Science and Engineering Council of Santa Barbara
September Luncheon
at
The Elephant Bar Restaurant
Thursday, September 8, 2005 12:00-1:30 PM

Exploring the Landscape of Scientific Ballooning

When most people think of hot air balloons they think of colorful, romantic flights taken on vacation in wine growing regions. In Julian Nott's ballooning world, the picture is extraordinarily different. Enduring uninterrupted flights of several days without touching down, skirting thunderstorms and flying over the Sahara Desert, Nott has broken over 80 world ballooning records. His patented balloon designs use the most advanced technology and he has created the first entirely new type of balloon in over two centuries.

Nott's lecture, illustrated with remarkable slides, covers his unique achievements, the fascinating history of ballooning and the current wide application of balloons in science, technology and commerce, including NASA's plans to send balloons to Titan and Venus. Nott believes the history of ballooning is a microcosm of the history of science and technology and that there are lessons to be learned in intellectual courage, central to all major human advances, and particularly to scientists and technologist who are exploring the greatest of the uncharted unknowns, the future.

------PRESENTER------

Julian Nott
Scientist and Aeronaut
http://www.nott.com/

The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum have described Nott as "the leading figure in applying modern science to manned balloon design over the last 20 years". He is extensively involved in scientific and commercial applications of balloons and airships, including proposals to send balloons to fly in the atmosphere of Saturn's moon and the new "Pumpkin" scientific balloon, modeled on a new design that Nott flew across Australia and expected to carry a two-ton payload at the very edge of Earth's atmosphere for up to three months. Julian Nott holds over 80 world records, including being the first person to build a pressurized cabin for a hot air balloon--in which he ascended to 55,000 feet.

Nott holds a M.Sc. in Physical Chemistry from Oxford University and is an honorary life member of the Governing Body of St. John's College, Oxford. He is member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and a fellow of the Explorers Club, the Royal Institute of Navigation and the Royal Geographical Society.

------OTHER INFO------

$14 for SEC members; $19 for non-members.
Information: Barbara Keaney (E-mail: scieng@silcom.com or call 805-684-4927).
Reservations NOT required.
Elephant Bar Restaurant: 521 Firestone Road.
Website: http://www.scieng.org

From the President: The SEC is pleased to welcome Thomas Sherby, PhD of Santa Barbara as a member. We are fortunate to have Julian Nott in our community; he is a long-time SEC member, an internationally distinguished scientist, and an excellent speaker. Julian's presentation reflects the SEC's focus on presenting interesting science and technology issues with a personal touch from scientists and engineers at the forefront of their respective fields. We encourage you attend this month's meeting and to let us know of other science or technical issues that you would like to see addressed at future meetings. We hope to see you on the 8th!

Tim Murphy