Pale Blue Selves: Human Identity in the Shadow of the Cosmos

Name: Pale Blue Selves: Human Identity in the Shadow of the Cosmos
Start: 2025-03-14T10:00:00+00:00
End: 2025-03-14T11:30:00+00:00
Location: Dublin

Schedule

Fri Mar 14 2025 at 10:00 am to 11:30 am

UTC+00:00

Location

Dublin | Dublin, DN

An astrobiologist working at NASA gives a public lecture on how space exploration can reshape human identity in times of crisis.
About this Event

Pale Blue Selves: Human Identity in the Shadow of the Cosmos

Organised by Trinity's MPhil in Identities & Cultures of Europe and supported by the Faculty of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, this event explores the relationship between space exploration and human identity in the context of the climate emergency, the new (commercial) space age and the highly unpredictable state of world politics. Dr Sanjoy Som, a scientist based at NASA’s Ames Research Center (California, USA), will delve into this topic in a public lecture, reflecting on how enhanced awareness of the Earth's interconnections with biology and the human civilization it hosts, the vastness of space to which the Earth system belongs, and the depth in time that has led to the present moment can create a sense of identity that can be as strong as cultural identities. The talk will be followed by a Q & A.

Agenda

🕑: 10:00 AM - 10:10 AM
Introductory remarks – Pale blue selves
Host: Dr Hannes Opelz (SLLCS, Trinity College Dublin)

Info: Neill Lecture Theatre, Trinity Long Room Hub

🕑: 10:10 AM - 10:50 AM
Searching for common identity – A personal journey
Host: Dr Sanjoy Som (scientist at NASA Ames Research Center)

Info: Neill Lecture Theatre, Trinity Long Room Hub

🕑: 10:50 AM - 11:30 AM
Q & A with Dr Sanjoy Som

Info: Neill Lecture Theatre, Trinity Long Room Hub