NEW BEDFORD, MA (16 February 2010) — The Ocean Explorium announces a second speaker series, Cosmic Voice, will begin this week. 

On Thursday, February 18, Kelly Beatty will present "The Sputnik Years".  A specialist in planetary science and space exploration as well as Senior Contributing Editor for Sky & Telescope magazine, Mr. Beatty states "When a Russian rocket lofted Sputnik I into orbit on October 4, 1957, the worldwide reaction was a mixture of awe and apprehension.  The Space Age - and the Space Race - had begun."

Mr. Beatty has been explaining the science and wonder of astronomy since 1974, and is on the astronomy faculty of the Clay Center Observatory in Brookline, Massachusetts.  Mr. Beatty holds a Bachelor's degree from the California Institute of Technology and a Master's degree in science journalism from Boston University.

The Ocean Explorium is pleased to offer the Cosmic Voice series free of charge, as it is generously funded through a Creative Economy grant by the University of Massachusetts President's Office.  Speakers will present programs on a broad range of topics related to the sciences of space and the sky on the third Thursday of some months:  check our website, www.oceanexplorium.org, for the Cosmic Voice schedule.

Doors will open at 6:15 pm with refreshments and a chance to mingle in the Ocean Explorium prior to the talk at 7 pm. 

Ocean Voice continues with the second annual Women in Science + Engineering series scheduled to begin on March 4:  join us every week in March for inspiring stories from women in science-related professions.  Admission for Ocean Voice remains $3/Adult, $2/Senior or Child.

The Ocean Explorium is located at 174 Union Street in downtown New Bedford and is handicap accessible via the rear entrance.  Call 508.994.5400 for after-hours access.

For further information, contact Betsy Pye at 508 994 5400 or bpye@oceanexplorium.org or go to the Ocean Explorium website at www.oceanexplorium.org