Astronaut Franklin Chang-Diaz to Visit Baylor Campus Nov. 10

by LoAna Lopez

NASA astronaut Franklin Chang-Diaz will speak at the Baylor University campus Nov. 10, in a visit sponsored by the School of Engineering and Computer Science.
Chang-Diaz, who earned a doctorate in applied plasma physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1977, will speak from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in Jones Theatre in the Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center. Refreshments will be served from 4:30 to 5 p.m.
"It's going to be great for the engineering and computer science students, and for minority students, to see somebody who has achieved so much," said Cynthia Fry, lecturer in computer science. "Franklin is a great role model for our students because he's a real success story."
Chang-Diaz is the recipient of numerous honors and awards including six NASA Space Flight Medals, two NASA Distinguished Service Medals, and three NASA Exceptional Service Medals. He has logged more than 1,269 hours in space.
This will be Chang-Diaz's first visit to Baylor, according to Fry, who worked with him at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. Technical societies helping sponsor Chang-Diaz's visit are the Society of Women Engineers, Association for Computing Machinery, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers.
For more information, contact Fry at 710-3876.