Michael Wesley Harrison

Michael Harrison specializes in giving 60-90 minute presentations in the for service organizations, astronomy clubs, churches and other groups.

Areas of expertise include Astronomy, Cosmology, the Total Solar Eclipse of 2008, NASA's EOS Earth Science Mission, the James Webb Space Telescope, Amateur Telescope Making and Film Writing.

Astronomy Bio:
Michael has a physics degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology specializing in particle physics. During this time he worked in the Center for Space Research as a part of an X-Ray Astronomy Team. Michael worked as a theorist and at no time did he look through a telescope.

Michael is employed as an Engineer, Scientist and Manager in the development and production of spacecraft. While working on the Next Generation Space Telescope he realized that he did not know what a telescope actually was. This triggered a reawakening of his interest in astrophysics and resulted in his current interest in astronomy.

Michael signed up for an optics class at a local college and learned to make telescope mirrors. Michael has completed a 6 inch Newtonian telescope using the mirror made in this class.

Film/Writing Bio:
Michael Harrison shot his first movie at the age of 10 using an old windup type 16mm movie camera that his Dad had found in some junk heap.  Shortly there after he saw the film 2001: A Space Odyssey. As he walked home that day he decided to direct a sci-fi movie at some point in the indefinite future. His interest in science fiction and movies continued unabated through high school and college. While majoring in physics Michael took every film class offered at MIT. Those being insufficient, he actually worked with the school to create an additional class to accelerate his learning.

Michael moved to California to be an engineer and discovered that he was within driving distance of the motion picture capital of the world. Engineer by day and film maker by evenings and weekends, he has studied directing, writing, acting, production and almost all other aspects of the motion picture industry at the American Film Institute, Tahoe Photographic Workshops and the Independent Feature Project.

After years of workshops, classes and working with public access cable, Michael had produced a dozen films and still he was bored.  In 1993 Michael took a leave of absence from his engineering work to produce and direct his first feature length project "Chronos 5.0".  This film was completed in 1996 and made its debut at the American Film Market and went on to be represented at the 49th annual International Festival of Film at Cannes, France.

Michael Harrison's speech topics include:
• Astronomy
• Cosmology
• Total Solar Eclipse of 2008
• NASA's EOS Earth Science Mission
• James Webb Space Telescope
• Amateur Telescope Making
· Film Writing

Phone: 310-415-8856
Email: ae35unit@ca.rr.com

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