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������ professor Anthony Aveni has been selected as a judge for the YouTube Space Lab, a global science competition and ongoing education program.

YouTube and Lenovo launched the program in conjunction with space agencies throughout the world, and the more than 35 judges are world-renowned scientists, astronauts, educators, and explorers.

, the Russell ������ Distinguished University Professor of Astronomy and Anthropology and Native American Studies, will help select two science experiments designed by students between the ages of 14-18.

The experiments will be conducted 250 miles above Earth on the International Space Station and live streamed on YouTube in summer 2012.

Since launching two weeks ago, more than 1 million people have visited the on YouTube to learn more about the competition and to participate. More than 5.7 million people worldwide have enjoyed the program’s introductory .

“I am excited to be serving as a judge on this groundbreaking project,” said Aveni. “I am even more thrilled for the opportunity provided to these budding scientists. These young people, who will someday change our world, may get the chance to see their work conducted beyond it – in space and in the ‘cloud’.”

Aveni serves in the departments of physics and astronomy and sociology and anthropology at ������, where he has taught since 1963. He helped pioneer the field of archaeoastronomy and is one of the founders of Mesoamerican archaeoastronomy, noted for his research in the astronomical history of the Maya Indians of ancient Mexico.

A lecturer, speaker and editor/author of more than two dozen books on ancient astronomy, Aveni’s most recent book is The End of Time: The Maya Mystery of 2012.