Candidate Profile

THE CRUISE SHIP ENRICHMENT NETWORK
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EXPERTISE
Astronomy & Space Science
Science - General
Shore Excursion Escorts
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WITH:
BIOGRAPHY
Jim Teslow is an actual rocket scientist and educator with a lot of cruise enrichment experience as onboard astronomer. He specializes in making complex subject matter understandable, memorable and fun. His goal is to provide guests with a few nuggets of information and new skills so that they are able to dazzle friends and family when they get home. He obtained his undergraduate aerospace engineering degree at University of Washington, and two Masters degrees and a PhD at University of Colorado. He is a member of the American Astronomical Society. Jim practiced aerospace engineering for 30 years. His work included rocket propulsion analysis and design, launch support, new technology research, and business development.

He became interested in education, obtained a teaching certificate, and taught secondary science and mathematics for the U.S. Department of Defense Dependents Schools in Germany and Japan. After earning a doctorate in Instructional Technology, he conducted post-doc research at Texas A&M University, and taught several graduate courses in educational technology, research methods, and instructional design at University of Colorado.

He now enjoys entertaining and teaching on ships, and long-distance walking.


TALKS
In addition to the lectures below, Dr. Teslow is delighted to offer stargazing sessions during the voyage, weather permitting and if approved. Stargazing sessions on several ships have included his expert use of onboard telescopes and planetariums. On deck, the use of a planisphere and stargazing cell phone apps for both iPhone and Android are demonstrated, as well as traditional astronomer tricks for finding stars/constellations, and even how to use your fist to find your latitude. Dr. Teslow can be found on deck at 10:00 PM on all clear nights of every cruise, and when appropriate, coordinates with the Bridge to minimize light pollution.

Also, please note that cruise-specific events related to topics such as Northern Lights, eclipses, meteor showers, comets, tides, satellite and space station sightings, rocket launch viewing, and engineering projects (Panama Canal, Venice flood control, etc.) will be incorporated into lecture and deck sessions.

Dr. Teslow welcomes the opportunity to serve as a shore excursion escort.

As a special complimentary service, Dr. Teslow, a Cambridge University certified (CELTA) English teacher, would be happy to mentor crew members on their English grammar and pronunciation.

Entertaining and informational presentations to choose from:

1. The Northern Lights - Join Dr. Jim Teslow for a discussion of the science and lore of the magnificent Aurora Borealis. Photography tips will also be shared..

2. Our Future in Space - Join Dr. Jim Teslow as he describes current missions and plans for future space exploration.

3. The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence - Participate in a lively discussion with Dr. JimTeslow and consider whether there are alien life-forms in the universe.

4. The Race to the Moon - Join Dr. Jim Teslow as we celebrate the first manned moon landing with inside information from a space science expert.

5. Amazing Astronomy - Join Dr. Jim Teslow for a fascinating look into the science of astronomy including the Big Bang, constellations, our Solar System, galaxies and black holes.

6. Stars and Black Holes - Join Dr. Jim Teslow for a continuation of astronomy topics, including the birth and death of stars, pulsars, and super massive black holes. He will discuss current theories and areas of research.

7. The History of Rockets - Join Aerospace Engineer, Dr. Jim Teslow, as he takes us on a journey through the history of rockets and how they work, from the earliest rockets to modern reliable rockets.

8. It Is Rocket Science: Life as an Aerospace Engineer - In this presentation Dr. Jim Teslow will provide an interesting look at his 30-year career working on U.S. Air Force and NASA space projects.

9. Why Your Car is so well-engineered: Six-sigma Quality - Join Aerospace Engineer, Dr. Jim Teslow, as he describes modern manufacturing quality control. The audience will help improve a common household problem by participating in a mini-Kaizen.

10. Three-two-one ... Liftoff: Space Program Successes and Disasters - Join Aerospace Engineer, Dr. Jim Teslow, as he chronicles the highs and lows of mankind's space adventures.

11. Rocket Development - Join Aerospace Engineer, Dr. Jim Teslow, as he describes past and future rocket designs.

12. Relativity Simplified - Join Dr. Jim Teslow for a discussion of this complex topic in understandable language.

13. Long Distance Walking: If I Can Do It, You Can Do It - Join Dr. Jim Teslow for a Q&A session with tips for walking from village to village in Europe along way-marked trails.
CRUISE HISTORY / EXPERIENCE
I have presented talks and conducted stargazing/planetarium sessions on these ships:

RCCL Navigator of the Seas, November 2016, Guest Speaker
RCCL Freedom of the Seas, May 2017, Guest Speaker
RCCL Navigator of the Seas, November 2017, Guest Speaker
RCCL Navigator of the Seas, April 2018, Guest Speaker
Viking Ocean Orion, September 2018, Viking Resident Astronomer
Viking Ocean Orion, October 2018, Viking Resident Astronomer
Viking Ocean Sky, February 2019, Astronomer
Viking Ocean Sky, February-March 2019, Astronomer
Viking Ocean Orion, July 2019, Viking Resident Astronomer
Viking Ocean Orion, July 2019, Viking Resident Astronomer
Viking Ocean Jupiter, September 2019, Viking Resident Astronomer
Viking Ocean Jupiter, September-October 2019, Viking Resident Astronomer
Viking Ocean Jupiter, October 2019, Viking Resident Astronomer
Viking Ocean Orion, December 2021, Viking Resident Astronomer
Viking Ocean Orion, December 2021-January 2022, Viking Resident Astronomer
Viking Ocean Jupiter, March 2023-April 2023, Viking Resident Astronomer
Celebrity Beyond, April 2023-May 2023, Guest Speaker
Viking Ocean Jupiter, September 2023-October 2023, Viking Resident Astronomer
Fred Olsen Borealis, January 2024, Guest Speaker

Viking Sky Cruise Director Comments: Jim was a super star for both of his 2 cruises with us. Good feedback from guests. "Making a very complicated subject easier to understand for normal people.” This was the sentiment I received from many guests. They liked the fact that he did not talk over their heads. Nor did he dumb it down to insult their intelligence.

Viking Jupiter Cruise Director Comments: Dr. Teslow is an excellent example of everything we want in a VRA. He is knowledgeable, personable, our own rocket scientist, and an excellent and engaging speaker. He goes above and beyond and is an excellent ambassador for the brand. He gets people excited and does a brilliant job with the dome and star gazing.
RECENT PAST CRUISES COMPLETED
The following recent Cruise History has been recorded for this candidate.
SHIP REF CRUISE DESCRIPTION NIGHTS SAILING FROM DEPARTURE DATE
Viking Venus VE240324 In Search of the Northern Lights 12 Tilbury Sunday, March 24, 2024
Viking Venus VE240312 In Search of the Northern Lights 12 Bergen Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Viking Venus VE240229 In Search of the Northern Lights 12 Tilbury Thursday, February 29, 2024
Borealis S240102
Sector 1
World Cruise Sector 21 Southampton Sunday, January 7, 2024
Viking Jupiter JU231018 Italian Sojourn 7 Venice Wednesday, October 18, 2023
Viking Jupiter JU231011 Venice, the Adriatic and Greece 7 Piraeus (Athens) Wednesday, October 11, 2023
Viking Jupiter JU231004 Venice, the Adriatic and Greece 7 Venice Wednesday, October 4, 2023
Viking Jupiter JU230927 Italian Sojourn 7 Civitavecchia (for Rome) Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Celebrity Beyond BE230423 Spain, France & Italy Transatlantic 14 Fort Lauderdale, Florida Sunday, April 23, 2023
Viking Jupiter JU230313 Southern Atlantic Crossing 21 Buenos Aires Monday, March 13, 2023
Viking Orion OR211220 Mexican Riviera Sojourn 16 Los Angeles, California Monday, December 20, 2021
Viking Orion OR211204 Mexican Riviera Sojourn 16 Los Angeles, California Saturday, December 4, 2021
Viking Jupiter JU191020 Mediterranean Odyssey 12 Barcelona Sunday, October 20, 2019
Viking Jupiter JU191006 Trade Routes of the Middle Ages 14 Bergen Sunday, October 6, 2019
Viking Jupiter JU190922 Viking Homelands 14 Stockholm Sunday, September 22, 2019
Viking Orion OR190715 Alaska & the Inside Passage 10 Seward (Anchorage), Alaska Monday, July 15, 2019
Viking Orion OR190705 Alaska & the Inside Passage 10 Vancouver Friday, July 5, 2019
Viking Sky SK190218 In Search of the Northern Lights 12 Bergen Monday, February 18, 2019
Viking Sky SK190206 In Search of the Northern Lights 12 Tilbury Wednesday, February 6, 2019
Viking Orion OR181007 Far East Discovery 14 Hong Kong Sunday, October 7, 2018
Viking Orion OR180923 Southeast Asia & Hong Kong 14 Bangkok (from Laem Chabang) Sunday, September 23, 2018