Free Educational Topics in Los Angeles & Orange County

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  • Mars: Conquest and Colonization

    David Lehman, Project Manager, Retired from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory

    This presentation traces humanity's journey to the Red Planet, starting with Mariner 4's pioneering flyby. The current phase of Mars exploration features advanced missions like Mars Odyssey, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, MAVEN, Curiosity Rover, and Perseverance Rover, each contributing invaluable data about Mars' surface, atmosphere, and potential for life. Looking ahead, ambitious projects such as Mars Sample Return aim to bring Martian samples back to Earth for detailed study, while the ARTEMIS program envisions human missions to Mars, paving the way for future colonization. How will these endeavors shape our understanding and presence on Mars? Join us to explore this exciting frontier. MORE >

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  • International Healthcare, Public Health, International Aid & Development

    Dr. Benjamin La Brot, CEO & Clinical Professor, Floating Doctors & University of Southern California

    I have well-received and informative presentations on a wide variety of topics related to medicine and international development and NGO work. These include purely healthcare-oriented lectures on palliative care, international mission medicine, malaria, and specialty-specific lectures on the approach to these specialties in resource limited settings.

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  • Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend

    Carol Shafer, Retired GIA Jeweler, Carol Shafer Fine Jewelry

    Learn about diamond mining and gain valuable information about maintenance of diamonds and gold. Most fine jewelry sales are just that...selling. Carol contributes much more by teaching how to keep the luster and beauty of jewelry for years to come. The song "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend" has a double entendre for Carol as she was also a Marilyn Monroe impersonator for twenty years. MORE >

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  • WE ARE GOING! To the Moon with NASA

    David Lehman, Project Manager, Retired from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory

    Are you ready to embark on an extraordinary journey to the Moon? Learn about NASA's ARTEMIS program to ignite your imagination and curiosity like never before! Imagine standing on the lunar surface, witnessing breathtaking lunar landscapes, and exploring uncharted territories. ARTEMIS is not just a mission; it's a testament to human ingenuity and our unrelenting pursuit of knowledge. MORE >

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  • Unveiling the Cosmos: The James Webb Space Telescope

    David Lehman, Project Manager, Retired from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory

    The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a marvel of modern engineering, poised to unlock the mysteries of the cosmos like never before. Its state-of-the-art spacecraft, featuring an advanced telescope and pioneering technologies such as a massive sunshield and cutting-edge infrared sensors, is a testament to human ingenuity. Launched on December of 2021, the JWST is offering an unparalleled vantage point for celestial observation. It has already captured stunning images of the earliest galaxies, providing breathtaking insights into their formation. Moreover, its detailed study of exoplanet atmospheres has revealed intriguing clues about potential habitability. The JWST also delves into the search for technosignatures, hinting at the tantalizing possibility of extraterrestrial civilizations. How will the JWST reshape our understanding of the universe, and what new wonders will it uncover next? Dive into the fascinating world of the JWST and join the quest for cosmic knowledge! MORE >

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  • Are We Alone?

    David Lehman, Project Manager, Retired from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory

    This presentation explores the fundamental question of whether we are alone in the universe. It begins by defining life and its essential characteristics. The exploration continues with a review of human efforts to search for extraterrestrial life, including a summary of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute’s quest by Earth-based telescopes, the James Webb Space Telescope's study of techno-signatures of planets in other star systems, and the Mars Sample Return mission’s plans to bring back actual samples (which may include ancient life-forms) from Mars. The presentation also delves into the Drake Equation's role in estimating the number of civilizations in our galaxy and the Fermi Paradox, which questions why extraterrestrial life has not yet been observed. The talk concludes with strategies to boost our chances of answering the question “..Are We Alone?...” MORE >

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  • A Martian’s Thoughts about being a Good Speaker and Leader

    David Lehman, Project Manager, Retired from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory

    The theme of this talk will revolve around the significance of effective communication, leadership, and vision in the context of space exploration, particularly missions to Mars. It will emphasize the importance of clear communications, strong leadership qualities, and visionary thinking in overcoming challenges and achieving success in endeavors such as space travel to Mars. It will also highlight notable figures who have exemplified these qualities throughout history, drawing parallels between their achievements and the challenges faced in space exploration. Overall, the theme will convey the message that effective communication and leadership are essential for the success of future Mars missions and for those who aspire to follow their dreams. MORE >

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  • From Concept to Cosmos: A Journey through Project Management Principles and NASA’s Best Practices

    David Lehman, Project Manager, Retired from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory

    In this presentation Mr. Lehman will summarize the basic principles of project management. This will be followed by a summary of NASA’s process for managing space projects throughout the life cycle, including formulation which consists of Phase A (concept & technology development) and Phase B (preliminary design and technology completion phase), approval for implementation, and implementation which includes Phase C (final design & fabrication), Phase D (system assembly, integration & test, launch & checkout), and Phase E (operations and sustainment). He will address how NASA forms teams including the importance of key roles such as Project Manager, Project Systems Engineer (PSE), Safety & Mission Assurance Manager, and System Managers. He will then address the role of systems engineering in project management and the process of how PSEs mature their systems-level preliminary designs, and then address the expected maturity state of projects as they progress through the life cycle. Finally, Mr. Lehman will present three case studies in project management: the Deep Space 1 mission, the Mars Climate Orbiter failure lessons learned, and the last mission of the Space Shuttle Challenger. MORE >

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  • Journey to the Moon: A Kid’s Guide to Space Exploration

    David Lehman, Project Manager, Retired from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory

    Embark of an educational adventure designed specifically for students in Kindergarten through 12th grade. This engaging presentation covers a spectrum of topics aimed at fostering a fascination for space exploration including: (1) facts about the Moon for kids, (2) a short history of NASA’s exploration of the Moon, (3) why kids would want to go to the Moon, (4) how kids can go to the Moon, (5) a summary of NASAs plans to return to the Moon with its ARTEMIS program, and (6) how kids can prepare to become a NASA astronaut. Join Mr. Lehman on this captivating journey as we ignite the spirt of exploration and curiosity for the next generation of space enthusiasts. “Journey to the Moon” promises to be an informative and inspiring experience for students eager to learn about the wonders of our universe. MORE >

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  • How to Read a Book

    Jose Angel Manaiza Jr, Mathematician, Malibu Education

    Learn the 5 step process to read a book with 100% comprehension rate. A proven system taught in The White House and endorsed by 3 U.S. President. “Before taking my first Malibu A Plus Tutor Premier Speed Reading class, I was reading one book a month. Two hours into the first session my reading speed doubled from 308 to 687 words per minute with a 100% comprehension rate. It only took me 58 minutes to read an entire book from cover to cover, and I still remember what the book is all about. Thanks, José" - Vivian Sampson, Budget Analyst at USC MORE >

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