This Oct. 23, Space Workforce Incubator for Texas (SWIFT), in partnership with New Worlds, will gather leaders from industry, education, and government in Austin to chart a new course for Texas. SWIFT has created an afternoon with those building the new Texas space workforce—from shop floor to launch pad.

Taking place at the AT&T Conference Center (Classroom 101 on the Mezzanine level), SWIFT is proud to present a MasterMind programming session titled: Orbit-Ready: Closing the Texas Space Talent Gap, from 1-5 p.m.

This particular event is not only part of New Worlds programming, but also free and open to members of the space industry. RSVP here to attend as space is limited.

More to be announced ASAP, but the first round of confirmed speakers include:

Merrill Davis, Texas 2036
Brad Morrison, Board of Directors, Texas Space Commission
Rhys Anderson, Founder & CEO, Method MFG
Marcus Metzger, Founder, HICAM
Alexis Flores, Director of Workforce Development, ARMA
Traci Hendrix, Executive Director of CCMR, Pflugerville ISD
Sheri Bonds, CTE Director, Round Rock ISD
Tina Carver, Manager of High School Programs, Austin Community College
William Moore, Advanced Manufacturing Student & President, SEDS ACC Rocketry Team

See below for details on the topics for this session:

Rocket Scientist to Space Cowboy — beyond lab coats to embrace welders, plumbers, electricians, machinists, and makers, proving there’s a place for every Texan in space.

More than a Lone Star — uncover hidden constellations of talent in overlooked classrooms and rural launch towns, the diamonds in the rough that will power the 10x workforce Texas needs to win.

Wild West at Its Best — space is the new frontier, bold and untamed. Only bold policy can match it. How do we forge partnerships that turn today’s institutions into tomorrow’s trailblazers?

Open the Gates to Space — rocket scientists and space cowboys riding together into the final frontier. From lab coats to work boots, how do we give every Texan the skills to claim the stars?

New Worlds is not your typical space conference.

It’s the only event on Earth where science, exploration, technology, art, music, and literature are melded with the business of doing space and the mission of opening the High Frontier. Topics range from national space policy, to space biomedicine, private space stations, to building cloud cities on Venus, farming on the Moon, to the ethics of AI-human partnerships—all delivered in fast-paced, TED-style sessions alongside interactive startup showcases. For more information and tickets, see https://newworlds.org

The above panel is open to the public. RSVP by Wednesday, Oct 22, to attend!

SWIFT at New Worlds: Building the Space Workforce