Mars Vandal comes to Coeur d'Alene

Sophie Milam graduated from the University of Idaho while living on Mars for eight months — a mock simulation of the Red Planet, actually.

Milam will speak Tuesday at Science on Tap hosted by Gizmo and the University of Idaho in Coeur d’Alene.

“We are excited to have Sophie because she has reached a very high level,” said Jocelyn Stott, UI marketing and communications manager. “It’s kind of cool to have someone of her caliber here in Coeur d'Alene to talk about what she's done for NASA."

Milam, along with five crew members, spent 273 days participating in Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation, or HI-SEAS. The project was funded by the NASA Human Research Program and simulated a long-duration Mars mission. From Oct. 15, 2014 until June 15, 2015, Milam lived in a "dome" located on an abandoned lava quarry on the northern slope of Mauna Loa in Hawaii.

Finishing up her classes online, Milam received her master's degree in mechanical engineering in December 2014 while living in the dome. In 2015 she was named in Forbes Magazine's “30 under 30 in Science,” a list of young scientists discovering new worlds in space and “changing the world in the process.”

Science on Tap is held monthly and is open to the public. Stott said it is a place for the public to get together and have an informal talk about science in a more casual atmosphere.

“It’s just a chance for people to have a conversation with scientists, from the University of Idaho usually, to talk about a topic over a beer,” she said.

Microbrews are supplied by Tricksters Brewing Co.

Science on Tap is held at Gizmo, located at 806 N. Fourth St. in Coeur d'Alene. Tuesday's event begins at 5:30 p.m.

For more information about Science on Tap, call 667-2588.