Civic Scientist Lecture Series: Becoming Martian With Scott Solomon

As commercial space travel accelerates and plans for long-term human settlement beyond Earth move closer to reality, questions once confined to science fiction are becoming matters of scientific and policy relevance. We are on the cusp of a golden age of space travel in which, for the first time, it will be possible for large numbers of people to venture into space. But what happens to the human body and mind in the extreme conditions of space? What should space travelers expect during journeys to orbiting space stations, the Moon, or Mars — and what are the longer-term implications if some choose to stay? These questions extend even further when considering future generations: What would happen to children born on another planet, and how might life beyond Earth shape human evolution?

At this event, Scott Solomon, teaching professor at Rice University, will discuss his new book “Becoming Martian” (MIT Press, 2026), which explores how humanity’s migration into space could reshape human biology and minds. Drawing on research from biology, genetics, and space science, Solomon will examine the potential physical, psychological, and evolutionary consequences of sustained life in space. A book signing will conclude the event.

This event is part of the Civic Scientist Lecture Series, sponsored by Dr. Virginia Clark, with additional support from Benjamin and Winifer Cheng, Rice University’s George R. Brown School of Engineering, and Weiss School of Natural Sciences.

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Sponsored by the Baker Institute Science and Technology Policy Program, the Civic Scientist Lecture Series aims to increase the engagement of scientists and engineers with society to expand the public’s knowledge and interest in science.

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