, and published it on the ARES website in honor of the Apollo 11 anniversary in July. They are building a series of digital images of 60 lunar and meteorite samples from NASA’s collection that will be accessible online to researchers, students, and the general public. Blumenfeld’s goal is to “put these rocks in the hands of the people, virtually” — inviting people to explore astromaterials and their scientific and cultural stories even as the actual samples remain locked away in secure NASA facilities. — Zoe Licata ’15
15 to 2! He’s looking forward to potentially drawing Social Security before his youngest leaves the household. • Kevin Fisher lives in Fredericksburg, Va., with his family. He teaches Spanish and recently got a local job in Stafford County. He has a son (8) and a daughter (14). Both kids are “crazy smart.” His daughter is a high school sophomore, plays varsity basketball, and took two college-level AP classes. Kevin will be leading a group of students and friends on a trip to Peru for summer 2020. If any of you are interested in going to Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca, contact me for Kevin’s email address. Kevin stays happy deer and turkey hunting, writing songs, and playing with his family. • Alison Stern Simard lives in Los Angeles, where she is the communications director for a Los Angeles City Council member. She is still serving on the board of Citizens for Los Angeles Wildlife (clawonline.org) — an environmental nonprofit she co-founded that works to protect and restore wildlife habitat and open space. Ali is also a delegate to the California Democratic Party. She attended the San Francisco Convention and was named the 2019 Eleanor Roosevelt Democrat of the Year for the 50th Assembly District by the Los Angeles County Democratic party. She, her husband, and two kids (15 and 10) love the Los Angeles life. • Sergio Kulikovsky took a sabbatical year in 2017 and sailed with his wife and four kids from São Paulo, Brazil, along the Pacific. They fell in
love with Sydney and have been living there ever since. • Steve Gauster and wife Kari continue to be amazed by their growing kids: Henry (18 months) and Eva (4). The family enjoyed joining other trustees at NMH’s Commencement and christening the fourseat girls’ crew shell Eva Belrupt Freyschlag, in honor of Steve’s great-aunt. • Julia Atkins apologizes for missing the last reunion (more Dogfish for the rest!). She is still in Golden, Colo., practicing family medicine. With a girl and a boy (11 and 14), Julia and her husband try keep up with them on the slopes every weekend in the winter, and the trails on mountain bikes the rest of the year. Julia caught up with Kris Fraser and Laura Griffis ’87 in the summer. Their families got together for a mini reunion when Laura was visiting from Trinidad. Gina Comai Surgenor came to the mountains with her family in March and they went skiing. Julia also keeps in touch with Sallie Cass-Pottle and wrote to her, “It’s been way too long since we have seen each other, so get your butt out to Colorado, Sal!” • Reid Jones is a chef at a vegetarian restaurant in Salem, Mass. He is ready for the next Pie Race and will be running at his “five-mile-per-hour dog trot.” • Thanks to everyone who submitted. I am sorry I have been M.I.A. I will try to get back into the swing of things. Please check out our Facebook group, NMH Class of 1988, started by the great August Danowski. There are a lot of great pictures and memories.
See Blumenfeld’s work at ares.jsc.nasa. gov/projects/astromaterials-3d.
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Northfield Mount Hermon Chris Roof roofsound@comcast.net • John Carroll jcarroll@nmhschool.org • Caryn Crotty Eldridge slickcke7@gmail.com From Chris Roof: Our 30th reunion was a blast. Thanks to all who attended. And for those who couldn’t make it, know that you were ever-present in our thoughts and discussions. It was an amazing time … check out the ’89 Facebook page if you haven’t already, as there are lots of pictures, including a few parasol poses! • Jordan Serlin decided to make it a multi-week affair, driving to/from Florida and stopping in with many friends along the way. He was a great spirit, start to finish. • David Febus received an alumni citation to a cacophony of ’89 “FEBUS!” cheers. • John Carroll surprised those who were still awake late Friday night/early Saturday morning with a car full of Happy Meals. • I had the pleasure of riding in my fifth annual Pie Ride, this time joined by Nate Rono. Hopefully, we’ll make that an annual affair. • Mariah Draper Calagione and husband Sam Calagione ensured that everyone on campus was “hydrated,” and managed to dedicate a new boathouse to Mariah’s father in their spare time. Can’t wait to see it built! They even conjured up a mobile bar for everyone’s enjoyment. I was glad to see several people back on campus for the first time in years. •
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