Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman in space, will appear as the next speaker in Penn State's Distinguished Speakers Series at 8 tonight in Schwab Auditorium.

Jemison made history when she traveled on board the shuttle Endeavor Sept. 12, 1992.

As a chemical engineer, scientist and physician, Jemison was the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's first astronaut to serve as a science mission specialist on the STS-47 Spacelab J. This joint mission between the United States and Japan conducted experiments in life sciences, material sciences and the Bone Cell Research Experiment.

In order to develop and market advanced technologies suited towards the social, political, cultural and economic advances, Jemison founded The Jemison Group, which aims at improving the image of scientists.

In addition to her science background, Jemison is well versed in African-American studies, with training in both African dance and choreography.

Brian Loretz, Distinguished Speakers Series committee chair, said Jemison will speak on a variety of topics, including science literacy and the need for increased women and minority participation in math and science, as well as achieving excellence and investigating in the present to secure the future.

"By securing the future, Jemison means in order to reach the things she has done, people and students especially here in Penn State must do important things in their lives that may now seem inconsequential," Loretz said, "because the payoff will be much greater for students later on."

As a major research institute, Penn State students have showed a great interest in NASA and space issues, Loretz said.

Abigail Voorhees, a speaker series committee member, said war-related concerns of space technologies should increase student attendance tonight.

She also said Jemison is a role model for minority students and for women.

"She can appeal to diverse students and women who traditionally are not in the field of science and even to students who want to be astronauts after they leave Penn State," Voorhees said.

Jemison was one of 15 candidates selected to complete one year of training to qualify as a mission specialist on space shuttle flight crews. She has worked as an astronaut office representative to the Kennedy Space Center, which involved helping prepare the space shuttle for launch and working in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL) performing verification of shuttle computer software.

From 1983 to June 1985, Jemison was the Area Peace Corps medical officer for Sierra Leone and Liberia in West Africa.

Jemison also worked for the U.S. Peace Corps. She developed and participated in research projects on the hepatitis B vaccine, schistosomiasis and rabies in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The session is free and open to the public, but tickets are required for admission.

Tickets are available to on a first-come, first-serve basis from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at the Eisenhower box office. Limited tickets might also be available tonight at the door.