Join the USC Society of Public Diplomats for an extraordinary journey into the realm of space diplomacy!

Listen to and engage in discussions with experts on space policy and governance, the private sector’s role in space exploration and diplomacy, and space: the final public diplomatic frontier. We will probe deep into issues like space as a vehicle for engaging the international public, current issues in space diplomacy and governance, the role of the private sector, and the challenges that lay ahead in peacefully managing space exploration. This is your exclusive ticket to unlock the latest developments in space diplomacy, as presented by distinguished guest speakers from around the country.

Event schedule: 

9–9:05 a.m.: Welcome by Anna Tang and Sarah Schornstein

9:05–9:20 a.m.: Keynote Speaker: Jane Harmon, Presidential Scholar in Residence at the USC Price School of Public Policy

9:30–10:30 a.m.: 1st Panel: Space Diplomacy and Governance

Moderator: Robert Banks, Director, Public Diplomacy (MPD) program

Panelists:

• Camille Wardrop Alleyne, Associate Program Scientist for the International Space Station at NASA’s Johnson Space Center
• Mai’a K. Davis Cross, Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs; Director of the Center for International Affairs and World Cultures; Dean’s Professor of Political Science, International Affairs, and Diplomacy, Northeastern University

10:30–11:45 a.m.: 2nd Panel: The Private Sector Role in Space Diplomacy

Moderator: Jay Wang, Director, USC Center on Public Diplomacy

Panelists:

• David Barnhart, Research Professor in the Department of Astronautical Engineering at USC, Director/Co-Founder of the USC Space Engineering Research Center, and the Director of Space Systems and Technology Division at USC/ISI
• John Spencer, Space Architect and Founder of the Space Tourism Society
• Fady Tawadrous, Space International Partnerships and Foreign Military Sales Lead Engineer, The Aerospace Corporation 

11:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m.: Coffee break

12:15–1:15 p.m.: 3rd Panel: Space: The Final Diplomatic Frontier?

Moderator: Robert Banks, Director, Public Diplomacy (MPD) program

Panelists

• Bethany Ehlmann, Professor of Planetary Science at CalTech and President of the Planetary Society
• Britt Duffy Adkins, Founder of Celestial Citizen

1:15–1:20 p.m.: Conference ends; conclusion and wrap up.

For any inquiries that may arise, contact us at yuyangt@usc.edu, sschorns@usc.edu, (213) 598-1946, or (732) 616-5337. Secure your space journey and RSVP below by October 26 and become an integral part of this enlightening event. Don't miss your chance to explore the infinite possibilities of Space Diplomacy! 

RSVP