George Djorgovski & Alan Boyle

Is there a virtual Mars in our future? 

http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/01/13060764-is-there-a-virtual-mars-in-our-future?lite

Cosmic Log's Alan Boyle and George Djorgovski discuss challenges, oppotunities and value of virtual worlds in the sciences, with particular emphasis on the Second Life platform.

Djorgovski is Professor of Astronomy; Co-Director of the Center for Advanced Computing Research at Caltech; Director of the Meta-Institute for Computational Astrophysics; a founder of the Virtual Observatory concept; and one-time Chair of the US Nat'l Virtual Observatory Science Definition Team.

His e-Scientific interests include definition and development of the universal methodology, tools, and frameworks for data-intensive and computationally-enabled science. His astrophysical interests include digital sky surveys, exploration of observable parameter spaces, formation and early evolution of quasars, galaxies, and other cosmic structures.