Born in Berlin in 1949, Bernd Zabel was raised in Munich, where he graduated with a Master’s degree in electrical engineering from the Technical University. He also received his certification as a teacher. After having traveled extensively in Africa and Asia as a student, he made a trip across America after his graduation to investigate alternative energy systems. Fascinated, he stayed on in New Mexico to conduct further experiments in total systems management — integrating the parts of a production system so that end products of one stage become the raw materials of the next stage. Bernd designed and operated systems of water-conserving arid land agriculture, water harvesting, wind and solar energy, composting, and aquaculture. In 1985, Bernd joined the Biosphere 2 project in Tucson as general manager of construction for the two-acre sealed experimental system. Designed to create a living laboratory in which to study ecological processes at work in the biosphere of planet Earth, Biosphere 2 contains tropical rainforest, savannah, marsh,ocean, desert and agriculture ecosystems, as well as a sophisticated human residence and monitoring facility. Bernd also trained as a Biosphere 2 crew candidate for five years and helped develop the aquaculture systems of Biosphere 2. In 1994, he lived sealed inside Biosphere 2 for six months as a crew member during Biosphere 2’s second mission. He served as Director of Engineering and Biospheric Operations with responsibility for all operating systems that maintain the atmosphere, living conditions, and physical structure of Biosphere 2. In 2000 he resigned as the General Manager of Biosphere 2 to pursue independent consulting projects. He worked in Tibet to bring running water to a monastery and consulted in Inner Mongolia at a demonstration project on how to stop desertification. From 2001 - 2007 Bernd and his wife helped to establish the Garchen Buddhist Institute in Prescott Arizona, a center that can accommodate 200 people and is totally off the grid in a remote setting. In 2008 Bernd and his wife bought a rural farm in Costa Rica which had natural hot springs on it and developing it into an ecological hot spring resort called Biothermales. ( www.biothermales.com ) Bernd also is pursuing his passion for closed system by currently construction a Bio-Dome, a material closed 50 m2 space frame structure, which will be large enough for one person to live in, recycling 100% of the air and water. The first 3 week closure with one person is scheduled for 2024. Bernd is also an accomplished artist who had several exhibits of paintings.

Author of The Overview Effect and President of Human Space Program

Frank White’s theory of the Overview Effect has helped provide astronauts with concepts and language to articulate the profound shift in worldview they experience when viewing the Earth from space and in space. Now, much of the world has adopted this framework in describing our innate interconnectedness.

His book, The Overview Effect: Space Exploration and Human Evolution, is considered by many to be a seminal work in the field of space exploration, making him one of the most influential space philosophers of our time.

Frank is a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College, a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and a Rhodes Scholar. He earned his M.Phil. in Politics from Oxford University.

He has authored or coauthored 14 books on topics ranging from space exploration to climate change. Planetary Collective’s film, “Overview,” based largely on his work, has had nearly 8 million plays on Vimeo.

Frank is co-founder and president of the Human Space Program, a central project to develop a citizen-authored blueprint for conscious space migration and stewardship of the solar ecosystem.

“I hope people will come to understand that space exploration is not about escaping Earth but is about coming to appreciate her more fully.” --Frank White

Dr. Proctor is a geoscientist, explorer, space artist, science communication specialist and SpaceX Inspiration4 mission pilot.

Her motto is called Space2inspire where she encourages people to use their unique, one-of-a-kind strengths, and passion to inspire those within their reach and beyond. She uses her AfronautSpace art to encourage conversations about women of color in the space industry. She’s an analog astronaut and has completed four analog missions including the all-female SENSORIA Mars 2020 mission at the Hawai’i Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) Habitat, the NASA funded 4-months Mars mission at HI-SEAS, a 2-weeks Mars mission at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS), and a 2-weeks Moon mission in the LunAres Habitat. She believes that when we solve for space, we also solve issues on Earth. She promotes sustainable food practices used in space exploration as a way to reduce food waste on Earth. She has a TEDx talk called Eat Like a Martian and published the Meals for Mars Cookbook. Dr. Proctor was a finalist for the 2009 NASA Astronaut Program and got down to the Yes/No phone call. She is an international speaker who enjoys engaging in educational outreach. She is a continuing NASA Solar System Ambassador and serves on the Explore Mars Board of Directors, JustSpace Alliance Advisory Board, the Science in the Wild Advisory Board, the SEDS USA Advisory Board, and the National Science Teaching Association’s Aerospace Advisory Board. In 2019, she was the science communication outreach officer on the JOIDES Resolution Expedition 383 and spent 2-months at sea with researchers investigating the Dynamics of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. She also participated in the 2-week faculty development seminar Exploring Urban Sustainability in India. She was a 2017 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Teacher at Sea, a 2016 Astronomy in Chile Educator Ambassador (ACEAP), and a 2014 PolarTREC Teacher investigating climate change in Barrow, Alaska. She is a Major in the Civil Air Patrol and serves as a member of the Arizona Wing Aerospace Education Officer. She was recently selected as an Explorer’s Club 50: Fifty People Changing the World.

Dr. Proctor spent 21 years as a professor teaching geology, sustainability, and planetary science at South Mountain Community College, Phoenix, Arizona. She is currently the Open Educations Resource Coordinator for the Maricopa Community College District. She has a B.S. in Environmental Science, an M.S. in Geology, and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction: Science Education. She recently finished a sabbatical at Arizona State University’s Center for Education Through Exploration creating virtual field trips. She did her 2012-13 sabbatical at the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Emergency Management Institute developing their science of disasters curriculum. She has appeared in multiple international science shows and is currently on A World Without NASA and Strange Evidence. You can follow her on social media @DrSianProctor or visit her website: www.drsianproctor.com.

Katya Echazarreta was born in Mexico and moved to the US when she was about 8 years old. She enrolled in San Diego City College to study Electrical Engineering despite various financial setbacks. Eventually , she transferred to UCLA and obtained a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. She interned at NASA JPL and eventually transitioned to a full-time engineering position and worked on 5 NASA missions including Perseverance and Europa Clipper. She has received an Honorary Doctorate for her humanitarian contributions to society as well as her contributions to technology. On June 4th, 2022, she became the first Mexican-born Woman in Space after being selected by Space for Humanity for a mission to analyze the "Overview Effect".

Gernot Groemer is the Director of the Austrian Space Forum. He holds a PhD in exploration astrobiology from the University of Innsbruck, and is an alumnus of the International Space University. He serves in various scientific advisory boards and has been teaching since 20 years (human) spaceflight and astrobiology at universities. So far, Dr. Groemer managed 13 Mars expedition simulations, including e.g. to the Dhofar desert in Oman, the Northern Sahara, Utah or the Israeli Negev desert and leads the development of the experimental spacesuit simulator Aouda. He currently logs 114 simulated EVA hours and parabolic flights and manages the AMADEE Mars analog program of the Austrian Space Forum.

Dr. Shannon Rupert is an ecologist and educator with more than two decades of experience in Mars analog research. Formerly director of the Mars Desert Research Station, she currently serves as Senior Director of Analog Research for The Mars Society. She is an expert in planetary mission simulations and field exploration. Her research interests include microbial ecology of planetary analogs, the biological diversity of the MDRS area and communication and collaboration of distributed science teams. She is a collaborator on many science investigations and space analog programs around the world.

Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides is a Founder Astronaut at Virgin Galactic, mother of two, and wife to George T. Whitesides, former CEO of Virgin Galactic. She is the author of The New Right Stuff: Using Space to Bring out the Best in You. Loretta studied astrobiology at Stanford and Caltech, did research on plant life in the Canadian Arctic with NASA, dove to the bottom of the ocean with Titanic Director James Cameron to film Aliens of the Deep, and has floated weightless hundreds of times as a Flight Director for Zero Gravity Corporation. She and her husband are the Co-Creators of Yuri's Night, the annual Worldwide Space Party celebrating the dual Russian and U.S. space anniversaries on April 12. She also helped found the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC). Her New Right Stuff training program, that she led at Virgin Galactic for five years, evolved into SpaceKind Training during Covid, with over 300 people having gone through the course since May 2022 (Including Sian, Jas and many in the analog astronaut community)

Kai Staats, MSc is an entrepreneur, award winning filmmaker, and researcher in the space sciences. At Northwestern University Kai worked in machine learning applied to data analysis at LIGO, the gravitational wave observatory. At Arizona State University, School of Earth and Space Exploration Kai developed SIMOC, an agent-based model with educational interface for a human habit on Mars, hosted by National Geographic since 2020. At the University of Arizona Biosphere 2, Kai's team is constructing a Space Analog for the Moon and Mars (SAM), a hi-fidelity, hermetically sealed analog complete with greenhouse, living quarters, airlocks, use of pressure suits, and a half acre Mars yard. Kai attended the Mars Desert Research station with crew #134 in '14, attended the International Space University SSP '17, and in 2019 he completed construction of Tanzania's first research-grade astronomical observatory with Astronomers Without Borders.

Dr. Claire Nelson is Chief Ideation Leader of The Futures Forum, a research and education practice specializing in bringing the power of strategic foresight and the discipline of sustainability engineering to challenges facing organizations and communities.

The Convenor of Space Futures Forum and Caribbean Space Society, her advisory roles include: Engineering For One Planet, Morgan State University Space Lab, Space for Humanity Inclusion Council, and Omarichet, a space start-up in Kenya. She serves on the Board of the World Futures Studies Federation and Editor-At-Large of their HUMAN FUTURES Magazine.

An award-winning playwright, her recent book ‘SMART Futures for a Flourishing World: A Paradigm for Achieving Global Sustainability’, articulates a framework for sustainable design, while her solo-storytelling show ‘Moon Runnings’, illuminates visions of life on the Moon and space exploration in service of all humanity.

Before establishing The Futures Forum, Dr. Nelson conjured change at the Inter-American Development Bank over a thirty-year career, pioneering the Bank’s development with equity agenda, and strategic foresight as a tool for engendering development effectiveness. As result of her leadership, the Bank honored her with its coveted Ortiz Mena Award.

Dr. Nelson is recognized as the Architect of the Campaign for National Caribbean American Heritage Month, and a visionary community leader through her role as Founding President of the Institute of Caribbean Studies. She holds a Doctorate in Engineering Management from the George Washington University. Dr. Nelson, honored as a White House Champion of Change, was named among the Top 50 Female Futurists on Forbes.com.

Emily Peyser is a Patent Attorney practicing in intellectual property (IP) law at the firm of Polsinelli PC. Emily partners with clients to develop IP management strategies (such as patent strategy and portfolio planning) that are specifically designed to advance their unique business missions. Emily is passionate about engineering advancements that make our world a better place. She speak regularly on the topic of the importance of diversity in innovation: bringing diverse voices to the table to help reduce the blind spots in technology development that can have long-term effects on our society.

I am an architect and town and regional designer whose primary area of interest and expertise is sustainable community development.

I was born in Danville, Illinois and attended high school there before going to Swarthmore College for two years, after which I transferred into the architectural school of the Univ. of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, Ill. Then, after spending a year at Frank Lloyd Wright’s school at Taliesin, (in both Arizona and Wisconsin), I finished my BA in Architectural Design at the University of Oklahoma (1963). The next two years I spent in the Univ. of Okla. graduate school of Town and Regional Planning. In 1998, I received a PhD in Sustainable Architecture & Town Planning from the San Francisco Institute of Architecture. I have created sustainable-design educational programs in architecture and community planning in the USA, Portugal, and France, and have lectured widely in the US and abroad on these subjects. The credit for my broad education based in practical application and physical work, must be given to the intentional community that I lived in for 20 years, wherein we worked on different ecological projects around the world. (1970-1991) My work with them took me to projects in Nepal, India, Australia, France, England, and Puerto Rico. We also designed and built a ferro- cement ship, the Research Vessel Heraclitus, on which I sailed for three years; two years as Liaison Officer, and one year as Sailing Captain. Due to this nomadic life-style, I’ve worked to some extent in over 50 countries.

There have been several key, pivotal points in my life,:
Born 1934, and reared in the US Midwest (Illinois and Indiana)
Exposed to the Great Depression and World War 2
Architecture and planning education. (Official academic, 1954-1965)
A student at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin schools, while he was living (1955-56)
Working 20 yrs. in a small, tightly-integrated team of creative people 1970- 1991) Participating in theater productions at our 11 projects during those 20 years.
Being a cowboy in Australia (1977)
With Bruce Goff, team-teaching architectural design (Univ. of Oklahoma, 1981)
|Helping design and build an 85 ft. ferro-cement ship, The Research Vessel (RV) Heraclitus (1973-75), and sailing on her for 2 1/2 yrs. across the Indian Ocean (1978), the and Pacific Ocean (1982-1984)
Architect/ General contractor, Llano project; 32 adobe homes, Santa Fe, NM (1974-80)
Walking alone, 500 miles across uninhabited No. Western Australia (1981)
Shipwrecked for nine months in Western Samoa (1983-4)
Sailing the damaged and sinking ship for 35 days, Western Samoa to Vanuatu (1984)
Architect-of-Record, for the Biosphere 2 project, Oracle, AZ (1985-1992)
Teaching/ mentoring “green” architecture and ecological town-design systems (1994-2015)
Designing an EcoVillage for 5,000 population, near Amarillo, TX (2005- 2008)
Learning TM, teaching at MIU, and the Eutopia Park project (2017; 2018;2020)
Writing a book, “EcoVillage Design-Build Handbook: Creating Sustainable Human-Ecosystems”(2001 to present)

Sabrina Thompson is the CEO and Founder of GIRL IN SPACE CLUB, as well as a NASA Aerospace Engineer. At NASA, she designs orbits and trajectories, similar to the legendary Katherine Johnson. In addition to being a CEO and Astrodynamicist, she is also an Atmospheric Physicist. Sabrina has received numerous awards and recognition for her work, including a U.S. Patent for a miniaturized astrometric alignment sensor for distributed and non-distributed guidance, navigation, and control systems. She considers herself an “Artsy” engineer.

She is passionate about innovation, space exploration, and having a positive impact on society. In 2018, she founded LAUNCHPAD, which later became GIRL IN SPACE CLUB, and the STEMulating Art® program to engage youth, especially girls, in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) via art and fashion. Through space-focused art, a sci-fi book series, a unique fashion line, and their signature STEM educational program, GIRL IN SPACE CLUB is paying attention to the needs of women in space travel and inspiring the next generation of female innovators.

In 2022, Thompson raised over $80K via crowdfunding on Kickstarter in an effort to bring to life the first women's space travel suit. Sabrina Thompson and her brand GIRL IN SPACE CLUB are currently developing women's flight suits, as well as a prototype pressurized space suit for female astronauts to wear during training activities and en route to space. The space suit design could potentially be modified to be customized for the launch and entry requirements of companies in the private sector of aerospace. Still in the research and design phase, she aims to create something stylish, functional, and for the female form.

Sara Sabry is a mechanical and biomedical engineer, and is the first female Egyptian Analog Astronaut. She is the founder and executive director of Deep Space Initiative, a non-profit company that aims to break borders by making Space research more accessible.

Some of her ongoing projects include: a review of technological advancements in Environmental Control and Life Support Systems, understanding the cardiovascular system in space using computational methods, neurofeedback experiences to increase human adaptation during long duration space missions, and plans to use simulated Martian conditions for testing of ECLSS with Mars University.

She is helping found the Space Ambassadorship Program for the Egyptian Space Agency and is the first EgSA Space Ambassador candidate. She is the team lead for the LCE Transportation on the Moon group within the Moon Village Association, a member of the SGAC Space Medicine and Life Sciences group, a PoliSpace external advisor, an independent researcher with Biofrequency Analytics, and a researcher and upcoming teaching associate at Mars University.

She plans to pursue her PhD in Bioastronautics and ECLSS, and hopes to work on designing a hybrid spacesuit, while potentially integrating the oxygen produced by MOXIE on Mars.

Prior to her work in the Space industry, Sara was a Yoga instructor and Crossfit coach. In 2016 she traveled around Africa volunteering in different schools and organizations, including a Women Empowerment Center in Uganda. She is extremely passionate about our oceans and spent 6 weeks in Madagascar as a marine conservationist.

Ashley Kowalski recently served as the Flight Engineer for the SIRIUS-21 (Scientific International Research In a Unique terrestrial Station) mission, which was an 8-month, long-duration isolation and confinement spaceflight analog mission held in Moscow, Russia. It was a collaborative project between NASA Johnson Spaceflight Center’s Human Research Program and Russia’s Institute for Biomedical Problems (IBMP) meant to simulate and study the effects of isolation and confinement on human psychology, physiology, crew dynamics, crew autonomy, and the general behavioral health of the crewmembers living and working in this type of unique environment. In addition to these goals, the crewmembers also participated in many operational tasks. Currently, she is a Project Leader in The Aerospace Corporation’s International Partnerships Department, where she works with, represents, and provides technical support to the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command International Affairs (SSC/IA) office. Her responsibilities include developing collaborative opportunities, deepening interoperability, scalability, and resiliency, and integrating space enterprise assets with our allied partners in order to develop a coalition space enterprise through international partnerships. Through her numerous national and international assignments (Russia, China, and Germany), she has worked on topics related to international space systems, national security space systems, civil space systems, space policy, satellite industry analysis, and satellite manufacturing start-ups. She is proficient in Russian and German, and fluent in Polish.

Elliot is the founder of Spira, a company that creates carbon-negative materials from engineered algae grown by a global network of farms. He is a Kairos, Future Founders and Halcyon Fellow, holds a degree in biomedical engineering; previously started 7 companies, 2 nonprofits, studied synthetic biology for 12 years and worked for 5 years as a product consultant. He is incredibly motivated to solve physiological needs using simple biological design and enabling access to the tools of biotechnology. In his spare time he plays music, and participates in space analog missions while residing in Los Angeles.

Sandra Herrmann is a Marine Laboratory Specialist at the International Ocean Discovery Program and has more than eleven years of sea-going experience. She specializes in imaging systems and software testing and is responsible for educating a wide variety of scientists from all over the world on using automated tracks with CCD camera, light- and stereomicroscopes as well as scanning electron microscopes on the scientific drilling vessel JOIDES Resolution. During her time on shore, she helps develop new software as liaison between developers and the science community. Sandra earned her Master’s in Earth Sciences from the Freiberg University of Mining and Technology, Germany, and a PhD in geology and micropaleontology from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology,Switzerland. In her free time, Sandra likes to fly complex and high-performance airplanes. She is an instrument-rated private pilot with the aspiration to fly multi-engine airplanes in the future. She likes trail running and hiking with her husband and enjoys capturing her travels in photographs.

Melodie Yashar is the Director of Building Design & Performance at ICON, a construction technologies company focused on large scale additive manufacturing for Earth and in space. Melodie oversees the architectural direction of ICON’s built work as well as the performance of ICON’s building systems to deliver optimally-performing structures that shift the paradigm of homebuilding on Earth and beyond. Collaborating across technology and construction teams, her department supports design and construction of dignified and resilient terrestrial housing solutions in addition to supporting the development of ICON’s off-world construction systems.

Melodie teaches undergraduate and graduate design studios at Art Center College of Design. In previous roles Melodie was a Senior Research Associate with the Human Systems Integration Division at NASA Ames via San Jose State University Research Foundation (SJSURF), a co-founder of Space Exploration Architecture (SEArch+), a research group developing human-supporting designs for space exploration, as well as a Professor within the Architecture department of Pratt Institute.

Melodie obtained a Master of Architecture from Columbia University and a Master of Human-Computer Interaction with an emphasis in Robotics from the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon. Melodie is of Iranian heritage and geeks out on new material & fabrication technologies. She likes tiny robots. She would like to visit the Moon (though not yet Mars) in her lifetime.

Prof. Dr Ir. Vladimir Pletser (PhD, MSc, MEng) is Director of Space Training Operations at Blue Abyss, a UK based company proposing a new approach to astronaut training.

From 2016 to 2018, he was Visiting Professor–Scientific Adviser at the Chinese Academy of Sciences Technology and Engineering Centre for Space Utilization, Beijing, China, supporting the preparation and development of microgravity research instrumentation for parabolic flights and the Chinese Space Station.

Previously, he worked for 30 years as Senior Physicist–Engineer at the European Space Research and Technology Centre of the European Space Agency (ESA), developing scientific instruments for microgravity research in fluid physics, crystallisation of proteins and zeolites and on dexterous manipulation on board the International Space Station.

He was also responsible for the ESA parabolic flight programme. He participated in several hundred experiments, logging more than 7350 parabolas, or 39h30m of 0g or 26 Earth orbits.

Astronaut Candidate for Belgium, he trained as Payload Specialist at NASA-JSC and participated in three Mars mission simulations in the Arctic Circle and the Utah Desert.

Visiting Professor in 20 universities in Europe, USA, Africa, Israel, China, he published 6 books, 17 book chapters, 65 articles in refereed journals and 148 articles in international conferences proceedings. He is Member of the International Astronautical Academy and of several other academies and scientific organizations.

Mounir Alafrangy is the commercial innovation manager and technology lead for the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory. Alafrangy manages the Technology Advancement and Applied Research Leveraging the ISS National Lab’s research announcement (NLRA) and conducts several public speaking engagements annually to provide updates on the scientific achievements created by the ISS.

With an MS in mechanical and aerospace engineering from The George Washington University (GWU), Alafrangy has more than 20 years of entrepreneurial experience spearheading several innovations from concept to prototype. He has provided project management in diverse fields, including mechanical and systems engineering, and has led prototype development.

In October 2019, Alafrangy successfully completed a 45-day confined space mission at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. He was one of four crew members, known as analog astronauts, who were selected from a large pool of applicants to be part of the Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) Mission XX. HERA is a ground-based analog used by NASA’s Human Research Program to study the effects of isolation and confinement on humans. The research being done there will help NASA better understand the hazards of human spaceflight as the agency prepares to send astronauts to the Moon and on to Mars and bring them home safely. During his analog mission to the Martian moon of Phobos, Alafrangy participated in activities similar to those performed on the International Space Station, such as simulated cargo transfers with the Canadarm, virtual spacewalks, lunar landing control, spaceship maintenance, and sample evaluation.

While completing his degree at GWU, Alafrangy’s research focused on creating mechanisms that will mitigate the physiological risks associated with long-duration space travel and improve human health on deep space missions.

Trevino finished a Master of Science in Space Studies with a concentration in Aerospace Science and an emphasis on Space Studies in August of 2021. He is the assistant manager of the American Public University Observatory and successfully defended his thesis on exoplanets. He is a part of a team in several studies, including a new study of Algae growth rates in high CO2 environments in synthetic Martian Regolith. He also is a Lead researcher in many studies, including a supernovae research group studying type SN1a supernovae; he is on a team developing predictive analytics satellite tracking software using MATLAB. In the past two years, he has focused on the propagation of algae for various studies. He recently received his AIAA certifications in Propulsion Engineering, Launch Vehicle Design, Habitat Architecture, and Astrodynamics.

Trevino presented his team’s work or spoke at several events over the past three years. His colleague presented their first paper at IAC in 2021, https://iafastro.directory/iac/browse/IAC-21/A1/IP/#paper.66531, then again at the International Conference on Environmental Controls, ICES, in June 2022;

He gave his and his colleagues' work on CyanoBacteria and Microalgae as a contributor to understanding Earth’s Magnetic Field. The paper covered the design and build of an experiment recreating the magnetic field and testing plants on how they propagate in a “Near-null” hypo magnetic field—conference paper link: https://hdl.handle.net/2346/89829.

He spoke additionally at the International Astronautical Conference in Paris in 2022, https://iafastro.directory/iac/archive/tree/IAC-22/A1/IP/IAC-22,A1,IP,34,x72660.brief.pdf again saying to the effects of the hypomagnetic field on humans and plants.

In October of 2021, Trevino talked at The Mars Society conference, discussing the methodologies of how Microalgae can be propagated in an analog environment during an 11-day analog at the University of North Dakota. The challenge here proved to be the revival of the microalgae and determining the best environment where microalgae will survive and thrive, growing multiple generations of the algae.

In October 2022, at The Mars Society Convention, Trevino again spoke on using pure dried microalgae, A. Plantensis, as a plant feedstock in a pilot study conducted during an analog mission in May 2022.

In 2020, and 2021, and again in 2022, he co-authored papers or presented at the Space Education and Strategic Applications conference. He has spoken at several conferences as a panelist as well.

Trevino is currently developing a satellite in cooperation with the Politechnical Institute in Milan, the capabilities of which contribute to Space Situational Awareness in the Geostationary and Lunar orbital environment. He is also studying the effects of electromagnetism on fluid shifts and fluid imbalances in the human body during long-duration spaceflight.

Rodrigo Carvalho Santiago is Director co-chair for Space for All Nations at IIAS (International Institute for Astronautical Sciences) to promote and foster the accessibility of space through partnerships with governments, companies and institutions offering the development of technologies, research and solutions for space exploration; as well as to create opportunities for space research flights, bringing solutions to our daily life on Earth and creating a hub for integration of the global sustainable scientific community.

He is director of the Artificial Intelligence Community at UoPeople in California with work focused on Artificial Intelligence for autonomous driving and navigation of air, sea, and land vehicles. Creator and Project Director of the NMSS-1 - NATIONAL MANNED STRATOSPHERIC STATION - The project involves the construction and operation of the NMSS-1 (National Manned Stratosphere Station), which can accommodate 6 to 8 crew members. The station will conduct research and experiments near the lower mesosphere for up to 5 days at the edge of space.

Founder of one of the largest metaverse development teams sponsored by META/Unity and focused on web 3.0 and Industry 4.0 integration applications in the XR universe. He was one of the chosen for the development of applications for META QUEST 2 focused essentially on photo realistic simulations of Space, Lunar and Martian missions, where through his long experience as analog astronaut he can contribute to the reduction of errors and costs in space missions.

He was also a MIT/NASA researcher - T.E.S.S (transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) DTA ANALYSES TESS GI a program led by Padi Boyd at Goddard Space Flight center NASA and Rodrigo also joined a team to provide solutions for NASA Human Land System project for the new generation of toilets in lunar, martian and orbital environments.

During quarantine he was part of the Folding at Home team creating the infrastructure to create a supercomputer through peer-to-peer networking. In March 2020, the network had a more powerful processing volume and speed than the world’s top 7 supercomputers combined.

Member of the Space Force Association in Houston promoting the integration of private aerospace companies with SPACE FORCE. Member of AIAA - American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Member of APS - American Physical Society. He has several papers published and is listed in Scientific Index as one of the leading scientists and researchers in the USA in the engineering field.

Flight Test Pilot with 840hrs experience in 19 different aircraft types and over 350 hours in the Orion, Dragon and Soyuz capsule simulator, as well as 72 hours in the CSA CANADARM simulation.

He has written several papers on quantum computing, MetaVerse, aerospace engineering, psychology in space, space research flights, flight safety, launch rescue, social inclusion, global action solution development and international education. He is mentor in several areas of knowledge for all ages, having helped and guided more than a hundred people around the world.

Salam is a mechanical engineer with a specialty in spacesuit design. She is a recent graduate of Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) with a Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering. As part of her senior design project, Salam designed her first spacesuit which included an innovative sustainable cooling system with multi-layers made out of composite materials that cover and cool the entire body. In addition, she has designed EVA suits for a lunar analog space mission. These suits were designed to be flexible, easy-to-use, and also included a cooling system to protect astronauts from overheating.

Upon graduating from university, Salam has designed other spacesuits and components including the inner structure of the upper torso, an anti-fogging system to prevent fog build-up on the astronaut helmet visor, and addressed mobility issues by adding working bearing at the shoulders, elbows, and waist to ensure equal pressure distribution inside the spacesuit. Salam is very passionate about space exploration and has aspirations of becoming an astronaut.

For two decades, John Adams has helped drive the evolution of Biosphere 2 through positions of progressive responsibility and oversight. Starting in 1995, after receiving his BS in Wildlife and Fishery Science at the University of Arizona and working on various biology research initiatives in Southern Arizona, Adams became Senior Research Specialist at Biosphere 2, leading the terrestrial research initiatives exploring the effect of elevated CO2 on the complex mesocosms of Biosphere 2. Building on his deep knowledge of the facility and its science, Adams became Biosphere 2’s Media Coordinator and Public Spokesperson at Columbia University in 1999, fielding B2 inquiries from around the world, building public understanding of the University’s groundbreaking earth systems science research and developing its K-12 education programs.

In 2014, Adams advanced to his current leadership role of Biosphere 2 Deputy Director. In part, the promotion marked a return to his roots, engaging as a key member of the team that plans and directs all research and related activities inside Biosphere 2 and the surrounding campus. Beyond research, however, as Deputy Director Adams also holds responsibility for planning and direction of site operations and Under the Glass activities, serving as B2’s primary spokesperson and media contact, overseeing biome management, energy management and facilities maintenance and setting the vision for public outreach.

Trent Tresch works in bridging the gap between traditional aerospace and new-space innovation. Starting his career in aeronautics with ASET Dive into Space, he developed underwater Neutral Buoyancy education programs. While working on more in depth commercial astronautics trainings he began to build the next generation of accessible pressure suits and life support systems with Smith Aerospace Garments. These endeavors further led him to high altitude manned balloon flight tests and oversight of pressure suit operations. He has since co-authored and published in Purdue’s peer review journal, Human Performance in Extreme Environments and presented on numerous occasions regarding low cost life support systems for exploration and training. He currently resides at Biosphere 2 where he is co-developing the worlds highest fidelity hermetically sealed research habitat, SAM (Space Analog for the Moon and Mars), at the University of Arizona’s Biosphere 2. Trent has been a board member of the Caelus Foundation since the beginning of 2020.

Prior to her position at Curriculum Associates, Liz was a math and science teacher in Seattle and Kansas, and a past Vice President for the Kansas Association of Teachers of Mathematics. As a K-12 math curriculum coordinator for Wichita Public Schools she developed math training “clinics” for teachers for the college/career-ready standards, which developed into a state-wide training program through the Kansas State Department of Education. Her specialty is helping K-12 math educators interpret the coherence in the standards through interactive clinics using models, tools and manipulatives. She is a frequent presenter at NCTM, and was published in NCTM mathematics journal Mathematics Teacher: Learning and Teaching PreK-12, in February 2022.

Stephen A. Daire is an Eagle Scout, OA Vigil Honor, Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity brother, full cave diver, scientific diver, NAUI scuba instructor, Explorer’s Club member, CONFERS collaborating member, and owner of Protean Industries. He holds a BSc in Evolutionary Anthropology from Rutgers University, an MSc in Geographic Information Science & Technology from the University of Southern California, and is completing an MSc in Systems Engineering with Johns Hopkins University. Stephen’s work focuses on aerospace and ocean systems engineering for underwater exploration, surveying, and planetary sciences using VR, robotics, 3D printing, and machine learning.

He has eight years of management experience in remote sensing, robotics, surveying, mapping, and excavating with groups around the world. Stephen is the HMS Agamemnon shipwreck co-director for the National Geographic Society and has produced 3D models of the ships remains. Stephen is the robotics and 3D mapping advisor for a US Navy History and Heritage Command shipwreck in the Potomac River. Stephen conducted coral reef microplastic laser scanning & tagging H. griseus sharks for the Explorer’s Club Expedition #211 in Roatan, Honduras. The project identified ocean plastic hotspots related to the Honduras gyre at -2000 feet sea level via submersible.

Stephen is the Communications Co-Chair of The Consortium for Execution of Rendezvous and Servicing Operations (CONFERS). CONFERS is a DARPA seed-funded industry-led initiative leveraging best practices to research, develop, and publish non-binding, consensus-derived standards for satellite on-orbit services (OOS) and rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO). Stephen has been working on ISO and AIAA standards for OOS and RPO with CONFERS for the past 4 years. Stephen has worked with the Canadian Space Agency on microgravity and gravity offset experiments on laser scanning and space debris removal via lasers.

Stephen’s research aims to use technical scuba diving and cave diving astronaut analogs to elucidate questions in remote sensing, planetary science, human evolution, and bioastronautics for human exploration and development of outer space.

Rachna Nath is a TIME recognized innovator and Fulbright fellow who is also an entrepreneur, NASA solar system Ambassador, National Geographic Educator, grant writer and a STEAM enthusiast. She is also the coauthor of the SDG4 Corporate handbook set forward by the United Nations to be released in 2030. She has two Master’s degrees, one in Entomology (Insect Science) and the second one in Biology (Developmental Genetics) from Arizona State University working with Honey Bee Exocrine gland ontology. She also has over 15 years of experience in working with Innovation and K-12 education.

Her accolades are innumerable but to mention a few, she is the Michael A Cusanovich Bioscience Educator, Teacher of the Year by JSHS (sponsored by the US armed forces), Governors Celebration of Innovation Educator, Global Innovation Award winner for her DRIPBL methodology from TURNITIN, Honorable Mention for the Presidential Innovation Award for Environment Educators in the United States, two Excite Awards from Lemelson-MIT foundation to mention a few. She has also been invited to join the “Imaginary College” as an honorary member (Center for Science and Imagination) at ASU along with world renowned elite Philosophers like Margaret Atwood, Paolo Bacigalupi and many more.

She has been featured as one of the fifty 2021 Women in MILLION STEM, Entrepreneur Magazine, “Chandler Lifestyle 2020 Women of Chandler” recognized at the “Women in Leadership Conference” by the Chandler Chamber of Commerce, Phoenix Arizona. Some other features are in Thrive Global, Authority Magazine as Inspirational Women in STEM. She has also received grants from Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, Healthy Urban Environments, FLINN foundation, NSF, Department of Defense, Arizona Recycling Coalition, Society for Science and the Public, Chandler Education Foundation and the list goes on.

Her entrepreneurship ventures, through her program DRIPBL™ (Dream Research Innovate Problem/Project Based Learning) has led her to open up many companies with her students. One of the most prominent one is www.oxiblast.in which is a three generation women entrepreneurship. Her 17 year old daughter and 15 year old son are both #1international best sellers and well recognized musicians as well.

She works with young entrepreneurs to make their dreams come true by working with the community partners and helping patent their ideas. Rachna has a network of trusted IT professionals, lawyers, community helpers who help bring dreams to reality for 9th to 12th grade students who are invested in critical thinking, problem solving and giving back to the community by solving real world problems. She has 3 patents pending from such students in various prototypes from Anti-VOC scent bags to Heat stress monitoring devices. Rachna also does a lot of volunteering work talking about honey bees at various festivals, has contributed her time in mask making during the COVID19 pandemic and also runs a dance school “Sangeeta Nritya Academy” in US which she has dedicated to her Guru Sangita Hazarika in Assam, India. She is a force to be reckoned with and she is not stopping anytime soon.

Karolina Rivera-Osorio, is a Space Psychologist and aspiring astronaut interning at NASA Headquarters, Planetary Science Division, supporting The Venus New Exploration Era as a researcher.

While working for NASA, she has served as a human factors engineer in projects creating the first Lunar Transport Module for Incapacitated Astronauts for Johnson Space Center, Intern Enrichment Coordinator, NSPIRES, and The Mars Sample Return Mission at Headquarters.

She is passionate about growing crops within a controlled environment and understanding how it impacts the mind in confined spaces, such as the Antarctic or the ISS. She participated in a recent study, “Out-of-this-World Salad for Astronauts,” as she spends her time growing microgreens and hydroponics, focusing on the human senses for psychological health research.

In her free time, she trains as a Dive Master and flies her Piper Cherokee aircraft. As a speaker, she inspires the youth to always aim higher.

Guided by her mentors and in remembrance of her musically-talented friend, Mr. Jerry Woodfill, she emphasizes his Apollo Oath to everyone— “Failure is NOT an Option.”

Don Balanzat was a physical scientist and educator for 10 years across two large state universities where he developed demonstrations to bring STEM instruction to life, impacting tens of thousands of students at both the K-12 and college levels as well as dozens of professional organizations. He has a B.S. in Physics from Rutgers University and an MNS from Arizona State University where he focused on extended reality (XR) for learning and visualization. He has worked with several labs at ASU and NASA as a researcher and developer of scientific XR experiences, including METEOR Studio, NASA-GSFC's AR/VR Laboratory, Dreamscape Learn, and the Embodied Games Lab. He is trained in experimental design, cognitive psychology, learning science, and software engineering for dynamic runtime engines.

He now works at Blue Origin where he develops XR applications to support the gamut of spaceflight operations including design/manufacturing, human factors reviews, astronaut/ground support training, sales/customer experiences. He is also pursuing an M.S. in Human Factors at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Additionally, he remains active in the science outreach community, hosting workshops and giving talks cutting-edge science and technology to schools in the Phoenix area ."

Aquanaut, scuba diving instructor, an expert in hyperbaric medicine and diving physiology with more than 20 years of experience in conducting research underwater and citizen science, mostly in extreme and remote areas, including polar regions. Owner of the Mironaut diving school and research manager of the Hydronaut project.

Thorsten is an exuberant explorer, a fervent space enthusiast, an ardent PADI advanced open water diver, and a devoted Mars Society ambassador. As a prospective analog astronaut and graduate student in geosciences and space studies with a strong interest in space exploration, he displays an avid passion and intrinsic drive for remote sensing, planetary science, and exploring terrestrial and extraterrestrial environments, curiously looking beyond the horizon and delving into the unknown. His primary focus is on Mars with the goal of making life multiplanetary, colonizing the Red Planet, and improving life on Earth and beyond.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Geosciences and a “Certificate of International Competence” from the University of Bonn, Germany; one graduate certificate in “Mars Settlement and Exploration” from Mars University (MarsU) of the inaugural program and founding class of August 2021; and one graduate certificate in “Mars Science and Engineering” from the inaugural and founding class in August 2022 with MarsU, International Space University, and Instituto Superior Técnico Engineering.

Thorsten analyzes datasets of space and planetary science projects on the world´s largest and most popular platform for people-powered research (Zooniverse), with over half a million classifications as a citizen scientist and virtual volunteer. As a result, he contributed to the recovery of a known trans-Neptunian object for the Catalina Outer Solar System Survey, and was mentioned multiple times by the Gravity Spy project for classifying and identifying glitch varieties to aid machine learning for LIGO, the gravitational wave observatory. Moreover, he assisted in discovering two active asteroids in 2022 and a new planetary system with TESS. He is a co-author of the paper “TOI-4562 b: A highly eccentric temperate Jupiter analog orbiting a young field star.”

He penned a paper about the “Evolution of Martian Exploration” and authored “Evolution of Space Exploration.”

One of his ongoing projects includes the future implementation of the enigmatic Audio-Visual Entrainment Technology in analog missions and space environments.

After a one-year Working Holiday and International Experience Canada, he is dedicated to exploring nature and the underwater world. He volunteered for nature conservation projects in the Dutch Caribbean in 2021 and Iceland in 2022. In 2023, he interned for a marine science, research, education, and conservation diving project in Koh Phangan, Thailand. He aims at bridging sustainability and reusability with extraterrestrial exploration.

Thorsten witnessed his first rocket launch with Artemis 1 in person. He aspires to become an analog astronaut with the ultimate goal of flying into space. He firmly believes that we will achieve a more peaceful and sustainable home planet if we finally embark into space.

He is a member of The Mars Society, The Planetary Society, International Dark-Sky Association, and the National Space Society.

Beyond being a lifelong Star Trek buff, his interests further include reading science and science-fiction; astronomy and cosmology; astro and nature photography and videography; wholesome diet, living and sustainability; biofeedback, meditation, and mindfulness; and chess. Additionally, he advocates for blockchain technology to push the boundaries and advance humanity to a better tomorrow.

Britt is the first space urban planner as well as founder and CEO of Celestial Citizen, a space urban planning company that is on a mission to build sustainable space communities by bringing together people, systems, and technology. Celestial Citizen seeks to improve humanity's collective space future by integrating mission operations, technology, infrastructure planning, architecture and city design - while engaging the public at every step of the process.

As part of Celestial Citizen’s public outreach effort, Britt hosts the widely-regarded Celestial Citizen Podcast, now in its fourth season, where she looks to spark unique conversations about the human factors and technology that will be essential to our long-term survival and evolution into a spacefaring civilization. She also has built a rapidly-growing social media community platform that has nearly 100,000 followers on Instagram. Britt is also the creator and editor of Continuum newsletter, which is a bi-weekly publication that aims to bring space news to everyone.

Prior to Celestial Citizen, Britt worked in asset management and real estate development before focusing full-time on her desire to help plan and build the first cities on the Moon and Mars.

Britt is a graduate of the University of Southern California’s Price School of Public Policy with a Master of Urban Planning degree. She also holds a Master of Science degree in Space Resources from the Colorado School of Mines. Britt graduated from the MIT-Wellesley Double Degree program where she received the S.B. in Urban Studies & Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a B.A. from Wellesley College in Architecture. She lives in Pasadena with her partner and four young children.

Lee is an artist, cyborg, and educator currently based in Canada. They hold a bachelors from Concordia University, a masters from OCAD University, and is currently finishing a PhD at the University of Toronto. Lee's research explores the intersection and tensions between bodies and technology through e-textiles and outer space exploration. Lee is the Summit Chair and board member at the Open Source hardware Association, co-executive director at Little Dada, and board member at Ada-X. In the past, lee co-organized events like Make Change Conference, Long Exposure Festival, Stupid Shit Hackathon Toronto, Defcon Biohacking Village, and was director at Site 3 coLaboratory. lee is a part time faculty member at OCAD University, Toronto Metropolitan University, and Concordia University where they teach electronics, programming, and wearable tech, and teach classes at places like inter/access and School of Machines, Making, and Make believe.

Donald served 5 years in the USAF, has been an electrician, dance instructor, computer programmer, handyman, and entrepreneur. He began his research in aquaponics in 2010, Published The Homestead Project in 2011. He developed the Technology Integration Prototype Tiny Home in 2014, and published EarthSeed: Settling Space In This Generation in 2015. He founded EarthSeed Inc, in 2016, and received IRS 501(c)3 status in 2018. In 2017 he began construction of the Mobile Analog Space Habitat, to showcase the integrated Biological Life Support system. He has made presentations at Mars Society, New Worlds Conference, and first toured the country with the M.A.S.H. in 2022. This year he is integrating 2 new species into the system.

Steven Barber is an award winning filmmaker based in Santa Monica California and has produced 10 feature documentaries that have all sold to Netflix, Hulu, HBO A&E, and many more. Mr. Barber was able to vision the monuments to the greatest story in the history of the world the Apollo 11 monument which is now at the Kennedy space, Center and the Apollo 13 monument which is at the Johnson Space flight Center and Mr. Barber just finished

The monument to Sally Ride, the first American woman in space and the first LBGQT female NASA monument in history and now Mr. Barbara is building a second Sally Ride monument and will unveil on July 4 in front of 5000 people at the Ronald Reagan presidential library. Mr. Barber is now on a mission to shine the light and even more American exceptionalism by putting together and building the first African-American astronaut monument in history, Guy Bluiford and the first female African American monument in history Mae Jemison. Mr. Barbour also continues to make documentaries and he’s working on a holocaust film now called into the light about a Holocaust survivor that survive seven Nazi death camps with a pencil as an artist. Mr. Barbara was also able to send a US flag to the international space station signed by 400 children from the Sally Ride school and we were able to get an astronaut to do a shout out to the Sally Ride school from 300 miles above the Earth, and the flag will be returned to the children in early summer. Stephen Barbour is the leader in Noble and patriotic documentaries along with Astronaut monuments at the highest level that over 5 million people a year are being inspired by

DisasterNaut/ Co-Founder Field Ready

Dara Dotz dubbed the “MacGyver of Warzones” by Fast Company, is a pioneer in 3D printing in austere environments. Dara combines her design strategy experience and rapid ethnographic assessment skills to empower others through technology. Co-founding Field Ready, an NGO focused on manufacturing humanitarian supplies, has already brought 3D printers to make essential medical supplies, replacement parts, and more in multiple countries, while simultaneously training locals. Dara worked as Human Factors Lead for Made In Space, Inc., a company that built the first gravity-independent 3D printer for the International Space Station. She has lectured at TED, the UN, and more about the potential of technology applied effectively to address human needs in remote and extreme environments. She has received numerous accolades for her creative applications of technology, leading her to recognition by the Obama Administration as a “Champion of Change.” When not in the field, she studies MMA and medicine for remote environments.

Sean Gellenbeck is currently a Ph.D. Candidate in Biosystems Engineering and is researching integrated bioregenerative life support systems for human space travel. He holds a BS in Aerospace Engineering and an MS in Systems Engineering all from the University of Arizona. He has worked for Paragon Space Development Corporation as a test engineer and on the NASA OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission in systems engineering. He has been part of missions at MDRS and Hi-SEAS and is helping to build and advance the SAM project at Biosphere 2.

From international gaming phenomena to game-changing initiatives, Dutch-born entrepreneur and innovator Henk Rogers continues to pave the way in regenerating our home planet and working toward establishing settlements on the Moon and Mars.

Starting his career in computer gaming more than three decades ago, Rogers revolutionized the industry by creating Japan’s first Role-Playing Game (RPG) and later bringing the legendary game Tetris, to the world.

Since then, Rogers has dedicated his career to research, development, advocacy and implementation of renewable energy sources in his adopted home of Hawaii, starting Blue Planet Foundation, Blue Planet Energy and most recently Blue Planet Alliance.

In an effort to expand life beyond Earth, to the Moon and Mars, Rogers established the International MoonBase Alliance (IMA) with leaders in space exploration across private-public and academic sectors. IMA manages HI-SEAS, a Moon-Mars habitat on Mauna Loa used by NASA for five years of Mars missions, creating business opportunities in Hawaii, while advancing space settlement efforts.

Rogers serves on the National Space Society Board of Governors.

MaryLiz is a creative storyteller, speaker, musician, filmmaker, explorer, analog astronaut, and technologist. She’s on a mission to inspire hope, elevate empathy, and unite through experiences of awe and wonder.

As Co-founder and Creative Director of Cosmic Perspective, MaryLiz has been documenting this new era of space exploration with her partner, Ryan Chylinski, through their films, VR experiences, and multimedia shows. They are driven and reverent for this work: To inspire hope and excitement for the future, unify the world through awe and wonder, and to archive for history what it is like to live in this time as humanity takes its first steps towards immortality into the stars.

As a musician and technologist, MaryLiz is deeply inspired to answer the question, “How will we take our humanity with us to the stars?” She is researching and experimenting with new tools of creation that aim to answer that question. In the last decade, she's produced albums and toured the U.S. several times over, feeding her passion for multimedia stage production as a powerful form of transformative storytelling.

MaryLiz is currently touring the world with her live performance show designed to “bring the Overview Effect down to Earth”. The show, Our Humanity in the Stars, is an awe-inspiring multimedia presentation that lifts audiences to space to gift them the astronaut’s perspective of our fragile oasis, and inspires them to consider how we will take our humanity with us into the stars.

Barbara Belvisi is an entrepreneur passionate about space, hardware, biology and AI. She started her career in finance: from Private Equity to Venture Capital, to work closer with entrepreneurs. After investing and acting as CFO for several hardware startups, she cofounded Hardware Club (now HCVC) to invest and support "those who build the world". She also participated in the launch of several innovation programs like Hello Tomorrow. In 2017, she left her investor carrer and started learning engineering and architecture. Drove by her childhood passion for nature and space, she spent a year with NASA engineers prior to launching Interstellar Lab in 2018. The company focuses on preserving life on Earth and expanding it in space. To do so, they develop controlled-environment modules for sustainable farming on Earth and life-support in space. They work with large cosmetics, natural ingredients and food company to improve their supply chain. They also part of several space programs to grow food in space including NASA DSFC and ESA BSGN.

Barbara is Top 10 Women in Tech in France, Top 100 Forbes in Europe, Best Innovator 2022, Choiseul 100 in France, Prix Janus 2023, BOLD Award 2023.

Sands Fish is an Experience Designer at Blue Origin and the User Experience Lead for the Orbital Reef Space Station. He has a deep background in technology and is a founding member of the MIT Space Exploration Initiative where he helped teach MIT's Zero-G Class, created the Astronaut Ethnography project and flew numerous experiments on parabolic flights. He currently lives in Seattle, Washington.