Visit by Mars Explorer Caps Five Years of Society Activity

In five short years the Roy Chapman Andrews Society has grown from the kernel of an idea into a vibrant and innovative organization. Under the direction of a small and dedicated all-volunteer board, the Society is on its way to becoming, as it promises in its vision statement, “the recognized authority on, resource for, and promoter of the life, work, and adventures of Roy Chapman Andrews and his lifetime ties to Beloit, Wisconsin,” his hometown.

The Society, which was incorporated in 1999, began accepting memberships in January of 2001. Within two years and thanks to the support of its members and other sponsors, the Society launched what has become a signature program for the organization, the Roy Chapman Andrews Society Distinguished Explorer Award. Previous recipients of the award are paleontologist Michael Novacek (2003), ethnobotanist Mark Plotkin (2004), and marine explorer Robert Ballard (2005).

On February 10, 2006, Mars explorer Steve Squyres received the fourth casting of this bronze award and its accompanying $5,000 cash prize. His award was presented in an afternoon ceremony at Eaton Chapel on the campus of Beloit College, Andrews’s alma mater. Squyres, who directs ongoing scientific research on Mars by using twin remote-control rovers (see story), presented a wonderfully informative, and sometimes animated acceptance lecture at the ceremony called “Roving Mars: Spirit, Opportunity and the Exploration of the Red Planet.” After the award presentation he graciously signed copies of a book by the same title.

Members and friends of the Society joined in the celebratory dinner that will followed. This year’s festive event featured a bonus program about some of the exploring adventures of Andrews, an expedition leader during the first decades of the 20th century for the American Museum of Natural History. Items of Society and Andrews memorabilia were sold through a silent auction that evening, as well.

Earlier in the day Squyres spoke to area school children, met with science majors at Beloit College, and toured Andrews historic sites. Additionally he met with members of the media at a news conference hosted by Forest City Gear in Roscoe, Illinois, a participating firm in the manufacturing of the rovers and a sponsor of the Squyres visit. Other visit sponsors included Ken and Diane Hendricks, the Logan Museum of Anthropology and Geology Department, Beloit College, Rotary Club of Beloit, Visit Beloit, and members of the Roy Chapman Andrews Society.