JOHN CHRISTOPHER "CHRIS" BUTLER, F.R.A.S.
Chris Butler is an internationally renowned artist, public
speaker, and educational program producer whose work focuses on
science, nature, and maritime subjects. His illustrations have
appeared in thousands of publications worldwide, from the Times
of London to Scientific American. A graduate of California State
University Fullerton's school of Television and Film Production,
Chris has served as a art director and animator on both
educational and entertainment programs. Among his screen credits
are the National Geographic IMAX film "Forces of Nature" (2003)
and Griffith Observatory's "Centered in the Universe," (2006).
Chris has produced and presented live science educational
programming since 1985 which has been featured at hundreds of
events.
Chris's penchant for humorous and entertaining presentations has
earned him the nickname "stand up comedian of the scientific
world." In 2004, he was honored to be the first (and as of 2008,
the only) live planetarium lecturer aboard Cunard Line's Queen
Mary 2, a venue to which he has returned many times. The
world's most luxurious ocean liner, Queen Mary 2 is the only
vessel to feature its own planetarium theater. Its famed
predecessor, the original Queen Mary, has also hosted Chris for
appearances many times in Long Beach, California. On land, Chris
serves as assistant art director for planetarium and exhibit
programs for the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles and is a
regular lecturer at dozens of science education venues across the
country.
Chris's unique art and presentation style reflects his diverse
experience; he has been the director of a children's science
museum, a tour guide on the original Queen Mary, a technical
illustrator, a representative for a telescope manufacturer, an
amateur astronomer, and a financial analyst on the space shuttle
program for Rockwell International.
Chris was the 2006 recipient of the Western Astronomical
Association's G. Bruce Blair Medal for service to astronomy, a
prestigious award previously bestowed upon astronomer Sir Patrick
Moore and famed illustrator Chesley Bonestell. Chris was also
recognized in 2002 by having an asteroid named in his honor by
the International Astronomical Union (minor planet 13543 Butler).
In 2007, Chris was honored to be appointed the "Artist in
Residence" of the Queen Mary. In 2008, Chris was elected as a
Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society (F.R.A.S.) in
recognition of his service to international science education;
this organization was founded in 1820 and admission to its
membership is only by reccomendation by an accomplished scientist
or other Fellow of the Society.
The son of an engineer who worked on the development of the
Apollo lunar spacecraft and the Space Shuttle (Robert E. Butler),
Chris grew up with the space program. As a child, he would
regularly visit the factory where spacecraft were being designed
and built, meeting luminaries such as Werner von Braun and many
astronauts. Many years later, Chris returned to work at the same
location, providing a deeper personal insight into the technical
accomplishments of the space program. Over the years, Chris has
had the opportunity to meet and interview most of the astronauts
who voyaged to the moon, such as Buzz Aldrin, Alan Bean, Gene
Cernan, Pete Conrad, Jack Schmitt, Dave Scott, Alan Shepard, and
John Young.
An avid amateur astronomer, Chris brings direct experience with
astronomy to his work. He has served as a vice-president and
board member of the Orange County Astronomers (the largest
organization of its kind in the world), and is a life member of
the Los Angeles Astronomical Society. Chris's maritime
credentials include the Vice- presidency and board membership
with the Steamship Historical Society of America's Southern
California Chapter.
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A few publications which have carried Chris Butler's work:
Focus Magazine, England
The Times of London
The Independent, newspaper, England
Biological Sciences Review, Phillip Alan Publishers
University Magazine, Birmingham University, England
Stephen Hawking's Universe, BBC Books
The Guardian, newspaper, England
Encylopedia Brittanica Int. Ltd. - Children's Brittanica Yearbook 1997
Is Anyone Out There, Drake and Dava authors, Simon & Schuster Publ., 1997
Prehistoric Life, Aladdin Books, 1997
Dinosaurs, Aladdin Books, 1997
Collins Advanced Science: Physics, Harper-Collins Publ., 1997
A Covert Agenda, Redfern author, Simon & Schuster publ., 1997
The Daily Mirror, newspaper, England
Astronomy Before the Telescope, British Museum Press, 1996
The Orange County Register, newspaper, California, many times
KNBC News, television, 1994
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