A symposium that brings together scientists and humanists from FIU and beyond to reimagine the paradigms of space exploration, from its material challenges to its profound impact on human relationships, societies, and futures.

Thursday, March 27

BEA Gallery (Check-in, lunch)

PCA135 (Symposium)

9-9:15 Check-in/coffee BEA Gallery

9:15 - 9:45 Welcome, Introduction PCA135

Henry Rueda Chair, Associate Teaching Professor, FIU Department of Architecture

Katarzyna Balug Assistant Professor, FIU Department of Architecture

9:45 - 11:15 PANEL 1: Toward Distant Worlds

Shimon Wdowinski Professor, FIU Department of Earth and Environment, Institute of Environment

The Expected Physical Conditions and Hazards on Habitable Planets

Vyta Pivo Assistant Professor, University of Miami Department of Architecture

Concrete Space Oddities: Architecture and Construction in Outer Space

Daniela Radu Professor and Interim Chair, FIU Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering

Harvesting Energy in Space

Tigran Abrahamyan Associate Teaching Professor, FIU Physics Department, Elio Arteaga Associate Professor, Miami Dade College School of Entertainment & Design Technology

Astronomy & Art—Fantastical Worlds Are Real

11:15 - 12:30 LUNCH BEA Gallery

12:30 - 2 KEYNOTE

Jeffrey Nesbit Assistant Professor, Temple University School of Art + Architecture

Ground Control: Technical Lands for Departing Earth

2 - 3:30 PANEL 2: About Space, on Earth 

Shahin Vassigh Professor, FIU Department of Architecture, Associate Dean of Faculty Development

Robotic Construction in Space

Luis Cendan Ph.D. Candidate, FIU Department of Earth and Environment

Seeds for New Worlds: From Climate Change on Earth to Agriculture on Mars

James Webb Professor, FIU Department of Physics

Finding Extraterrestrial Life in the Universe

Neil Leach Professor, FIU Department of Architecture

Is AI the New Space Race?

Ozan Atalan Assistant Teaching Professor, FIU Department of Art + Art History

Xenopoetics

3:30 - 3:45 BREAK

3:45- 5:15 KEYNOTE 

Erika Nesvold Co-Founder, JustSpace Alliance

Ethics, Human Rights, and Our Future in Space

5:15 - 5:45 Closing remarks

Rhona Trauvitch Associate Teaching Professor, FIU Department of English

The Fictionality Warp Drive: FTL Propulsion to Novel Imaginings

5:45 - 6:30 Tour of Stocker AstroScience Center with James Webb

Sponsored by HP and the Department of Architecture