About

Our Story

Founded in 2021 by a diverse group of scientists, artists, educators, and entrepreneurs, the Interstellar Foundation was inspired by NASA's Voyager Golden Record - a profound attempt to share humanity's story with the cosmos. The Golden Record, launched in 1977 aboard the Voyager spacecraft, contains sounds and images portraying life on Earth. It represents humanity's first deliberate message to the stars.

Building on this legacy, we believe that any new message to space should be created through an inclusive, collaborative process that captures the full spectrum of human experience. Our work combines cutting-edge technology with deep consideration of how to communicate across vast distances of space and time.

Learn More

Redirect

Our Mission

Design and send human-made artifacts into space that capture humanity's story
Create inclusive messages that represent Earth's diverse cultures and perspectives
Advance research in universal communication and archival methods
Inspire global dialogue about humanity's place in the cosmos
Support STEM education and space science literacy worldwide

Our first project - the ASPIRE One was successfully completed in 2024. We are currently working on our next steps that aim to further our understanding of universal communication, inclusion, representation in space messages, and education in underserved communities.

‍

Learn More

Our Mission

Our Approach

Universal - Designed to be understood across different cultures, times, and potentially species
Representative - Including diverse voices and perspectives from around the world
Enduring - Using advanced preservation techniques to ensure long-term survival
Ethical - Carefully considering the implications of sending messages into space
Educational - Creating opportunities for learning and inspiration

‍

Learn More

Our Members

Our work is guided by leading academics, scientists, artists, and thought leaders from institutions worldwide. We believe that the challenge of representing humanity to the cosmos requires bringing together the broadest possible range of human knowledge and creativity. Interstellar Foundation brings together experts from diverse fields including:

Astrophysics and Space Science
Data Sciences and Computing
Linguistics and Communication
Philosophy and Ethics
Art and Cultural Studies
Education and Public Engagement

Learn More

Redirect

Our Members

Executive Team

As the Executive Director of the Interstellar Foundation, my dual roles have honed my expertise in non-profit innovation & technology, ensuring that every initiative we undertake contributes positively to societal & planetary advancement.

Executive Team

Dr. Anamaria is a scientist who applies theories & methods from a variety of places ranging from Computational Social Sciences to Astrobiology. She holds a PhD in Economics & Computational Social Sciences, aiming to understand communication in biological & social networks..

Executive Team

Walter, GEN Lab Founder, has dedicated himself to saving lives, creating just economies, disrupting poverty & shaping the future through learning. He makes things too, like enterprises, vital networks of extraordinary thinkers, & unexpected predictions on emerging technologies.

Executive Team

Research Team

Karen is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Barnard College, Columbia University. Her work is mainly in the philosophy of language and philosophical linguistics. A common them in her research is the interaction between context and content.

Research Team

William founded Earth Tapestry, which seeks to identify & commemorate important earth locations. He is also Associate Dean for Diversity at Mellon College of Science, Science & Humanities Scholars Program Director, & Associate Teaching Professor of Chemistry, amongst things.

Research Team

Bettina is a Senior Lecturer in Applied Linguistics and English Language, & Course Leader for ARU's MA Intercultural Communication. Bettina's research looks at how language contributes to how we relate to people & interact with them.

Research Team

Dr. Arik Kershenbaum, zoologist & fellow at Girton College, Cambridge, specialises in animal communication & the evolution of language. Author of Why Animals Talk & The Zoologist's Guide to the Galaxy, his work bridges ecology, conservation, & astrobiology.

Research Team

UNESCO archivist in Paris. Dual masters from UBC. Researches archives, digitization, AI. Co-editor of "Recordkeeping in International Organizations." Conducts workshops for Magnum Photos, INA, and French Consulate in Jerusalem.

Research Team

Media Team

Head of Media at Interstellar Foundation, Animation & Film graduate at the University of Lower Silesia. Freelance designer crafting compelling works that bridge science, art & technology.

Media Team

Social Media Manager/Funding for Interstellar Foundation and 3D Renderer. Studied Journalism, Wellness Coaching, Montessori, Music, Interior Design, & Alternate Dispute Resolution (mediation novice).

Media Team

Video Editor and 3D Artist, an Animation & Film graduate from University of Lower Silesia passionate about space and 3D animation.

Media Team

Artists-in-Residence

An internationally acclaimed ultra-contemporary artist, designer & futurist, specializing in emerging & exponential technologies’ impact on humanity & the future.

Artist-in-Residence

Sami is the Founder of VNCCII. She is a futuristic multidisciplinary music artist, creative technologist, international keynote speaker, Metaverse/spatial computing content creator, live music performer, singer-songwriter/music producer & futurist.

Artist-in-Residence

Latest Articles

January 16, 2025

ASPIRE One Takes Flight

Interstellar Insider

January 15, 2025

ASPIRE One Launch Date Confirmed

Interstellar Insider

October 20, 2024

Interstellar Foundation Earns Silver Seal of Transparency

Interstellar Insider

Latest Episodes

Loading Video

Redirect

EMail Us

THANK YOU! We will contact you shortly.

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Connect

Thank you! Your submission has been received!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Your email address will only be utilized for the purpose of our newsletter. Opting out is effortless and free, and instructions can be found in our Privacy Policy.

Professor Abel Méndez is a planetary astrobiologist & Director, at the University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo. His research focuses on the habitability of potentially habitable exoplanets. Méndez is also a NASA MIRS Fellow with research experience at NASA, & the Arecibo Observat.

Interstellar Foundation

Dr. Aidyl Gonzalez-Serricchio is a distinguished scientist, educator, & advocate dedicated to advancing STEM education, research accessibility, & social justice.

Interstellar Foundation

Alastair is a full-time author of Science Fiction novels. Before being an author, he was a scientist, with his research area in astronomy & astrophysics.

Interstellar Foundation

Alexander is a professor of Music at Harvard University. As a music theorist & musicologist with a focus on intellectual history & media theory, known for innovative interdisciplinary work, his publications explore music in a wide range of contexts.

Interstellar Foundation

Alexis is a RFC Series Consulting Editor for the IETF. The RFC Series contains documents that define how the Internet functions. Alexis formerly directed media & access for the Internet Archive, successfully leading cross-functional teams in technology organizations for 25 years.

Interstellar Foundation

Dr. Alizé Carrère is a scientist & filmmaker researching & documenting human adaptations to climate change. Recently completing her PhD in Ecosystem Science & Policy, she examined the rise of “climatopias”, aspirational architecture & urban planning proposals for climate change.

Interstellar Foundation

Andrea is a poet & activist. Gibson's poetry focuses on gender norms, politics, social justice, & LGBTQ topics.

Interstellar Foundation

Andres is the Founder & CEO of UFacilitate, a leadership development, & facilitation training company. He is also the author of "Facilitating Leadership: A Quick & Easy Guide To Leading with Brain, Heart & Soul".

Interstellar Foundation

Andrew Kania is Professor of Philosophy at Trinity University in San Antonio. His principal research is in the philosophy of music, film, & literature. He is the author of Philosophy of Western Music: A Contemporary Introduction (Routledge, 2020).

Interstellar Foundation

PhD candidate in Anthropology at the University of Cape Town. His current PhD project is based on Mount Mabo, in central Mozambique, focusing on the changing relations between local communities& the mountain, which became popular in the media as “Google Forest”.

Interstellar Foundation

Anthony Clifford "A. C." Grayling is a British philosopher. In 2011, he founded & became the first Master of New College of the Humanities, an independent undergraduate college in London.

Interstellar Foundation

A documentary photographer, visual artist & filmmaker from Lagos, Nigeria. He documents & presents stories about his society & culture, to speak on the issues of social justice & cultural preservation of his community.

Interstellar Foundation

Antonio Stark is an international space strategy expert specializing in satellites, lunar missions, and space security and sustainability. Antonio currently works as Global Alliance Lead at ispace, inc. to support the next generation of missions to the lunar surface and orbit.

Interstellar Foundation

Ara started her journey at 10 with Project Moo, empowering 150+ farmers with sustainable practices. She’s since launched initiatives like URTravelearner & founded Aha! Project, which has supported 1,600+ kids in Indonesia with creative & quality education during the pandemic.

Interstellar Foundation

A physicist who works on astrophysics and cosmology, Loeb is the Frank B. Baird Jr. Professor of Science at Harvard University, where since 2007 he has been Director of the Institute for Theory & Computation at the Center for Astrophysics.

Interstellar Foundation

Bill has over 20+ years of experience in the photonic/optical communications industry, and a decade in X-ray and semiconductor processing technologies. From venture-backed start-ups to Fortune 100 multinationals, his roles ranged from engineering/operations to CEO positions.

Interstellar Foundation

A science studies scholar with a background in evolutionary biology, comparative literature, & ancient Greek epic poetry. His work focuses on the relationship between the Earth sciences, globalization, & collective identity.

Interstellar Foundation

Author of Beyond Contact: A Guide to SETI and Communicating with Alien Civilizations. McConnell’s work is well-researched & draws on a broad spectrum of scientific knowledge, including physics, mathematics, & linguistics.

Interstellar Foundation

Dr. Bruce Damer has spent his life pursuing two great questions: how did life on Earth begin, & how can we give that life (& ourselves) a sustainable pathway into the cosmos? He conceived of BIOTA in 1996 & guided it through its first two decades of evolution.

Interstellar Foundation

With 14 years’ experience in the development sector, I specialize in evidence-based learning and adaptive management for donors and implementers.

Interstellar Foundation

Carmela holds a degree in biology with a specialization in marine biology & chemistry from the University of Valencia in Spain. She obtained a second master’s degree in aquaculture & marine resource management from Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands.

Interstellar Foundation

With over 25 years of experience in the space, satellite, and telecommunications industries, Christopher is a passionate leader with a proven track record of creating innovative and profitable solutions for the global market

Interstellar Foundation

Dan is co-founder & chief scientist of the SETI@home project & directs other UC Berkeley SETI searches at radio, infrared & visible wavelengths, including SERENDIP & CASPER.

Interstellar Foundation

Daniel Fox is the author of Feel the Wild and Co-Founder of Future of Space. For over 15 years, Fox spent several months each year in the wilderness, exploring with his kayak. His adventures have taken him to remote regions of Argentina, Canada, Mexico, & the United States.

Interstellar Foundation

An astronomer & associate professor at Columbia University, where he leads the Cool Worlds Lab.

Interstellar Foundation

David spent several years living in Taiwan teaching English & exploring the globe. Incorporating a passion for travel & storytelling, David spends his time pursuing his love of documentary film making & video editing.

Interstellar Foundation

Deborah Sass is the Founding Partner & Co-CEO of Space Hero. Deborah engaged formally with the Space Industry in 2016 as a Founding Partner & Co-CEO of Space Hero.

Interstellar Foundation

Donald Goldsmith has written more than a dozen books, including Exoplanets, The Runaway Universe, The Hunt for Life on Mars, Supernova, & Origins with Neil deGrasse Tyson.

Interstellar Foundation

An Assistant Professor of Humanities & Social Sciences (Teaching) at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen. He is broadly interested in the Environmental Humanities, Anthropocene Studies, Apocalypse, temporality, & art.

Interstellar Foundation

Evgenia is a National Geographic Society Storytelling Fellow, & a recipient of the ICP Infinity Award, Leica Oskar Barnack Award. Her work has been exhibited internationally & appeared in publications such as National Geographic, Time & The New Yorker magazines, among others.

Interstellar Foundation

Florence work is primarily focused on human rights, ethnobotany, the environment & the living memory of the indigenous people of the Amazon & the Andes in Peru & Latin America. She is an Explorer & contributor to National Geographic Magazine.

Interstellar Foundation

Franco is a PhD researcher at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL) developing cutting edge space robotics for future space missions. They are also the Outreach Co-ordinator for the PROVE Pathfinder CubeSat team at the University of Bristol.

Interstellar Foundation

Frank authored/coauthored numerous books on topics ranging from space exploration & climate change to artificial intelligence. His best-known work, The Overview Effect: Space Exploration & Human Evolution, is considered to be a seminal work in the field of space exploration.

Interstellar Foundation

Fredrick is a Ugandan multiple award-winning water & climate change journalist, media trainer & development communication specialist. He heads Water Journalists Africa, a network of over 700 journalists in 50 African countries who report on water. He cofounded InfoNile.

Interstellar Foundation

An astrobiologist, science communicator, & storyteller. As the host of the NASA-funded "Ask an Astrobiologist" livestream show, he illuminates the intriguing field of astrobiology. Dr. Lau currently serves as the Director of Communications & Marketing for Blue Marble Space.

Interstellar Foundation

Gunjan Menon is an award-winning Producer-Director & National Geographic Storytelling Explorer specialising in impact-driven natural history & conservation documentaries. She specializes in wildlife and conservation stories.

Interstellar Foundation

Heather is the Director of the Special Collections, Archives, & Preservation Department at the University of Colorado Boulder Libraries. She received her PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Information & Library Science.

Interstellar Foundation

After earning a degree in metabolic biochemistry/nutrition & working in public health, Heather moved into teaching. She is an experienced science teacher with a demonstrated history of working with Agile scrum practices.

Interstellar Foundation

A lifelong & staunch advocate of the rights of women, Dr. Iman Bibars has pioneered Ashoka’s efforts to empower women in social innovation. As part of this work, Dr. Bibars conceptualized two initiatives specifically targeting the unique needs of female social entrepreneurs.

Interstellar Foundation

Creator & CEO of Janet's Planet, Inc., Janet is a trailblazer in children's education & space advocacy. She has made significant contributions to STEM/STEAM education.

Interstellar Foundation

Professor Fromer specializes in intellectual property, including copyright, patent, trademark, trade secret, & design protection laws. Professor Fromer is currently an Adviser for the American Law Institute's Restatement of the Law, Copyright.

Interstellar Foundation

John Francis, author, traveler, student, & teacher, has traveled from coast to coast across the United States, visited Antarctica, & sailed through the Caribbean. He has done this all without the use of motorized travel.

Interstellar Foundation

John is an author, anthropologist, & retired university professor. Recently a Visiting Research Scholar in the Interplanetary Initiative at Arizona State University & currently teaches in the Political Science Department at UMass & the Organizational Dynamics Program at UPenn.

Interstellar Foundation

Jonathan is more than just a Senior Research Scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology. He's a visionary thinker & an ardent advocate for humanity's future in the cosmos.

Interstellar Foundation

Kalina Silverman is an entrepreneur & documentary journalist (founder of the award-winning viral media project Big Talk - skip the small talk, make more meaningful connections), U.S. Fulbright Ambassador, public presenter & facilitator, artist, & model.

Interstellar Foundation

As a designer at Interstellar Foundation, Katherine specializes in visual designer, illustration & art direction. She is a science lover based in Copenhagen with a passion for storytelling & a knack for blending design & visuals with science.

Interstellar Foundation

For two decades years he built and paddled traditional kayaks, immersing himself in the practice of his ancestors. Today, he is a photographer committed to telling stories that help humanity understand itself & its relationship to mother earth.

Interstellar Foundation

Dr. Capova has studied history of science, philosophy of science, and philosophical anthropology. She has been looking into anthropological aspects of interstellar messages & worked on content analysis of the Arecibo broadcast, Pioneer plaque & Voyager interstellar record.

Interstellar Foundation

Kris Kimel is the lead at Humanity in Deep Space and Co-founder of SpaceTango. Prior to this he started & led a range of entrepreneurial enterprises and initiatives.

Interstellar Foundation

Krithika is a journalist, editor, & speechwriter in New York. She is the author of The Call: Inside the Global Saudi Religious Project. She works at Fenway Strategies, & has been an editor at The Drift magazine since its launch in 2020.

Interstellar Foundation

Dr. Lena, an experimental astrobiologist, studies biosignature preservation on Ocean Worlds & develops life detection strategies for future astrobiology missions. She is a science communicator & creates content to bring astrobiology & general science topics to a broad audience.

Interstellar Foundation

She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre, received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, a Masters of Science in Education in Counseling & Mental Health Services, & a Masters of Philosophy in Professional Counseling.

Interstellar Foundation

Lisa has spent most her career exploring the nature of the universe & becoming a leading expert on particle physics and cosmology. In 2004, Lisa was recognized as the most cited theoretical physicist in the world with about 10,000 citations on her work.

Interstellar Foundation

Mandla is a South African poet, short-story writer, novelist, and cultural activist. His novel The Lost Colours of the Chameleon won the 2009 Commonwealth Writers' Prize (Africa region).

Interstellar Foundation

A business development professional with experience in program design, proposal development, and program management. Sectoral experience in workforce development, education and youth development, and monitoring and evaluation domestically and internationally. Also a coach.

Interstellar Foundation

Designer at Interstellar Foundation. A design-centric creative, focused on art direction, production & animation. A strategic collaborator crafting brand-centric identities, systems, & applications‍

Interstellar Foundation

Maya is a postdoctoral research fellow on the MethaneSAT project, focusing on mission planning for the instrument in-orbit Lunar calibrations, with expertise in spacecraft operations, engineering systems, technology strategy, & space law and policy.

Interstellar Foundation

Michael is the best-selling writer of more than 200 non-fiction books that have collectively sold more than 1.5 million copies worldwide. He writes on a variety of topics, including technology, social media, business, consumer electronics, & music.

Interstellar Foundation

Mike is one of the world’s leading practitioners of quantum storytelling, an emerging field that accounts for how stories form in networks, affect behaviors, & are likely to shape the future. The bigSTORY network designs the frameworks for positive community-created narratives.

Interstellar Foundation

Business Development Manager for Talent Cru and Founder/Producer of Samoka Comedy/Talent.

Interstellar Foundation

Pablo is an artist, musician, & writer, known for his passion for exploring the mysteries of the cosmos & expressing his fascination through graphic art, music, & poetry. His works were selected to be included in the "Sanctuary, Eternity for Mankind" time capsule.‍

Interstellar Foundation

Paresh developed the Global Sound Movement, a UCLan based research project, dedicated to collecting culturally unique and exotic sounds from all over the world. He has an Honours Degree in Fashion Promotion & Master’s degree in Lifestyle Promotion.

Interstellar Foundation

Alongside founding and developing the Global Sound Movement, Phil is the ‘Research Centre for Cultural Preservation through Creative Practice’ Director at the University of Lancashire

Interstellar Foundation

Prithwis is an Assistant Researcher at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He has been an Exoplanet Watch Contributor. He co-founded Lunax & is the Project Engineer. He is both an Interstellar Foundation & MiaB Review Committee Member.

Interstellar Foundation

Richard is an evolutionary biologist and expert in animal behavior. Richard is well known for his ability to communicate concepts from his research and beyond to a non-specialist audience. He has been a key figure in raising public understanding of science.

Interstellar Foundation

Robert is the creator, executive producer, writer, & host of Closer To Truth, the PBS/public television series on Cosmos, Life, Consciousness, & Meaning. Dr. Kuhn has published over 30 books, is an international corporate strategist, investment banker, & public intellectual.

Interstellar Foundation

As Director of Technology Transfer and Innovation at Tennessee State University and Executive Director and Co-Founder of Earth Tech Futures, he has dedicated his career to helping community and business leaders, innovators and venture capitalists.

Interstellar Foundation

Consultant on Youth Engagement, Messengers of Peace core team member, Asia Pacific Region. Assistant Leader at Ticket to Life Project in Bangladesh.

Interstellar Foundation

Wall Street Journal, USA Today & Amazon bestselling author. Co-founder of the bestselling Fiction Community. Discover Sci-Fi Founder. Founder of the Lunar Codex Cultural Archives on the Moon. Producer of Golden Globe Nominated & Emmy award winning films.

Interstellar Foundation

Sancha Olivier is a seasoned project manager & architect with extensive experience in business development & operations within the architecture & construction sectors. Currently serving as Senior Project Manager & Business Development at Royal HaskoningDHV.

Interstellar Foundation

Sarah is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the GHUCCTS TL1/TBS program, working with Anna Greenwald in the Department of Neurology at Georgetown. She completed her PhD in the Department of Linguistics at New York University.

Interstellar Foundation

Savannah is an anthropologist, author and PhD student whose research has primarily focused on the history of human space exploration & tech ethics.

Interstellar Foundation

Kelly is a former military fighter pilot and test pilot, an engineer, a retired astronaut, & a retired U.S. Navy captain. He has logged more than 520 days in space on four space flight, & currently holds the record for time in orbit by a U.S. Astronaut.

Interstellar Foundation

As Senior Inhouse Consultant Business Engineering, Simone supports the departments at M-net Telekommunikations GmbH to develop their ideas into strategically relevant projects for the overall goals of the company.

Interstellar Foundation

Teddy is a an award winning film & documentary director, writer, & creative. He wrote & directed the Dutch feature film Sterke Verhalen, making him the youngest Dutch director ever to have a full countrywide cinematic release of a film.

Interstellar Foundation

Yosef is a rising senior at Yeshiva University, where he is pursuing a degree in computer engineering as part of a joint program with Columbia University. He spent the Summer of 2019 as a research intern at Cambridge University’s Genizah Research Unit.

Interstellar Foundation

Become a Member

Redirect