NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI)

Yellowstone National Park Science Advisory Board

Dr. David Ward, Montana State University, represents the Ames NAI team on the YNP Planning Team. Diane Chalfant, Chief, Division of Interpretation at Yellowstone National Park invited an Ames team member to join the Science Advisory team as part of the development team for the Old Faithful Education Center. During the spring of 2006 the first phase of the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center (OFVEC) exhibits were in development and review. The Ames team consisting of David Des Marais, Tori Hoehler, Linda Jahnke, Jack Farmer, Lynn Rothschild, Baruch Blumberg, Nancy Hinman, Rocco Mancinelli, and Catherine Tsairides, contributed to the exhibit text, graphic, labels, and material relative to specific exhibits under development. Area 4 is a large 3-D diorama that introduces the variety of living things that inhabit hydrothermal features and areas. Area 5 introduces the thermophile story and includes a Young Scientist activity zone. Area 8 is where the concept of living laboratory is explored relative to the history of scientific investigations in Yellowstone, the volcano/earthquake story, hydrothermal features and geochemistry, thermophiles, and Yellowstone Lake surveys and discoveries.