Scientific dream jobs — that's what our Cool Jobs event is all about. And jobs in science do not get much cooler than Chris McKay's. And that's not just because he has spent time in severe sub-zero temperatures in both the Arctic and the Antarctic. When Chris goes to the most inhospitable spots on Earth, it's not because he's taking an adventure holiday. As a scientist for NASA's Ames Research Center, he's looking for micro-organisms that thrive under such unusual conditions, and could reveal valuable information about extraterrestrial life, which, at least in our solar system, must cope with similarly inhospitable environments. He's also involved in the Mars Phoenix Lander mission, scheduled to land on the Red Planet in May 2008, which will look for a "habitable zone" suitable for harboring life on Mars, as well as in planning for manned missions to the Moon and Mars.

Then again, if the wilderness is not for you, you might prefer Ben Schwegler's job. He's in charge of the science behind the Mouse, more precisely: he's the Chief Scientist at Walt Disney Imagineering R&D — the outfit responsible for the innovative engineering behind the Disney theme parks, from rollercoaster physics to environment-friendly fireworks.

We're thrilled to have both Chris and Ben participate in the 2008 World Science Festival — if you want to find out more about the amazing things that are "all in a day's work" for them and their colleagues, don't miss our Cool Jobs event on Friday, May 30, from 4 to 5:30 pm at New York University's Kimmel Center for University Life. Chris and Ben will join oceanographer Sylvia Earle, explorer-in-residence at the National Geographic Society, who has led more than 50 expeditions and spent more than 6,500 hours of her life underwater.

http://www.worldsciencefestival.com