As NASA prepares a return to the Moon, with the first Artemis I mission from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center next week, the race for fair and equitable space controls is heating up.
International experts are convening ahead of next month’s US National Space Council to discuss some of the big issues at a free online bilateral forum, featuring the current and former US Ambassador, a former NASA administrator, Space Industry Association of Australia CEO, Flinders University academics and other keynotes.
Emerging aerospace technologies, space regulations and the potential for misinformation/disinformation will be discussed by the experts from the space industry, diplomatic leaders and key academics.
Registrations for the Bilateral Tech Diplomacy Series: US-Australia Inaugural Dialogue Wednesday 31 August 2022 (6.30am-8.30am) AEST event is free for the public via the US Purdue University Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy weblink (US EDT time 5-7pm, 30 August).
“This event comes at an important time for the space sectors in both Australia and the United States, with the Biden Administration taking steps to further facilitate the growth of commercial space activities and the Australian Space Agency consulting on the development of a National Plan for Space,” says Flinders University space law researcher Joel Lisk, Jeff Bleich Centre (JBC) at Flinders University’s College of Business, Government and Law.
“With a clear and growing desire from Australian businesses to break into the American space economy, this event presents a unique opportunity to learn more about the synergies between the United States and Australia in the space sector while hearing from individuals with unparalleled experience and influence in the sector.
Keynote speaker Jeff Bleich, former US Ambassador to Australia and Special Counsel to President Obama in the White House, will address the online event on the themes of space and misinformation/disinformation.
Mr Bleich helped establish the Flinders University centre for the US Alliance in Digital Technology, Security and Governance to promote bilateral awareness about digital technology, security and government.
While the capacity of digital technologies can empower democracy and decision-making, tools such as artificial intelligence or machine learning and natural language processing are rapidly evolving and diplomats and foreign policy leaders need to be aware of the potential pitfalls which can undermine democratic processes.
JBC director, Flinders University Professor (Digital Technology, Security and Governance) Melissa de Zwart, who is deputy chair of the Space Industry Association of Australia, says the online forum is an ideal opportunity for people to learn more about these important topics.
As well as a ‘fireside chat’ with US Ambassador Arthur Sinodinos, the forum also features a roundtable discussion on on aerospace technologies led by Daniel Goldin, a long-serving NASA Administrator, from 1992-2001.
Space Industry Association of Australia CEO James Brown and DSTG senior analyst Emily Bienvenue will join the roundtables along with a range of experts from Purdue University, including President Mung Chiang, Aeronautics and Astronautics Professor Dan DeLaurentis and Bonnie Glick, Director of the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy.
More information on the agenda, and registrations are open to all interested.