Dr. James B. McClintock holds a Ph.D. in Biology and is currently a professor in the Departmet of Biology, at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

My research interests are in the areas of invertebrate chemical ecology, reproduction, nutrition and physiology, particularly in marine invertebrates. My students and I are specifically interested in employing an integrative approach to study how invertebrates function in their environments. Various species possess highly diverse modes of chemical defense, reproduction and nutrient acquisition, even within the same habitat. A variety of information is necessary to provide reasonable ecological and evolutionary explanations for this diversity.

My past studies have focused on aspects of optimal foraging theory, the effects of environmental variables such as temperature and salinity on larval development, and the role of photoperiod in regulating gametogenesis and somatic growth. Moreover, a number of my past studies have investigated the relative allocation of materials and energy to specific tissues in order to provide a means of evaluating how invertebrates allocate limited resources to function efficiently in their particular environment. Currently I am continuing with my studies of the chemical ecology of marine invertebrates, with an emphasis on those found in Antarctic environments. These studies are focused on understanding the role of marine invertebrate secondary metabolites in mediating patterns of fouling, overgrowth and predation. I plan to continue with an expand upon all of the work described above, taking advantage of the rich diversity of freshwater, estuarine and marine environments of the southeastern United States.

More information on Dr. McClintock can be found HERE  

(http://www.uab.edu/uabbio/mcclinto.htm)

Travis S. Taylor—"Doc" Taylor to his friends—has earned his soubriquet the hard way: He has a Doctorate in Optical Science and Engineering, a Master's degree in Physics, a Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, all from the University of Alabama in Huntsville; a Master's degree in Astronomy from the University of Western Sydney, and a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from Auburn University.

Dr. Taylor has worked on various programs for the Department of Defense and NASA for the past sixteen years. He's currently working on several advanced propulsion concepts, very large space telescopes, space-based beamed energy systems, and next generation space launch concepts. Most recently, he has appeared on The History Channel’s “Life after People.”

In his copious spare time, Doc Travis is also a black belt martial artist, a private pilot, a SCUBA diver, races mountain bikes, competed in triathlons, and has been the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of several hard rock bands. He currently lives with his wife Karen, daughter Kalista Jade, two dogs Stevie and Wesker, and his cat Kuro, in north Alabama.  More information about Dr. Taylor can be found on his Web site (http://www.doctravis.com/)

Dr. William C. Keel is currently a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, at the University of Alabama.

As an astronomer especially interested in galaxies, I have made a practice of getting photons wherever I can, having made appearances at Kitt Peak, Cerro Tololo, La Palma, La Silla, the MMT, the 6-meter Bolshoi Teleskop Azimutal'nyi, the IRTF, and the VLA. I have become pretty multispectral, using data from  Voyager 2, IUE, IRAS,  Einstein, ROSAT, ISO, UIT, HST, Chandra, GALEX, and FUSE.

These data support studies of the effects of interactions on galaxies, the history of galaxy merging, triggering of star formation and nuclear activity in galaxies, and too many other projects that have struck my fancy. With this background, joining the team of the Galaxy Zoo project was only natural; much of my most interesting recent research has grown out of this project (read my blog entries).

In the more socially respectable part of my job, I teach at the University of Alabama; mostly introductory astronomy courses with occasional forays into extragalactic astronomy and  observational techniques at the graduate level. Unlike many professional astronomers, I got my start in the back yard many years ago and retain a soft spot for eyeballing the Universe. Many boring details on my education and professional activities can be found in my curriculum vitae, or you may enjoy this more spirited profile from a local magazine. I have now published two books - The Road to Galaxy Formation, published in August 2002 by Springer-Praxis, released in a revised second edition in 2008. At a more popular level, The Sky at Einstein's Feet, published in October 2005, traces the many ways in which relativity has informed the last century of astronomical discovery. My next book project will take on the history of space astronomy.

More information on Dr. Keel can be found HERE (http://www.astr.ua.edu/keel/)

Jun Ebersole is the Collections Manager over the Alabama Collections Center at McWane Science Center.  Currently the second largest natural history collection in the state, the Alabama Collections Center houses over 500,000 objects relating to the natural history of the state of Alabama.

Mr. Ebersole holds a degree in Anthropology with a concentration in Paleoanthropology.  His out of state research has included work at Homo erectus sites in East Africa, Iroquois, Civil War, and historic sites in the northeastern U.S., and Cretaceous sites in western Kansas.  His in-state excursions include scientific fossil collecting trips to all parts of Alabama including abandoned and active strip mines in north Alabama, dinosaur-aged sites in central Alabama, and Cenozoic-aged sites in southern Alabama.  At McWane Science Center he has curated multiple large scale exhibitions including the permanent installations Alabama Dinosaurs, Sea Monsters, and most recently, NatureScope.

In addition to his responsibilities with the museum, Mr. Ebersole serves as an advisor for both the Birmingham Paleontological Society and Alabama Paleontological Society, is on the council of the Alabama Museums Association and is currently Vice President of the Birmingham Archaeological Society.

Photo courtesy of the Birmingham News/Michelle Williams

Stephanie Osborn is a former payload flight controller, a veteran of over twenty years of working in the civilian space program, as well as various military space defense programs.

Stephanie holds graduate and undergraduate degrees in four sciences: Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, and she is "fluent" in several more, including Geology and Anatomy. She obtained her various degrees from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN and Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN.

She has worked on numerous Space Shuttle flights and the International Space Station, and counts the training of astronauts on her resume. Of those
astronauts she trained, one was Kalpana Chawla, or "K.C.," a member of the crew lost in the Columbia disaster.

Stephanie is currently retired from space work. She now happily "passes it forward," tutoring math and science to students in the Huntsville area, from elementary through college, while writing science fiction mysteries based on her knowledge, experience, and travels.

Her current novel in work at Twilight Times Books is Burnout, a science fiction mystery about a Space Shuttle disaster that turns out to be no accident. As the true scope of the disaster is gradually uncovered by the principal investigators, "Crash" Murphy and Dr. Mike Anders, they find themselves running for their lives, as lovers, friends and coworkers involved in the investigation perish around them. What happened to the Shuttle? Who is responsible and why? Why is the government calling it an accident? Why is someone willing to kill to keep it a secret? And how big is the conspiracy? An exciting action techno-thriller, Burnout will leave you on the edge of your seat, not wanting to put it down.

More information can be found HERE