Not science fiction

Arizona Daily Wildcat Richard Poss

"In the post-war period, when Sputnik orbited the earth, the solar system became the frontier and the earth became the hinterland," Richard Poss told a noontime crowd of about 150 in Gallagher Theatre.

"I'm concerned, however, that there are places on the Moon and Mars that are so beautiful that we would want to preserve them the same way as the Grand Canyon," he added.

Poss focused his slide projector and intellect at the prospects of space exploration.

"For the next 200 years, let's make our inner solar system our home and our outer solar system our laboratory," said Poss.

Poss focused on environmental perils of imminent space colonization.

"If you say you will never want to live on a landscape like that on Mars, then ask people in Connecticut about the landscape in Arizona," he said. "We should decide now what parts of the solar system we should preserve for their natural beauty and what aspects should be tapped for necessary resources."

Poss proposed active preservation of the solar system and the expansion of our knowledge of the solar system as a way of protecting those resources.

"Spheres of the solar system are ethical spheres that deal with virtues," Poss said. "We are going to repeat the process of exploration, but when we travel into our solar system, we must not repeat the same mistakes made by the early pioneers of the Western hemisphere."

Poss' slide show and speech were the final installment of the weekly speaker series produced by the University of Arizona Faculty Fellows.

"I think he speaks wisdom," said University of Arizona geology professor George Davis, who coordinates the speaker series.

"There have got to be some riches in the universe that are almost like sanctuaries that ought to be preserved like Richard said," he added.

Undeclared freshman Cecily Monsman, one of Poss' students, attended the speech.

"He chose really great slides to show to all of us," said Monsman. "They showed that the solar system is absolutely worth exploring."

Poss exhibited a renaissance diversity by including poetry and intriguing photographs.

"Whitman, who was keenly interested in science and astronomy, conceives pioneering as something that does not stop," said Poss. "We have to clear the rout for the travel of others in the future."