Space Travel with Earth Wisdom (Hybrid Event)

Mission: Human colonisation is about to expand beyond the outskirts of the Earth, with the hope to carry along only the beauty and the wisdom of this planet. Artificial intelligence and machine learning offer powerful new tools that could open new paths for humanity to embrace sustainability and bring life along with this expansion. This event brings together researchers at the intersection of space science, ecology, sustainability, and machine learning to discuss how we can approach space travel and co-create sustainable and ethical human colonies on Mars.

Agenda:

12:45pm - 1:00pm “Fueling”

• Power up with Coffee/tea and tea-sandwiches prior to the symposium starting.

1:00pm - 2:30pm: “On the launch pad” Talks

• Learn how Boston University researchers support NASA’s plans to land humans on Mars in the 2030s by harnessing the power of microbes and producing novel softwares for navigating the Martian environment, while supporting the fight against global warming! Each with a different study, faculty and students highlight their work.
• Speakers:
• Yannis Paschalidis, Director, Hariri Institute for Computing, Professor, ENG, CDS
• Marianna Felici, Research Scientist, Center for Space Physics
• Brackney Pickett, PhD. Candidate in Astronomy, CAS
• Joshua Semeter, Director of Center for Space Physics, Professor, ECE, ENG
• Zoey Werbin, PhD. Candidate in Biology, CAS
• Dylan Mankel, PhD. Candidate in Biology, CAS
• Ilija Dukovski, Professor, Biology, CAS

2:30pm - 3:00pm: “Re-fueling” Coffee/Tea Break

3:00pm - 4:00pm: “Payload enhancement” Talks

• Ecology, botany, biology, and space science experts share their research, experience, and thoughts on space exploration and sustainability.
• Speakers:
• Judith Sumner, Ethnobotanist and Author
• Ann Raiho, Lead Data Scientist, Funga
• Chris Moore, Astrophysicist, Center for Astrophysics

4:00pm - 4:30pm: “Re-fueling” Coffee/Tea Break

4:30pm - 5:30pm: “Ignition” Panel

• How do machine learning, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and technology fire up the science presented, and beyond? In a panel rendez-vous between academia and industry, audience, panelists, and speakers canvass space travel with their expertise and imaginativeness.
• Panelists:
• Ken Sebesta, Executive Director, RASTIC
• Phil Hattis, Laboratory Fellow, Draper

5:30pm - 8:00pm “Landing” Dinner

• With a stunning view of Charles River at sunset, interact and dine with symposium speakers and participants to celebrate an FRP-year-in-the-life and connect in new dazzling collaborations.

Speaker List:

• Yannis Paschalidis, Director, Hariri Institute for Computing, Professor, ENG, CDS
• Marianna Felici, Research Scientist, Center for Space Physics
• Brackney Pickett, PhD. Candidate in Astronomy, CAS
• Joshua Semeter, Director of Center for Space Physics, Professor, ECE, ENG
• Zoey Werbin, PhD. Candidate in Biology, CAS
• Dylan Mankel, PhD. Candidate in Biology, CAS
• Ilija Dukovski, Professor, Biology, CAS
• Judith Sumner, Ethnobotanist and Author
• Ann Raiho, Lead Data Scientist, Funga
• Chris Moore, Astrophysicist, Center for Astrophysics
• Ken Sebesta, Executive Director, RASTIC
• Phil Hattis, Laboratory Fellow, Draper

Learn more about the Focused Research Program First Trip to Mars: How to Pack Light

This Focused Research Program event is organized by Boston University’s Hariri Institute for Computing and supported by Department of Astronomy, Department of Earth & Environment, Department of Computer Science, and Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering.