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.
Abel Méndez
Astrobiologist | Director
Interstellar Foundation
Dr. Aidyl Gonzalez-Serricchio is a distinguished scientist, educator, & advocate dedicated to advancing STEM education, research accessibility, & social justice.
Aidyl Gonzalez-Serricchio
Scientist | Educator | STEM advocate
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.
Alastair Reynolds
Science Fiction Author
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.
Alexander Rehding
Professor of Music at Harvard University
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.
Alexis Rossi
Librarian | RFC Series Consulting Editor
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.
Alizé Carrère
Scientist | Filmmaker | Nat Geo Storyteller & Geographer
Interstellar Foundation
Andrea is a poet & activist. Gibson's poetry focuses on gender norms, politics, social justice, & LGBTQ topics.
Andrea Gibson
Poet | Activist
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".
Andres Marquez-Lara
Leadership & Collaboration Expert | Founder/CEO of UFacilitate
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).
Andrew Kania
Professor of Philosophy
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”.
Anselmo Matusse
Social Anthropologist | Lecturer | Research Director
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.
Anthony Clifford Grayling
British philosopher | Author
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.
Anthony Obayomi
Storyteller | National Geographic Explorer | BA Visual Art
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.
Antonio Stark
Space Strategy Expert | Global Alliance Lead at ispace Inc.
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.
Ara Kusuma
Ashoka Young Changemaker | Founder of Aha Project | NatGeo explorer
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.
Avi Loeb
Theoretical Physicist | Professor of Science at Harvard
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.
Bill Diamond
President and CEO of SETI Institute
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.
Boris Shoshitaishvili
Social Scientist
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.
Bruce Damer
Astrobiologist | Scientist
Interstellar Foundation
With 14 years’ experience in the development sector, I specialize in evidence-based learning and adaptive management for donors and implementers.
Carla Trippe
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Specialist
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.
Carmela Isabel Nuñez Lendo
Marine Biologist | Marine Scientist & Engineer | NatGeo Explorer
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
Christopher Stott
Lonestar Data Holdings Inc. | CEO Eayst Noa Ltd.
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.
Dan Werthimer
Physics Researcher | SETI@Home Co Founder
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.
Daniel Fox
Future of Space CEO | Author
Interstellar Foundation
An astronomer & associate professor at Columbia University, where he leads the Cool Worlds Lab.
David Kipping
Astrophysicist | Astronomer | Cool Worlds Lab Founder | Professor
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.
David Skogerboe
Historian of the Future | MSc. PhD | Author | Storyteller
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.
Deborah Sass
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.
Donald Goldsmith
Astrophysicist | Author | Screenwriter
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.
Evander Price
An Assistant Professor of Humanities & Social Sciences
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.
Evgenia Arbugaeva
Storyteller │ Photographer │ Filmaker
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.
Florence Goupil
Documentary Photographer │ NatGeo Explorer
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.
Franco Labia
Engineer | Space Pride Founder
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.
Frank White
Author │ Space Philosopher
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.
Fredrick Mugira
Journalist | NatGeo explorer
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.
Graham Lau
Astrobiologist | Science Communicator
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.
Gunjan Menon
Filmmaker| NatGeo Storytelling Explorer
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.
Heather Bowden
Scientist │ Archivist
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.
Heather Cowap
Educator | UDL Expert & Scrum Master
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.
Iman Bibars
Change Maker │ Ashoka Vice President
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.
Janet Ivey-Duensing
Janet's Planet CEO | STEM Advocate
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.
Jeanne Fromer
Vice Dean │ Professor of Intellectual Property Law
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.
John Francis
Planetwalker | Author | Philosopher & Educator
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.
John Traphagan
Author │ Anthropologist
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.
Jonathan Jiang
Principal Scientist | JPL | Beacon in the Cosmos Founder
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.
Kalina Silverman
Big Talk Founder | Poet | U.S. Fulbright Ambassador | 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.
Katherine Bjelke
Visual Designer │ Illustrator │ Art Director
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.
Kiliii Yuyan
Photorapher │ NatGeo Storyteller
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.
Klara Anna Capova
Socio-Cultural Anthropologist (Space Anthropology)
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.
Kris Kimel
Humanity In Deep Space & Space Tango
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.
Krithika Varagur
Journalist │ Author │ Editor │ Speechwriter
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.
Lena Vincent
Astrobiologist │ Science Communicator
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.
Lisa Marie Persaud
Artist │ Counselor │ Co Author
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.
Lisa Randall
Theoretical Physicist
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).
Mandla Langa
Poet | Author
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.
Marianne Montalvo
Strategy & Program Design | Int. Education | Youth Development
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
Maxim Kurkin
Web & Product Design │ Branding & Motion Design
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.
Maya Nasr
Scientist │ Artist │ HUMANS Lead & Co-Founder
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.
Mike Bonifer
Quantum Storyteller │ bigSTORY Founder
Interstellar Foundation
Business Development Manager for Talent Cru and Founder/Producer of Samoka Comedy/Talent.
Mohamed Kadir
Business Development | Relationship Management | Comedy Producer
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.
Pablo Budassi
Artist | Musician | Writer
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.
Paresh Parmar
Senior Lecturer | Global Sound Movement Founder
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
Phil Holmes
Research Centre Director | Global Sound Movement Founder
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.
Prithwis Das
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory | LunaX Co-Founder
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.
Richard Dawkins
Evolutionary Biologist | Author
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.
Robert Lawrence Kuhn
Neuroscientist | Author | Closer To Truth Founder
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.
Robert Turner
Technology Transfer & Innovation Director | Earth Tech Futures
Interstellar Foundation
Consultant on Youth Engagement, Messengers of Peace core team member, Asia Pacific Region. Assistant Leader at Ticket to Life Project in Bangladesh.
Ruhi Jahan
Consultant on Youth Engagement | World Scouting
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.
Samuel Peralta
Poet | Physicist Author | Filmmaker | Lunar Codex Founder
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.
Sancha Olivier
Senior Project Manager | Business Development
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.
Sarah Phillips
Linguistic Scientist | Photographer
Interstellar Foundation
Savannah is an anthropologist, author and PhD student whose research has primarily focused on the history of human space exploration & tech ethics.
Savannah Mandel
Social Anthropologist | Author
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.
Scott Kelly
Astronaut | Engineer | Naval Aviator
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.
Simone Watzinger
Senior Inhouse Consultant Business Engineering
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.
Teddy Cherim
Writer | Film Director
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.
Yosef Ginsberg
Computer Engineering | Research Assistant
Interstellar Foundation