CN2i Inclusive Space Innovation Lab

Nicola Peverati, Communications Manager from Thales Alenia Space, will remotely join Dr Nikita Chiu, Associate Professor in Space Innovation & Technology Governance, to take the audience on a journey into working and living at the frontiers of Outer Space and Innovation. Nikita and Nicola, Founder and member of CN2i - Collaborative Network for Inclusive Innovation for Critical Operations - have been collaborating since last year to advance space and communications innovation to ensure that future space activities will be more inclusive and sustainable.

The event will commence with a joint talk by Nikita and Nicola on the latest technological innovation in Space Habitats R&D (e.g. space stations such as the Lunar Gateway), designed to protect astronauts during their space missions and to enable scientific experiments in microgravity. Nicola will bring industry insights as an expert from Thales Alenia Space in Turin - one of the world's leading innovation hubs with an illustrious history in space station manufacturing. After a Q&A session, the talk will be followed by an innovative exercise curated jointly by Nikita and Nicola, in which volunteering attendants will have the opportunity to be coached to ideate, brainstorm, and pitch innovative and entrepreneurial ideas designed to make human space exploration more inclusive and sustainable.

Try your hand at creating an inclusive and sustainable space innovation venture with space experts from Thales Alenia Space and Durham University.

The increasing commercialization of space exploration activities brought enormous opportunities to make the future of space-bound missions more sustainable and inclusive. The announcement of John McFall as the world's first parastronaut by the European Space Agency (ESA) has propelled research in adpative sciences in exploration, paving the foundation to widen participation for future space exploration activities. John's and ESA's efforts are followed by the exciting news of Blue Origin's plan to send the world's first wheelchair user to space. Michaela Benthaus is currently undertaking preparation for a future suborbital flight with Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket.

There are many ways to be a part of this exciting journey of making space exploration more inclusive. Latest commercialization developments (e.g. Axiom Space commercial space station) in the space sector have created unparalleled opportunities to not only advance cutting-edge science and technologies, but also to broaden contributions from diverse backgrounds and disciplines. 

This event is supported by Durham University Space Research Centre, Durham University Business School (Management & Marketing), Thales Alenia Space (Turin) and FIIK Restaurant.

Dr Nikita SW Chiu, Associate Professor in Space Innovation & Technology Governance

18+

Public audiences (aged 18+) who are interested in space technologies and innovation.
Those who are interested in starting a venture in inclusive technological innovation.

Email Convening Lead, Dr Nikita Chiu at sze.w.chiu@durham.ac.uk. Please kindly advise if you have any dietary and accessibility requirements. 

4th November