[Music] if you’ve had the opportunity to see the
if you’ve had the opportunity to see the
if you’ve had the opportunity to see the Northern Lights or the aurora the aurora
Northern Lights or the aurora the aurora
Northern Lights or the aurora the aurora borealis or the aurora australis and
borealis or the aurora australis and
borealis or the aurora australis and some quiet you know nate natural
some quiet you know nate natural
some quiet you know nate natural environment natural setting i think
environment natural setting i think
environment natural setting i think you’d agree with me that this is truly
you’d agree with me that this is truly
you’d agree with me that this is truly one of nature’s most profoundly
one of nature’s most profoundly
one of nature’s most profoundly beautiful serene and emotionally
beautiful serene and emotionally
beautiful serene and emotionally evocative phenomena I like to say that
evocative phenomena I like to say that
evocative phenomena I like to say that the first time I saw the aurora in a
the first time I saw the aurora in a
the first time I saw the aurora in a place like this changed something inside
place like this changed something inside
place like this changed something inside of me and change something about the way
of me and change something about the way
of me and change something about the way that I look at the world I’m a physicist
that I look at the world I’m a physicist
that I look at the world I’m a physicist and I study the aurora and today I’m
and I study the aurora and today I’m
and I study the aurora and today I’m here to share a story with you and I
here to share a story with you and I
here to share a story with you and I call that story how I met Steve and
call that story how I met Steve and
call that story how I met Steve and that’ll make sense about halfway through
that’ll make sense about halfway through
that’ll make sense about halfway through this talk but first what I’m gonna do is
this talk but first what I’m gonna do is
this talk but first what I’m gonna do is just talk a little bit about what I do
just talk a little bit about what I do
just talk a little bit about what I do in my job my research team and I build
in my job my research team and I build
in my job my research team and I build and deploy cameras all across camera
and deploy cameras all across camera
and deploy cameras all across camera that capture images of the night sky
that capture images of the night sky
that capture images of the night sky over and over and over again night after
over and over and over again night after
over and over and over again night after night day after day year after year all
night day after day year after year all
night day after day year after year all the way across Canada and we use that I
the way across Canada and we use that I
the way across Canada and we use that I like to say to study the Aurora but what
like to say to study the Aurora but what
like to say to study the Aurora but what I’m really doing is actually taking that
I’m really doing is actually taking that
I’m really doing is actually taking that information from the images and using
information from the images and using
information from the images and using that to remote sense some things that
that to remote sense some things that
that to remote sense some things that are going on a little further out in
are going on a little further out in
are going on a little further out in space in a region we call the
space in a region we call the
space in a region we call the magnetosphere it is not otherwise
magnetosphere it is not otherwise
magnetosphere it is not otherwise invisible to us and so in a very real
invisible to us and so in a very real
invisible to us and so in a very real sense for me it’s not my cameras but
sense for me it’s not my cameras but
sense for me it’s not my cameras but it’s actually the Aurora that is my
it’s actually the Aurora that is my
it’s actually the Aurora that is my scientific instrument I worked with NASA
scientific instrument I worked with NASA
scientific instrument I worked with NASA I work with the European and Canadian
I work with the European and Canadian
I work with the European and Canadian Space Agency’s I’ve worked with the
Space Agency’s I’ve worked with the
Space Agency’s I’ve worked with the Chinese Academy of Sciences hundreds of
Chinese Academy of Sciences hundreds of
Chinese Academy of Sciences hundreds of researchers around the world use my data
researchers around the world use my data
researchers around the world use my data together with data from a constellation
together with data from a constellation
together with data from a constellation of scientific satellites in the Earth’s
of scientific satellites in the Earth’s
of scientific satellites in the Earth’s magnetosphere that’s worth billions of
magnetosphere that’s worth billions of
magnetosphere that’s worth billions of dollars I could stand here and make that
dollars I could stand here and make that
dollars I could stand here and make that sound exciting okay but that would be
sound exciting okay but that would be
sound exciting okay but that would be disingenuous because when I do that
disingenuous because when I do that
disingenuous because when I do that invariably I’m trading on the cool
invariably I’m trading on the cool
invariably I’m trading on the cool factor of space right and it’s not
factor of space right and it’s not
factor of space right and it’s not really true to how I spend my time
really true to how I spend my time
really true to how I spend my time because what I am
because what I am
because what I am is a scientist and I sit and look at my
is a scientist and I sit and look at my
is a scientist and I sit and look at my data and do things that are you know on
data and do things that are you know on
data and do things that are you know on a day to day basis unless you’re
a day to day basis unless you’re
a day to day basis unless you’re interested in something like how pitch
interested in something like how pitch
interested in something like how pitch angle diffusion of 10 kilo electron volt
angle diffusion of 10 kilo electron volt
angle diffusion of 10 kilo electron volt electrons by lora band chorus near the
electrons by lora band chorus near the
electrons by lora band chorus near the inner edge of the plasma sheet causes
inner edge of the plasma sheet causes
inner edge of the plasma sheet causes patchy pulsating aurora unless you’re
patchy pulsating aurora unless you’re
patchy pulsating aurora unless you’re interested in that what I do is not very
interested in that what I do is not very
interested in that what I do is not very interesting and I guarantee you that I’m
interesting and I guarantee you that I’m
interesting and I guarantee you that I’m the only person in the room who cares
the only person in the room who cares
the only person in the room who cares about that okay so I hope you’ll
about that okay so I hope you’ll
about that okay so I hope you’ll understand I’m not going to talk per se
understand I’m not going to talk per se
understand I’m not going to talk per se about what I do but rather I’m going to
about what I do but rather I’m going to
about what I do but rather I’m going to share with you something that has
share with you something that has
share with you something that has happened to me over the last couple of
happened to me over the last couple of
happened to me over the last couple of years that has changed my relationship
years that has changed my relationship
years that has changed my relationship with how I do my work and also has
with how I do my work and also has
with how I do my work and also has brought a lot of joy to myself and to
brought a lot of joy to myself and to
brought a lot of joy to myself and to many people that I’ve now come to
many people that I’ve now come to
many people that I’ve now come to interact with on a fairly regular basis
interact with on a fairly regular basis
interact with on a fairly regular basis okay now what I am is an observer of
okay now what I am is an observer of
okay now what I am is an observer of nature an observer of the night sky for
nature an observer of the night sky for
nature an observer of the night sky for the last 20 years I’ve been building a
the last 20 years I’ve been building a
the last 20 years I’ve been building a system which does what I described
system which does what I described
system which does what I described earlier 20 years ago in 1997 we had one
earlier 20 years ago in 1997 we had one
earlier 20 years ago in 1997 we had one camera operating at Gillam Manitoba
camera operating at Gillam Manitoba
camera operating at Gillam Manitoba it took one image every 20 seconds every
it took one image every 20 seconds every
it took one image every 20 seconds every sorry one image every minute and it
sorry one image every minute and it
sorry one image every minute and it wasn’t a very good image now we have
wasn’t a very good image now we have
wasn’t a very good image now we have more than 50 imagers operating from
more than 50 imagers operating from
more than 50 imagers operating from coast to coast across Canada taking
coast to coast across Canada taking
coast to coast across Canada taking dozens and dozens of images a minute and
dozens and dozens of images a minute and
dozens and dozens of images a minute and they’re much better images than they
they’re much better images than they
they’re much better images than they used to be 20 years ago we used to
used to be 20 years ago we used to
used to be 20 years ago we used to struggle moving megabytes of information
struggle moving megabytes of information
struggle moving megabytes of information around and now we’re struggling using
around and now we’re struggling using
around and now we’re struggling using and now we routinely and easily move
and now we routinely and easily move
and now we routinely and easily move terabytes of information around we used
terabytes of information around we used
terabytes of information around we used to wait months to get our data back from
to wait months to get our data back from
to wait months to get our data back from the field now we get our data back from
the field now we get our data back from
the field now we get our data back from the field in real time because of the
the field in real time because of the
the field in real time because of the information technology explosion that
information technology explosion that
information technology explosion that we’re living in I you know we can do
we’re living in I you know we can do
we’re living in I you know we can do things now that we wouldn’t have dreamed
things now that we wouldn’t have dreamed
things now that we wouldn’t have dreamed possible just 20 years ago and it’s been
possible just 20 years ago and it’s been
possible just 20 years ago and it’s been wonderful now but really no matter the
wonderful now but really no matter the
wonderful now but really no matter the fact that this is bigger and better and
fact that this is bigger and better and
fact that this is bigger and better and faster and more impressive than we’re
faster and more impressive than we’re
faster and more impressive than we’re doing before conceptually it’s no
doing before conceptually it’s no
doing before conceptually it’s no different
different
different we’re just scientists professional
we’re just scientists professional
we’re just scientists professional scientists who are collecting data and
scientists who are collecting data and
scientists who are collecting data and looking at problems that we know are
looking at problems that we know are
looking at problems that we know are already there and so
already there and so
already there and so what I want to do now is go into the
what I want to do now is go into the
what I want to do now is go into the story of how I met Steve and so back in
story of how I met Steve and so back in
story of how I met Steve and so back in 2016
2016
2016 early 2016 a friend of mine named Liz
early 2016 a friend of mine named Liz
early 2016 a friend of mine named Liz McDonald came to the University of
McDonald came to the University of
McDonald came to the University of Calgary Department of astronomy and
Calgary Department of astronomy and
Calgary Department of astronomy and physics to give a colloquium a talk Liz
physics to give a colloquium a talk Liz
physics to give a colloquium a talk Liz runs what’s called a citizen science
runs what’s called a citizen science
runs what’s called a citizen science program for the US National Science
program for the US National Science
program for the US National Science Foundation and that program connects
Foundation and that program connects
Foundation and that program connects professional auroral scientists with
professional auroral scientists with
professional auroral scientists with people who are auroral enthusiasts out
people who are auroral enthusiasts out
people who are auroral enthusiasts out in the public it connects people who
in the public it connects people who
in the public it connects people who take pictures with scientists they troll
take pictures with scientists they troll
take pictures with scientists they troll Twitter looking for instance where
Twitter looking for instance where
Twitter looking for instance where people are saying there they’re seeing
people are saying there they’re seeing
people are saying there they’re seeing the aurora right now and they make
the aurora right now and they make
the aurora right now and they make real-time maps of where the aurora
real-time maps of where the aurora
real-time maps of where the aurora probably is based on that it’s a really
probably is based on that it’s a really
probably is based on that it’s a really cool project and it’s and it’s it’s
cool project and it’s and it’s it’s
cool project and it’s and it’s it’s called aurora Saurus and i would
called aurora Saurus and i would
called aurora Saurus and i would recommend to people if you’re interested
recommend to people if you’re interested
recommend to people if you’re interested in it take a look at it okay yeah we’re
in it take a look at it okay yeah we’re
in it take a look at it okay yeah we’re a small Department of Physics at the
a small Department of Physics at the
a small Department of Physics at the University of Calgary and our Friday
University of Calgary and our Friday
University of Calgary and our Friday afternoon colloquia do not draw crowds
afternoon colloquia do not draw crowds
afternoon colloquia do not draw crowds like this that will tell you normally I
like this that will tell you normally I
like this that will tell you normally I go into the room and there might be 15
go into the room and there might be 15
go into the room and there might be 15 people there for such a talk I don’t
people there for such a talk I don’t
people there for such a talk I don’t know every one of them and they’ll have
know every one of them and they’ll have
know every one of them and they’ll have their computers open and that’ll be how
their computers open and that’ll be how
their computers open and that’ll be how it looks I went in for Liz’s talk and
it looks I went in for Liz’s talk and
it looks I went in for Liz’s talk and the room was packed and not only that I
the room was packed and not only that I
the room was packed and not only that I knew almost nobody there and so I turned
knew almost nobody there and so I turned
knew almost nobody there and so I turned to Liz and I said well what’s going on
to Liz and I said well what’s going on
to Liz and I said well what’s going on here who are these people well it turns
here who are these people well it turns
here who are these people well it turns out they were from a group a Facebook
out they were from a group a Facebook
out they were from a group a Facebook group called the Alberta Aurora chasers
group called the Alberta Aurora chasers
group called the Alberta Aurora chasers this is a group of night-sky photography
this is a group of night-sky photography
this is a group of night-sky photography enthusiasts who’d like to drive around
enthusiasts who’d like to drive around
enthusiasts who’d like to drive around the countryside at night and take
the countryside at night and take
the countryside at night and take pictures of the Aurora this is their
pictures of the Aurora this is their
pictures of the Aurora this is their Facebook page they have 15,000 members
Facebook page they have 15,000 members
Facebook page they have 15,000 members now it’s a very popular group and it’s a
now it’s a very popular group and it’s a
now it’s a very popular group and it’s a very interesting group to interact with
very interesting group to interact with
very interesting group to interact with and for them liz is a bit of a rockstar
and for them liz is a bit of a rockstar
and for them liz is a bit of a rockstar literally she’s a rocket scientist
literally she’s a rocket scientist
literally she’s a rocket scientist literally she works for NASA and she
literally she works for NASA and she
literally she works for NASA and she studies the aurora for a living okay and
studies the aurora for a living okay and
studies the aurora for a living okay and and so this is why they were there
and so this is why they were there
and so this is why they were there after Liz’s colloquium the Aurora
after Liz’s colloquium the Aurora
after Liz’s colloquium the Aurora chasers Liz myself went over to a bar
chasers Liz myself went over to a bar
chasers Liz myself went over to a bar near campus and got into a good
near campus and got into a good
near campus and got into a good discussion over some beer and they
discussion over some beer and they
discussion over some beer and they started showing me their photographs of
started showing me their photographs of
started showing me their photographs of the Aurora and there are photographs
the Aurora and there are photographs
the Aurora and there are photographs like this and what I quickly came to
like this and what I quickly came to
like this and what I quickly came to realize was that these people I was
realize was that these people I was
realize was that these people I was interacting with were some of the best
interacting with were some of the best
interacting with were some of the best Aurora photographers in the world
Aurora photographers in the world
Aurora photographers in the world these are professional quality amateur
these are professional quality amateur
these are professional quality amateur photographers who have a passion for
photographers who have a passion for
photographers who have a passion for this and during our conversation one of
this and during our conversation one of
this and during our conversation one of the chasers a guy named Neil Zeller
the chasers a guy named Neil Zeller
the chasers a guy named Neil Zeller said this casually I took a picture of
said this casually I took a picture of
said this casually I took a picture of the proton Ark last night and I said
the proton Ark last night and I said
the proton Ark last night and I said well no he didn’t and he said yeah I did
well no he didn’t and he said yeah I did
well no he didn’t and he said yeah I did I said no he didn’t he said yeah I did
I said no he didn’t he said yeah I did
I said no he didn’t he said yeah I did and it’s what and so I said well okay
and it’s what and so I said well okay
and it’s what and so I said well okay why don’t you show me what you took a
why don’t you show me what you took a
why don’t you show me what you took a picture of because for me the proton
picture of because for me the proton
picture of because for me the proton Aurora I knew he didn’t do that because
Aurora I knew he didn’t do that because
Aurora I knew he didn’t do that because because it’s always sub visual it’s
because it’s always sub visual it’s
because it’s always sub visual it’s always too dim to be seen so he wouldn’t
always too dim to be seen so he wouldn’t
always too dim to be seen so he wouldn’t even know to take a picture of her you
even know to take a picture of her you
even know to take a picture of her you know opened up his computer and showed
know opened up his computer and showed
know opened up his computer and showed me an image like this of this little
me an image like this of this little
me an image like this of this little purple streak across the sky I didn’t
purple streak across the sky I didn’t
purple streak across the sky I didn’t know what it was knew it wasn’t the
know what it was knew it wasn’t the
know what it was knew it wasn’t the proton Aurora it’s very beautiful and
proton Aurora it’s very beautiful and
proton Aurora it’s very beautiful and when he told me where and when he had
when he told me where and when he had
when he told me where and when he had taken the image for reasons that I won’t
taken the image for reasons that I won’t
taken the image for reasons that I won’t get into here I knew this was
get into here I knew this was
get into here I knew this was fundamentally different than any
fundamentally different than any
fundamentally different than any phenomena I had ever seen before in the
phenomena I had ever seen before in the
phenomena I had ever seen before in the night sky and so I said you know that
night sky and so I said you know that
night sky and so I said you know that there’s this there’s this ethos that we
there’s this there’s this ethos that we
there’s this there’s this ethos that we have in science which is that if you’re
have in science which is that if you’re
have in science which is that if you’re going to use a physical mechanism to
going to use a physical mechanism to
going to use a physical mechanism to describe something in a name then that
describe something in a name then that
describe something in a name then that physical mechanism should have something
physical mechanism should have something
physical mechanism should have something to do with that phenomena and so for me
to do with that phenomena and so for me
to do with that phenomena and so for me you know this is not proton Aurora so I
you know this is not proton Aurora so I
you know this is not proton Aurora so I said please don’t call it the proton
said please don’t call it the proton
said please don’t call it the proton Aurora and so and so you know they
Aurora and so and so you know they
Aurora and so and so you know they agreed they’re smart strong group of
agreed they’re smart strong group of
agreed they’re smart strong group of people and they agreed and then a week
people and they agreed and then a week
people and they agreed and then a week later one of them Chris ratzlaf
later one of them Chris ratzlaf
later one of them Chris ratzlaf posted on the page why don’t we call it
posted on the page why don’t we call it
posted on the page why don’t we call it Steve and the reason why he suggested we
Steve and the reason why he suggested we
Steve and the reason why he suggested we call it Steve house it has to do with
call it Steve house it has to do with
call it Steve house it has to do with the children’s movie called over the
the children’s movie called over the
the children’s movie called over the hedge where these animals wake up after
hedge where these animals wake up after
hedge where these animals wake up after hibernating find a hedge they’re scared
hibernating find a hedge they’re scared
hibernating find a hedge they’re scared of it they don’t know what it is but if
of it they don’t know what it is but if
of it they don’t know what it is but if they call it Steve it’s a little bit
they call it Steve it’s a little bit
they call it Steve it’s a little bit less scary okay so not that this thing
less scary okay so not that this thing
less scary okay so not that this thing is particularly scary all right so Oh
is particularly scary all right so Oh
is particularly scary all right so Oh this name caught on and over the next
this name caught on and over the next
this name caught on and over the next few months I started to see on the
few months I started to see on the
few months I started to see on the Alberta chasers Facebook page comments
Alberta chasers Facebook page comments
Alberta chasers Facebook page comments like Steve was high in the sky over
like Steve was high in the sky over
like Steve was high in the sky over Alberta last night here’s a picture of
Alberta last night here’s a picture of
Alberta last night here’s a picture of Steve over lack days our here’s a
Steve over lack days our here’s a
Steve over lack days our here’s a picture of Steve from Chester Muir and
picture of Steve from Chester Muir and
picture of Steve from Chester Muir and so on but I still didn’t know what Steve
so on but I still didn’t know what Steve
so on but I still didn’t know what Steve was and neither did Liz and I would have
was and neither did Liz and I would have
was and neither did Liz and I would have certain nobody on the planet did
certain nobody on the planet did
certain nobody on the planet did actually and so I have my data and if I
actually and so I have my data and if I
actually and so I have my data and if I could figure out what Steve looked like
could figure out what Steve looked like
could figure out what Steve looked like in my data which is decidedly less
in my data which is decidedly less
in my data which is decidedly less beautiful than their photographs let me
beautiful than their photographs let me
beautiful than their photographs let me tell you but if I could find it in
tell you but if I could find it in
tell you but if I could find it in then I could actually bring a whole
then I could actually bring a whole
then I could actually bring a whole bunch of other quantitative things to
bunch of other quantitative things to
bunch of other quantitative things to bear on figuring out what this is and so
bear on figuring out what this is and so
bear on figuring out what this is and so a group of us got together and combed
a group of us got together and combed
a group of us got together and combed over my data and we found this signature
over my data and we found this signature
over my data and we found this signature in it this ethereal luminous feature
in it this ethereal luminous feature
in it this ethereal luminous feature that we thought was promising we didn’t
that we thought was promising we didn’t
that we thought was promising we didn’t know if it was Steve but we had a plan
know if it was Steve but we had a plan
know if it was Steve but we had a plan and that was we would wait find the
and that was we would wait find the
and that was we would wait find the signature in my data some night and see
signature in my data some night and see
signature in my data some night and see if some Alberta chaser took a picture of
if some Alberta chaser took a picture of
if some Alberta chaser took a picture of it and we waited and less than four
it and we waited and less than four
it and we waited and less than four weeks later we got this signature from a
weeks later we got this signature from a
weeks later we got this signature from a camera that we operated in a place
camera that we operated in a place
camera that we operated in a place called lucky Lake Saskatchewan and and
called lucky Lake Saskatchewan and and
called lucky Lake Saskatchewan and and you know and and I went onto facebook
you know and and I went onto facebook
you know and and I went onto facebook and did something I never thought I
and did something I never thought I
and did something I never thought I would do as part of my professional life
would do as part of my professional life
would do as part of my professional life which was I typed in did anybody see
which was I typed in did anybody see
which was I typed in did anybody see Steve last night okay and five minutes
Steve last night okay and five minutes
Steve last night okay and five minutes later a woman named song Lauria from
later a woman named song Lauria from
later a woman named song Lauria from Vimy Alberta who was taking a photo took
Vimy Alberta who was taking a photo took
Vimy Alberta who was taking a photo took a photograph at exactly the time we were
a photograph at exactly the time we were
a photograph at exactly the time we were imaging Steve not too far away sent and
imaging Steve not too far away sent and
imaging Steve not too far away sent and she messaged me this image and we knew
she messaged me this image and we knew
she messaged me this image and we knew this was Steve and then everything fell
this was Steve and then everything fell
this was Steve and then everything fell into place in literally just a matter of
into place in literally just a matter of
into place in literally just a matter of hours for us the European Space Agency
hours for us the European Space Agency
hours for us the European Space Agency has a set of satellites that carry
has a set of satellites that carry
has a set of satellites that carry instruments from the University of
instruments from the University of
instruments from the University of Calgary the taught that look at property
Calgary the taught that look at property
Calgary the taught that look at property to do with the via the charged particles
to do with the via the charged particles
to do with the via the charged particles in the upper atmosphere one of those
in the upper atmosphere one of those
in the upper atmosphere one of those three satellites flew through Steve
three satellites flew through Steve
three satellites flew through Steve right during the time we were imaging it
right during the time we were imaging it
right during the time we were imaging it and we found out from that that Steve is
and we found out from that that Steve is
and we found out from that that Steve is in fact not probably not Aurora it
in fact not probably not Aurora it
in fact not probably not Aurora it corresponds to a little river of very
corresponds to a little river of very
corresponds to a little river of very very fast-moving gas it’s moving at
very fast-moving gas it’s moving at
very fast-moving gas it’s moving at seven kilometers per second from east to
seven kilometers per second from east to
seven kilometers per second from east to west and it extends all the way from
west and it extends all the way from
west and it extends all the way from Hudson Bay in this instance all the way
Hudson Bay in this instance all the way
Hudson Bay in this instance all the way over to Alaska if you were to look at
over to Alaska if you were to look at
over to Alaska if you were to look at this from space it would look like you
this from space it would look like you
this from space it would look like you and somebody had reached in with a
and somebody had reached in with a
and somebody had reached in with a purple felt pen and drawn a little line
purple felt pen and drawn a little line
purple felt pen and drawn a little line on the globe thousands of kilometers
on the globe thousands of kilometers
on the globe thousands of kilometers from east to west and what’s more the
from east to west and what’s more the
from east to west and what’s more the gas in that region is extremely hot the
gas in that region is extremely hot the
gas in that region is extremely hot the swarm instrument told us it was about
swarm instrument told us it was about
swarm instrument told us it was about six thousand degrees Kelvin or Celsius
six thousand degrees Kelvin or Celsius
six thousand degrees Kelvin or Celsius which would make it probably the hottest
which would make it probably the hottest
which would make it probably the hottest place on earth at that time and I
place on earth at that time and I
place on earth at that time and I imagine the headline for me which would
imagine the headline for me which would
imagine the headline for me which would be astonished scientist astonished that
be astonished scientist astonished that
be astonished scientist astonished that calorie scientist finds hottest place on
calorie scientist finds hottest place on
calorie scientist finds hottest place on earth over lucky Lake Saskatchewan and
earth over lucky Lake Saskatchewan and
earth over lucky Lake Saskatchewan and that did not come though
that did not come though
that did not come though okay all right so so what we’ve done is
okay all right so so what we’ve done is
okay all right so so what we’ve done is we’ve gone very quickly from not knowing
we’ve gone very quickly from not knowing
we’ve gone very quickly from not knowing this phenomenon existed in the
this phenomenon existed in the
this phenomenon existed in the scientific community to knowing this
scientific community to knowing this
scientific community to knowing this phenomena existed and then finding out
phenomena existed and then finding out
phenomena existed and then finding out what it was and this was a revolution in
what it was and this was a revolution in
what it was and this was a revolution in from my perspective this represents the
from my perspective this represents the
from my perspective this represents the fact that we are in a fundamentally new
fact that we are in a fundamentally new
fact that we are in a fundamentally new era and the era is it’s enabled by this
era and the era is it’s enabled by this
era and the era is it’s enabled by this information technology explosion but the
information technology explosion but the
information technology explosion but the new thing and the fundamentally
new thing and the fundamentally
new thing and the fundamentally different thing is the social media
different thing is the social media
different thing is the social media connection between these truly
connection between these truly
connection between these truly phenomenally talented amateur Watchers
phenomenally talented amateur Watchers
phenomenally talented amateur Watchers of nature and scientists who tend to
of nature and scientists who tend to
of nature and scientists who tend to focus on things that we already know is
focus on things that we already know is
focus on things that we already know is there and so as we go forward I’m really
there and so as we go forward I’m really
there and so as we go forward I’m really excited that the prospect that we can
excited that the prospect that we can
excited that the prospect that we can get together with these amateurs in this
get together with these amateurs in this
get together with these amateurs in this way and come across discoveries maybe at
way and come across discoveries maybe at
way and come across discoveries maybe at a faster pace and and so it’s you know
a faster pace and and so it’s you know
a faster pace and and so it’s you know and and and also I would say that I was
and and and also I would say that I was
and and and also I would say that I was finished with saying that a lot of
finished with saying that a lot of
finished with saying that a lot of people have told me that they think that
people have told me that they think that
people have told me that they think that the use of the word Steve for this is
the use of the word Steve for this is
the use of the word Steve for this is somewhat undignified okay
somewhat undignified okay
somewhat undignified okay and I will I will say that my answer to
and I will I will say that my answer to
and I will I will say that my answer to that is that it’s funny okay but more
that is that it’s funny okay but more
that is that it’s funny okay but more than that we you know if you if you
than that we you know if you if you
than that we you know if you if you think about physics for instance using
think about physics for instance using
think about physics for instance using whimsical names for things is not
whimsical names for things is not
whimsical names for things is not unprecedented because in particle
unprecedented because in particle
unprecedented because in particle physics they talk about charm and color
physics they talk about charm and color
physics they talk about charm and color and cork and so on and you know and
and cork and so on and you know and
and cork and so on and you know and these are meant to be meaningless words
these are meant to be meaningless words
these are meant to be meaningless words because they describe things that we
because they describe things that we
because they describe things that we didn’t understand when they were first
didn’t understand when they were first
didn’t understand when they were first identified but he also have this concept
identified but he also have this concept
identified but he also have this concept of a thing called a backronym and I’ll
of a thing called a backronym and I’ll
of a thing called a backronym and I’ll finish with a comment that at my at the
finish with a comment that at my at the
finish with a comment that at my at the last American Geophysical Union meeting
last American Geophysical Union meeting
last American Geophysical Union meeting in December in San Francisco I gave a
in December in San Francisco I gave a
in December in San Francisco I gave a talk on this and I said during it it’d
talk on this and I said during it it’d
talk on this and I said during it it’d be really cool if we could find two
be really cool if we could find two
be really cool if we could find two words that would make Steve an acronym
words that would make Steve an acronym
words that would make Steve an acronym right that would mean something
right that would mean something
right that would mean something meaningful and I got through to the end
meaningful and I got through to the end
meaningful and I got through to the end of my talk and a friend of mine and the
of my talk and a friend of mine and the
of my talk and a friend of mine and the question and answer period stood up and
question and answer period stood up and
question and answer period stood up and he said Bob Bob life sacked from the
he said Bob Bob life sacked from the
he said Bob Bob life sacked from the University of Minnesota and I thought he
University of Minnesota and I thought he
University of Minnesota and I thought he had a question but he stood up and he
had a question but he stood up and he
had a question but he stood up and he said sudden thermal emission velocity
said sudden thermal emission velocity
said sudden thermal emission velocity enhancement which actually is a perfect
enhancement which actually is a perfect
enhancement which actually is a perfect backronym for what Steve is and if we’re
backronym for what Steve is and if we’re
backronym for what Steve is and if we’re right about this that’s what this thing
right about this that’s what this thing
right about this that’s what this thing will go down on the literature ass and
will go down on the literature ass and
will go down on the literature ass and so thank you
so thank you
so thank you [Applause]
”
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