LITERATURE + LECTURES

The Contemporary Arts Museum Houston invites you to a lecture given by David A. Mindell (pictured), Dibner Professor of the History of Engineering and Manufacturing, and Professor of Engineering Systems at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, on November 12, 2009, 6:30 p.m. In conjunction with Matthew Day Jackson: The Immeasurable Distance, Mindell, one of the contributing authors to the exhibition catalogue and an expert on the social implications and effects of science, will discuss the cultural history of the Apollo missions.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
David A. Mindell is Dibner Professor of the History of Engineering and Manufacturing, and Professor of Engineering Systems at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is director of MIT’s Program on Science, Technology, and Society (STS), and founder and director of MIT’s “DeepArch” research group in technology, archaeology, and the deep sea. His research interests include the history of automation in the military, the history of electronics and computing, theories of engineering systems, deep ocean robotic archaeology, and the history of space exploration.

His most recent book, Digital Apollo: Human and Machine in Spaceflight (MIT Press, 2008) examined the computers, automation, and software in the Apollo moon landings and their effects on human performance. He is also co-leading a 10-year collaborative project with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the Greek Ministry of Culture to explore the deep Aegean Sea for ancient and Bronze Age shipwrecks using autonomous underwater vehicles.

EXHIBITION FUNDING AND SUPPORT
Matthew Day Jackson: The Immeasurable Distance was co-organized by the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston and MIT List Visual Arts Center. The exhibition has been made possible by the Council for the Arts at MIT and the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Special thanks to the Peter Blum Gallery, New York, NY, and Phoenix Media/Communications Group and to the patrons, benefactors, and donors of the Museum's Major Exhibition Fund: Major Patrons—Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, Fayez Sarofim, Michael Zilkha; Patrons—Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Ballard, Mr. and Mrs. I. H. Kempner III, Ms. Louisa Stude Sarofim, Leigh and Reggie Smith; Benefactors—Marita and J.B. Fairbanks, George and Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation, Jackson Hicks / Jackson and Company, Elizabeth Howard, Marley Lott, Elisa and Cris Pye, Beverly and Howard Robinson, Swift + Company, Susan Vaughan Foundation, Inc., Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Wilson; Donors—Baker Botts, LLP, Bergner and Johnson Design, Susie and Sanford Criner, Julia and Russell Frankel, Jo and Jim Furr, Mr. and Mrs. William Goldberg / Bernstein Global Wealth Management, Louise D. Jamail, King & Spalding L.L.P., KPMG, LLP, Judy and Scott Nyquist, Lauren Rottet, David I. Saperstein, Karen and Harry Susman, John and Becca Cason Thrash, Martha Claire Tompkins, Mark Wawro and Melanie Gray.