On Saturday, October 9, 2004, The University of Iowa and the University of Iowa Alumni Association hosted a celebration to honor Prof. James Van Allen and his many accomplishments, and in recognition of his 90th birthday. Activities included an invited lecture series, a public lecture followed by a cake and punch reception, and an evening banquet.

Public Lecture


"James Van Allen: From Explorer 1 to The Edge of Interstellar Space"
Presented by speaker: Edward C. Stone
Oct. 9, 2004, 4:00 p.m., Macbride Auditorium, U. of Iowa campus
* Prof. Stone is a David Morrisroe Professor of Physics at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), former Director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (1991-2001).

VanAllenDay_group

 

The group photo from Van Allen Day was taken by Linda Edge-Dunlap with U. of Iowa Photo.i An identification key for large group photo can is here: (PDF)

Photo Galleries

See photos of guests at Van Allen Day events

Summaries and Lectures:

Schedule of Events

Schedule of Events

Friday, October 8, 2004

6:00 - 8:00 p.m.         Early registration and welcome reception, Sheraton Iowa City, Dubuque Street (photos)

                                  (light hors d’oeuvres and cash bar)

 

Saturday, October 9, 2004 

8:15 a.m.                    Registration

9:00 a.m.                    Opening remarks

9:15 a.m.                    Building the Early Explorer Instruments                         George Ludwig

10:00 a.m.                  Discovery of the Van Allen Radiation Belts                         Carl McIlwain

10:45 a.m.                  Break

11:15 a.m.                  Jupiter’s Radiation Belt and Pioneer 10 and 11            Michelle Thomsen

12:00 p.m.                  Lunch break (individual choice)

1:45 p.m.                    Planetary Magnetospheres: Van Allen Belts  of the Solar System Planets                        Tom Krimigis

                                               

2:30 p.m.                    Cosmic Rays and the Heliosphere                                    Frank McDonald

(photos of Van Allen Day lectures)

4:00 p.m.                  Public Lecture, Macbride Hall Auditorium                       Ed Stone

                                    James Van Allen: From Explorer 1 to The Edge of Interstellar Space (photos)

 

 

6:30 p.m.                    Cash bar, Richey Ballroom, Iowa Memorial Union 

7:00 p.m.                    Banquet, Richey Ballroom, Iowa Memorial Union 

8:00 p.m.                    Banquet Speaker                                                         Dan Baker (photos)

 

Sunday, October 10, 2004

                                    Cash breakfast buffet at the Sheraton Iowa City

List of Registered Participants

Organizing committee: Dan Baker, Don Gurnett, George Ludwig, Frank McDonald, Carl McIlwain, Norman Ness, Ed Smith, Michelle Thomsen.
Local organizers: Tom Boggess, Don Gurnett, Craig Kletzing, Kathy Kurth, Susan Griffith/UIAA, Jane Kirsch/UIAA.
Local assistants: Jon Boller, Aaron Breneman, Larry Detweiler, Mike Fountain, George Hospodarsky, Jean Hospodarsky, Bill Kurth, Meesha Legg, Dale Stille.

Videos of the Van Allen Day lectures were recorded by U. of Iowa Video Center and U. of Iowa TV, which then broadcast the recorded lectures during the months of November and December 2004. Occasional replays of the lectures occasionally are re-broadcast on UITV.