Space Travel: A Sustainable Future Frontier

Charles Cockell, Divya Persaud, Michael Byers and Sara Mazrouei

7:30pm

Saturday, October 23, 2021

Authors and experts in candid, live conversation reflect on the topics that matter most during this unprecedented time. Humanity’s quest to reach the stars began with wondering about the universe and whether we are alone in it, but among the big questions that drive us to pursue space travel, we must ask ourselves about its environmental impact on planet Earth, and how we can advocate for a more ethical, equitable future in space. This illuminating, engaging panel discussion, with Charles S. Cockell, Divya Persaud, Michael Byers and moderated by Sara Mazrouei, examines how to build a sustainable future in the pursuit of broadening our horizons in space.

Tune in each day of the Festival to hear new speakers in critical conversation about the topics shaping today’s world.

English captioning is available for this video. Please click the ‘CC’ button in the video toolbar to turn it on.

Proudly supported by
Harriet Lewis and Eldon Bennett
Andrew and Valerie Pringle

Panel Discussion

Authors and experts in candid, live conversation reflect on the topics that matter most during this unprecedented time. Humanity’s quest to reach the stars began with wondering about the universe and whether we are alone in it, but among the big questions that drive us to pursue space travel, we must ask ourselves about its environmental impact on planet Earth, and how we can advocate for a more ethical, equitable future in space. This illuminating, engaging panel discussion, with Charles S. Cockell, Divya Persaud, Michael Byers and moderated by Sara Mazrouei, examines how to build a sustainable future in the pursuit of broadening our horizons in space.

Tune in each day of the Festival to hear new speakers in critical conversation about the topics shaping today’s world.

English captioning is available for this video. Please click the ‘CC’ button in the video toolbar to turn it on.

Proudly supported by
Harriet Lewis and Eldon Bennett
Andrew and Valerie Pringle

Panel Discussion

Featured Authors

Charles Cockell

Charles Cockell is Professor of Astrobiology at the University of Edinburgh and Co-Director of the UK Centre for Astrobiology, which he established in 2011. His academic interests encompass life in extreme environments, the habitability of extraterrestrial environments and the exploration and settlement of space. He has previously worked at NASA Ames Research Centre and the British Antarctic Survey.

Read more about Charles Cockell

Divya M. Persaud is a planetary geologist, writer, composer and speaker. She is a postdoctoral scholar supporting missions to explore Jupiter's moon Europa and has been completing her Ph.D. at University College London, where she is applying 3D imagery to probe Mars geology. Divya has spoken and worked internationally on issues surrounding the historic and cultural contexts of space exploration, for example, through her work with the JustSpace Alliance and as a co-organizer of the conference Space Science in Context. Divya is passionate about bridging science, engagement, activism and the arts.

Read more about Divya Persaud

Michael Byers holds the Canada Research Chair in Global Politics and International Law at the University of British Columbia.  He also co-directs the Outer Space Institute, a network of world-leading space experts united by their commitment to highly innovative, transdisciplinary research that addresses grand challenges facing the continued use and exploration of space. Professor Byers is a regular contributor to the Globe and Mail and the author of International Law and the Arctic, which won the 2013 Donner Prize.

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Dr. Sara Mazrouei is a planetary scientist, an educational developer and a science communicator with a passion for sharing the wonders of the universe with the public. Her PhD research focused on the recent bombardment history of the Moon and links to future sample-return missions. Her work has been featured in many publications, such as, the New York Times and National Geographic. Sara is also passionate about increasing the status of women in STEM as well as equity, diversity and meaningful inclusion. She is currently an Educational Developer at Ryerson University's Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching.

Read more about Sara Mazrouei