HOUSE MEMORIAL 1

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2018

INTRODUCED BY

Matthew McQueen

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE TOURISM DEPARTMENT TO DEVELOP A "SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TOURISM TRAIL".

     WHEREAS, the tourism department has developed the "New Mexico true trails" campaign to guide tourists in the land of enchantment to uniquely New Mexican experiences; and

     WHEREAS, the tourism department promotes tourism trails dedicated to the arts, culinary interests, film locations, ghost towns, architecture and outdoor adventures; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico is home to first-in-the-world science and technology experiments, discoveries and attractions that contribute to the state's uniqueness and desirability as a travel destination; and

     WHEREAS, while some of New Mexico's signature science installations, including Los Alamos national laboratory, Sandia national laboratories and White Sands missile range, are not open to the public, the communities that host these installations provide ample opportunities for exploration of the significant discoveries and contributions to science and technology that have been born in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, the Trinity site, the Manhattan project national historic park, Los Alamos' downtown historic district and the Bradbury science museum in Los Alamos give visitors opportunities to experience and understand the history of the Manhattan project's development and testing of the first atomic bomb and the ongoing technological advances coming out of Los Alamos national laboratory; and

     WHEREAS, the national museum of nuclear science and history in Albuquerque and the White Sands missile range museum between Las Cruces and Alamogordo provide insights into the story of the atomic age and research related to nuclear and defense technologies; and

     WHEREAS, Thomas Edison perfected a process for extracting gold from sand in the Ortiz mining district, and the mineral museum in Socorro delights with over fifteen thousand mineral specimens from New Mexico and around the world; and

     WHEREAS, the very large array radio telescope facility near Socorro, spaceport America near Truth or Consequences and the Goddard planetarium in Roswell showcase world-class and cutting-edge explorations into outer space that are helping humanity understand the universe and the importance of space science to people's lives; and

     WHEREAS, only in New Mexico can seekers of truth investigate the artifacts of "the Roswell incident" and the possible presence of alien life on earth at the international UFO museum and research center in Roswell; and

     WHEREAS, Pluto was discovered by Clyde Tombaugh in bosque del Apache, and the cosmic campground in Catron county offers the rare opportunity for amateurs and professionals alike to study the night sky without the interference of light pollution; and

     WHEREAS, inspiration and education on the wonders of taking to the sky in flight can be found at the Southwest soaring museum in Moriarty and the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque international balloon museum in Albuquerque; and

     WHEREAS, places of scientific and technological interest abound throughout the state, and visits to these renowned sites foster not only intrigue, excitement and inspiration, but also economic opportunities for New Mexico's communities;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the state's science and technology-related history and attractions be regarded as worthy of promotion as tourist destinations; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the tourism department be requested to develop a "science and technology tourism trail"; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of tourism.

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