David Grinspoon is a Planetary Scientist who studies the surface and atmospheric evolution of Earthlike planets elsewhere in the universe. He is Curator of Astrobiology at the Denver Museum of Nature &
Science and Adjunct Professor of Astrophysical and Planetary Science at the
University of Colorado. Grinspoon was awarded the 2006 Carl Sagan Medal for Public Communication of Planetary Science by the American Astronomical Society. Dr. Grinspoon serves as a frequent advisor to NASA on space exploration strategy, and is lead scientist for astrobiology on an instrument that will fly on NASA’s next Mars rover. He is Interdisciplinary Scientist for Climate Studies on Venus Express, the European Space Agency’s mission which is currently in orbit around Venus. His first book, Venus Revealed, was a Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist. His latest book, Lonely Planets: The Natural Philosophy of Alien Life won the 2004 PEN Center USA Literary Award for Research Nonfiction. Entertainment Weekly called Lonely Planets “proof that life on this planet is both intelligent and funny.” Grinspoon writes a monthly column, entitled "Cosmic Relief" for Sky & Telescope Magazine. His popular writing has appeared in Slate, Scientific American, Natural History, The Sciences , Astronomy, the Boston Globe, the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times. His technical papers have been published in Nature, Science, and numerous other journals. Dr. Grinspoon has been featured on numerous television (PBS's Life Beyond Earth; BBC's The Planets) and radio (NPR’s Science Friday and Weekend Edition, Wisconsin Public Radio, BBC World Service) shows. He has given invited talks at international conferences throughout the U.S., Europe, and Australia. Grinspoon holds degrees in Philosophy of Science and Planetary Science from Brown University and a doctorate in Planetary Sciences from the University of Arizona. He lives in Denver with his wife, Tory Read, and their brilliant cat Wookie.