Nancy C. Wolfson
Nancy C. Wolfson is a Washington DC-based scholar, independent researcher, speaker, entrepreneur, and artist. She is currently the vice chair of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) Technical Committee on Near Earth Objects (NEOs). She is president of Disrupting Space Company based in the United States. Her work is primarily focused on education, research, communication, and outreach for diverse space sectors. Some of her most recent work includes contributing to the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN), She is a signatory for United Nations Declaration for Asteroid Day, an awareness and educational program designated to teach the world about asteroids. She was named space ambassador and media communications representative for Yuri's Night, an event in 2019 that celebrated astronaut Yuri Gagarin's work. She also participated in The Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) "Find an Asteroid" Search Campaign in 2018. Through her work as an independent researcher, she was invited to participate in The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) - Nation of Makers Meeting in 2016. Nancy's objective is to democratize access to higher learning, making space concepts accessible to all academia, corporations, and the broad general public.
Talks
Makerspaces Hacking the Space Industry by Enabling Effective Cross-Industry Collaboration and Enhancing the Space Workforce Development
"Space belongs to all," we often hear. However, most people do not relate their lives to space. The Outer Space Treaty was signed on 27 January 1967. Article I of the Space Treaty says "The exploration and use of outer space including the Moon and other Celestial Bodies, shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all countries, irrespective of their degree of economic or scientific development, and shall be the province of all mankind."
Most people know space through news, stories, and entertainment. Some might know that space technology is making their lives easier, but they would not consider themselves able to contribute in any way. At the same time, the space community has remained mostly among itself. This presentation will argue that it is the responsibility of the space specialists to create new partnerships and collaborative projects that connect space and non-space actors and explore new nontraditional academic models and environments that can ignite creativity and foster cross-industry collaboration.
The global crisis due to COVID-19 has somehow forced us to rethink how we could take cross-industry communication and collaboration to the next level. Some tips and tricks will be shared to continue with cross-industry collaborative projects utilizing digital and online technology. Makerspaces' tech knowledge transfer model can enhance the space workforce development and lead to innovative research and inspire the next generation inside and outside the space community.