Who We Are
This page briefly describes who we are. Additional details are provided under the "About Us" section of our web site.
Current Status
The Iowa Space Science Center (ISSC) is currently a grass-roots effort based primarily among Iowans. It is in its start-up phase and depends upon volunteered efforts of individuals with a passion for science, science education, and the betterment of Iowa and society in general. Participants include business leaders, civic leaders, scientists, concerned parents, and representation from the James Van Allen family.
In September 2011, the ISSC was granted federal 501(c)(3) status as a charitable nonprofit business with emphasis on education. It is also recognized by the State of Iowa as a nonprofit.
The ISSC currently has a small Board of Directors and an Advisory Board, as listed below. Expansion of these boards will be critical to the continued success of this proposal.
Outreach, fundraising, and preliminary planning efforts are currently underway. We will work in a phased approach toward success through an initial Volunteer Center, followed by a low-cost public Interim Facility, leading to the creation of the the Permanent Facility.
Legal Status
The ISSC is incorporated in the State of Iowa as a Public Benefit Corporation with emphasis in public education. It has an EIN (27-2170289) and is recognized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity under the federal tax code. Its word mark "Rediscover Science" is recognized Iowa law and the U.S. Patent Office.
Material Assets
The ISSC has yet to an establish independent physical facility. It is currently assessing possible locations for the initial Volunteer Center through a donated lease or other favorable arrangement. Later, we will secure a well-trafficked retail space to establish the Interim Facility, which will consist of a planetarium and exhibits open to the public. The ISSC possesses a Spitz model A4 planetarium projector capable of reproducing the night sky with great realism and is constructing a complementary digital video projection system. Additional details are provided under the "About Us" section of our web site.
About the Director
The founding director of the Van Allen Space Science Center is Charles Miller. Born in Davenport, he received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering (University of Iowa) and worked for 3 years as an engineer at Motorola, Inc (Schaumberg, IL). He returned to academics to receive a doctoral degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Iowa, with specialization in Auditory Physiology. He later conducted post-doctoral research at the University of Michigan prior to returning to Iowa City.
Over a 20-year career, he worked in the field of systems physiology of the mammalian auditory nerve, determining how the nerve bundle and individual nerve fibers respond to the various types of electric stimuli delivered by cochlear implants. This work required skills in surgery, evoked-potential recordings, and large-scale data analyses. He taught at the University, authored or co-authored over 40 peer-reviewed publications, was an invited speaker at international meetings, and an investigator or principle investigator on several NIH grants. Available here is a downloadable PDF copy of his curriculum vitae.
Dr. Miller is now devoting significant uncompensated time to this project. He lives in Iowa City with his wife and daughter.
Board of Directors
John Logsdon
Board Member Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Iowa and Director of the university's Pentacrest Museums.
Charles Miller
Director Former Electrical Engineer and Systems Neurophysiology Research Scientist at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. See Interim Director tab for more information.
Joshua Schamberger
Past Board Member
President, Iowa City Coralville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
Brent Studer
Board Member
Adjunct Professor, Astronomy, Kirkwood Community College and Coordinator of Technology Services, the Upward Bound Project, The University of Iowa
Advisory Board Members
Justin Fishbaugh
University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA
Wendy Ford
Economic Development Coordinator, Iowa City , IA
Donald Gurnett
University of Iowa, Department of Physics & Astronomy
Craig Johnson
Iowa Academy of Science, Cedar Falls, IA
Ken Miller
Hopkins Planetarium, Fremont, CA
Jeff Murray
University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics, Iowa City, IA
Steve Spangler
University of Iowa, Department of Physics & Astronomy
Cynthia Sweet
Iowa Museum Association, Cedar Falls, IA
Peter Van Allen
Van Allen Family liaison, Philadelphia, PA
Ron Walker
Ron Walker Productions Phoenix, AZ
Tax-exempt non-profit 501(c)(3) status of The Iowa Space Science Center is pending.