Explorations Series: Taking You Higher
Start: 24 Sep 2020 6:00 pm
End: 24 Sep 2020 7:00 pm
Online
So. You want to be and astronaut? What about an engineer, data analyst, geologist, space archaeologist (?!)…
Join our panellists to find out just what options there are for women in space, and how to get there.
Co-hosted by One Giant Leap, this expert, all female panel event will excite and inspire girls and women to explore and unravel the opportunities available in space careers in the 21st century. Join our live Q&A with one of Australia’s first astronaut-to-be, a NASA Rocket Scientist and a space Archaeologist.
With the possibility of submitting a question ahead of time, or asking during the live Q&A, all your unanswered questions about working in the space industry will be answered. So go on, sign up and let us take you higher.
This free event is for you if:
- You want to impact the world in a real way
- You’ve ever wondered what it would be like to travel to space
- You’re a student (or parent) wondering what STEM is really all about
- You thought archaeology was only about the study of old stuff
- You want to ask a NASA scientist, a space archaeologist or a potential astronaut a question (or two)
Meet our Panelists
Dr Alice Gorman
Dr Alice Gorman is an internationally recognised leader in the field of space archaeology. Her research focuses on the archaeology and heritage of space exploration, including space junk, planetary landing sites, off-earth mining, space habitats, rocket launch pads and antennas.
She is an Associate Professor at Flinders University in Adelaide and a heritage consultant with over 25 years’ experience working with Indigenous communities in Australia. In collaboration with NASA and Chapman University, she is conducting the first archaeological study of the International Space Station.
She is a mentor in the UN Office of Outer Space Affairs Space4Women Mentor Network.
Her book Dr Space Junk vs the Universe: Archaeology and the Future (MIT Press, 2019) won the NIB Literary Award People’s Choice for Non-Fiction and the John Mulvaney Book Award. She tweets as @drspacejunk and blogs at Space Age Archaeology.
Shannon McConnell
Hailing from Pasadena, California, Shannon is a reformed Rocket Scientist, world traveller and STEM Program consultant. She has been introducing students to the excitement of space exploration since 1998, leading the Galileo Outreach Team, the Cassini Formal Education Team, and NASA’s Deep Space Network Education and Public Outreach Office.
But before her work in outreach and education, Shannon worked mission planning and design for the Cassini Spacecraft, sequence design and execution for the Galileo Mission, and data analysis for the Magellan Mission. Shannon also spent two years working payload operations for two Space Shuttle Flights managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).
Shannon has penned numerous technical articles for NASA along with current event opinion pieces, STEM education articles and even a full-length novel.
Sally Tindall
Sally started flying when she was 14 because her brothers raced cares and flying was the only thing she could think of that was faster! She wanted to fly because, back then, to go to space you needed to be a pilot. These days, mission specialists are geologists, biologists, engineers and botanists.
Sally did everything these could to meet the qualifications for the shuttle program, but when that program was grounded, she thought she had lost her chance.
Now with SpaceX, Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, Virgin Orbit, NASA, EASA and the Chinese programs, it is a really great time to be getting involved in space.
Sally is currently shortlisted with AdvancingX to go to space in 2023. Ever year, the shortlisted candidates get together to train and be tested against other candidates.
Sally is keeping her fingers crossed to become one of Australia’s first astronauts.
