BYU Forum with Speaker Alan Stern Teaches Students How to Overcome Setbacks and Trials

Brigham Young University gives a weekly opportunity to learn about intellectually enlarging topics given
by community leaders at campus forums. This week, students will hear from planetary scientist Alan
Stern.

1/10/2020

PROVO, UT --- On January 18th, 2020, Planetary Scientist Alan Stern will be a guest speaker at a BYU
forum to discuss his 26-year journey to Pluto. This mission accomplished what was once thought
impossible and took over 2500 men and women across the country to complete. Join us in the Marriott
Center at 11:05 to discuss their ground-breaking discoveries.

After spending 10 years in space and years of preparation, Planetary Scientist Alan Stern will speak on
the first space mission to make it to Pluto. If they missed this chance, the 10 years that the 50 crew
members had spent in space would have been worthless. The team that worked with Alan Stern had a
small budget and a less time to complete the mission, but the discoveries made because this mission
was accomplished change their lives forever. After overcoming many setbacks, reversals, and failed
attempts, Stern learned many lessons on team building and perseverance that he will be sharing with
the listeners at this month’s forum.

On the opportunity to speak, Stern said, “I hope to give students a glimpse into the dedication this
mission took and show them what they can accomplish with a similar dedication and passion.”

Because of this dedicated teamwork, the New Horizons team was able to complete something larger
than life and were able to change the course of new discoveries in our Solar System. According to Stern,
“This mission took incredible commitment. The chance to be a part of this mission was the stuff of
dreams—it was legendary.” However, the lessons learned go further than their applications to space
expeditions. Stern will speak about the importance of collaboration and perseverance and how students
can apply that determination to their own lives.
Brigham Young University: Enter to learn; go forth to serve.

Brigham Young University seeks to educate and inspire students through weekly forums and
devotionals given by community leaders. These are open to the public and are in the
Marriott Center in Provo. If you are unable to make it to these speeches, they can be found
online at speeches.byu.edu or are broadcasted live on BYUtv, classical 89 FM, and BYU
Radio. BYU has landed the No. 1 spot on Forbes’ list of America’s Best Value Colleges in
2019 and seeks to educate its students spiritually and intellectually. For more information
visit www.byu.edu and follow @BYU.

Press Contacts:

Emma Stout
Brigham Young University
Communications Manager
801-381-2144
Stout13@byu.edu