Dr. William (Bill) W. L. Taylor (1943 – 2005) was a leader in the field of space science education and public outreach. He co-founded and was president of one of the pioneering successes in NASA Sun Earth Connection Education, The INSPIRE (Interactive NASA Space Physics Ionosphere Radio Experiments) Project Inc., whose mission is to bring the excitement of observing natural and manmade radio waves in the audio region to students. Over the past 16 years, Dr. Taylor's INSPIRE program has provided audio frequency radio receiver kits to thousands of students and interested groups.
Dr. Taylor was born in Portland, Oregon. Early in his education he knew that science, specifically physics, captured his imagination and set his goals on becoming a space scientist. He received his undergraduate degree in Physics from the University of Redlands (CA) in 1965 and both his M.S. and Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Iowa in 1967 and 1973. His research focused on wave particle interactions in solar system plasmas. Dr. Taylor published over 50 papers in peer reviewed scientific journals in the area of space plasmas and magnetospheric physics. Dr. Taylor was Principal and Co-Investigator for many NASA missions including IMAGE, WISP, SEPAC, EFD on the Pioneer Venus Orbiter, Plasma Wave Instrument on GEOTAIL, and for the RPI and education and public outreach of IMAGE. He was also the Lead US Scientist for ACTIVE, a US/USSR project.
After attaining his doctorate, Dr. Taylor worked at NASA Headquarters (1975 to 1978), as a program scientist for Spacelab 1. In 1978 he moved to Redondo Beach, CA to work for TRW as a Department Manager for Space Sciences. He returned to NASA HQ in 1990 to serve as the Chief Scientist for Space Station Freedom and Visiting Senior Scientist at JPL. In April of 1996, Dr. Taylor accepted a position with Raytheon ITSS as Project Manager for the Goddard Space Science Data Operations Office Contract. He later moved to QSS in the same position.
Dr. Taylor had a passionate commitment to advancing space science education and public outreach. He led the Technology for Schools donation program for DC public schools and non-profits, and was very active in DC regional BotBall competitions. He was also active in the Radio Jove project, the District of Columbia Space Grant Consortium, and the Sun-Earth Connection Education Forum.
In July 2005, Goddard Space Flight Center honored the late William W. L. Taylor with an Excellence In Outreach Award "for dedication in initiating, developing and providing Education and Public Outreach activities of the highest quality, spanning more than 15 years".
Dr. Taylor was married for 28 years to his wife, Kathleen Franzen, who now serves as President of The INSPIRE Project, Inc.
