For National Science Week, Let’s Torque and Sisters in Science are joining forces to deliver an exciting panel discussion on a topic that humans have puzzled over for centuries: space exploration. We’ll be asking what humans are doing in space currently, why we’re there, and what we might find. We’ll ponder the implications of humanity entering space and visiting other planets, and weigh up the pros and cons in an interactive dialogue.

We’ll also discuss the importance of collaboration in space exploration, why diversity makes us more effective and how we can communicate across the globe to include everyone in the future of space travel.

Our panellists include:
Dr Jasmina Lazendic-Galloway, a lecturer in the School of Physics and Astronomy, Monash University. Her research expertise includes high-energy astrophysics and science education. She teaches astronomy and astrobiology courses, coordinates Science Future Leaders program at Monash and runs a popular massive open online course (MOOC) “How to Survive on Mars: the Science Behind the Human Exploration of Mars.”

Dr Rebecca Allen, an astrophysicist at Swinburne University of Technology. Her research ​focuses​ on using galaxy sizes, measured from Hubble Space telescope images, to reveal clues about their growth and evolution going all the way back to when the Universe was barely a billion years old. Now, she uses her expertise and enthusiasm to help inspire the next generation of scientists by communicating the amazing research being done at Swinburne University across all areas of STEM.

About the organisers

Let’s Torque is a student-run undergraduate public speaking competition in which participants deliver a talk on a science, technology, engineering, mathematics or medicine (STEMM) idea and its potential impact on society. Sisters in Science is a student-run organisation which aims to connect high school aged girls with women who work in STEMM fields.