Leveraging the International Space Station to Address Sustainability and Societal Issues on Earth

Last week at the World Economic Forum at Davos, climate change and sustainability were front and center in the discussion among world leaders and corporate executives. These topics are important to consider in acting as good stewards for society, the environment, and future generations. They are also important in taking a forward-looking approach to address threats that societal and climate issues pose to our livelihood. It is necessary to plan strategically and financially to mitigate these critical issues.

The mission of the International Space Station (ISSInternational Space Station) U.S. National Laboratory is to enable science in space to benefit life on Earth. How can science and technology development in space—in particular, on the orbiting laboratory that is the ISS—uniquely address societal and environmental issues and complement the efforts of commercial entities, philanthropic organizations, and private citizens in ways not possible on Earth?

Earth observation and remote sensing capabilities on the ISS have and will continue to provide valuable data for addressing various sustainability and societal issues on our planet. But there is also great potential in thinking creatively and taking advantage of the unique environment, facilities, and accessibility to space provided by the ISS National Lab for developing innovative technology and solutions for challenges faced by all of humankind.

The value of leveraging the ISS to address important sustainability and societal issues will be the focus of discussion in an upcoming two-event series. The series, titled “Examining the Socioeconomic Benefits of the International Space Station,” will be co-hosted by Secure World Foundation and the ISS National Lab. The first event will take place at the SETI Institute in Mountain View, California, on Wednesday, January 29, 2020. Considering the technical, entrepreneurial, and investment culture of the West Coast, the California event is designed to highlight business opportunities for startups and corporations by showcasing the real journey of a principal investigator who has conducted research on the ISS. The second event will be held at the Carnegie Institute in Washington, D.C. in March and will build on discussions from the California event to continue the conversation with a particular focus on policy.

Speakers at the two events will include a diverse group of ISS National Lab users and partners as well as commercial and government representatives, who will discuss the unique research and development being done on the ISS, the observed or expected benefits to life on Earth, and the importance of maintaining a space-based platform to support this work.

To find out more about the California event and to register to attend in person or via webcast, please visit the event’s registration page.

For more information on the Secure World Foundation, visit swfound.org.

For more information on the SETI Institute, visit seti.org.