Science Fiction to Fact

Science fiction has long provided a tantalizing glimpse of a great future for humans in space. While for decades this was purely speculative, the 21st century has seen the rapid development of concepts that were pure fiction just a few decades ago. The reusable rockets of SpaceX were the stuff of black-and-white Saturday matinees in the 1960s. Much of the technology of shows like “Star Trek” are now in daily use, with more coming online every year. Even nuclear and fusion propulsion systems may not be far off. What other speculative technologies—and the societies that will benefit from them—loom on the horizon? Join some of the great voices in sci-fi to learn more about the history of tomorrow.

Chair:

Dr. Anthony Paustian

VP of Marketing
National Space Society

Chair:

Dr. Anthony Paustian

VP of Marketing
National Space Society

Following his Air Force career in fighter aircraft and the building of national brands for companies like Rockwell Avionics and Miller Brewing, Dr. Anthony Paustian created a technology-focused college campus that was named one of the nation’s most innovative organizations. The campus has received national media attention for its groundbreaking initiatives, ranging from advances in educational delivery systems to its inspiring Celebrate Innovation Live! (ciLive!) event.

Dr. Paustian has authored four books including A Quarter Million Steps, which won seven international and national literary awards for best book in the areas of leadership, motivation, and success. He’s an author success coach with Bookpress Publishing, a regular contributor for Ad Astra (the journal of the National Space Society), and serves as the society’s Vice President of Marketing. Dr. Paustian holds graduate degrees in business administration and design management, as well as a Doctorate in Educational Psychology.

Speakers

Dr. Erin Macdonald

Astrophysicist
Technical Consultant for Star Trek

Dr. Erin Macdonald

Astrophysicist
Technical Consultant for Star Trek

Dr. Erin Macdonald works as a technical consultant for the entire Star Trek franchise –– all five current shows! She is a recurring writer for the popular YouTube channel Extra Credits and wrote and narrated the audible original The Science of Sci-Fi, which was a top 10 bestseller in March 2020. Erin received her Ph.D. in astrophysics at 25 from the University of Glasgow in Scotland, researching general relativity and gravitational waves. After that, she moved into public education at museums and colleges before consulting for the U.S. Department of Defense and, what is now, the U.S. Space Force.

Rod Pyle

Author, Journalist, Filmmaker

Rod Pyle

Author, Journalist, Filmmaker

Rod Pyle is an author, journalist, television producer, and Editor-in-Chief of Ad Astra magazine. He has written 17 books on space history, exploration and development, including “Space 2.0,” “Innovation the NASA Way,” and “Destination Mars,” and writes for space-related periodicals including Popular Science, Space.com, LiveScience and “Sky at Night.” Pyle co-authored the “Apollo Leadership Experience” for NASA’s Johnson Space Center. He has produced, directed and written for The History Channel, Discovery and National Geographic TV, and is the host of iHeart’s “Cool Space News” podcast. Pyle is a frequent guest on national radio and television on space-related topics. Earlier in his career, Pyle produced television commercials, educational films, and was a visual effects coordinator on “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” and the reboot of “Battlestar Galactica.” He holds a degree in filmmaking from the Art Center College of Design and a Masters of Arts in communication research from Stanford University.

Sean Graham

Marketplace Director
CreatorUp

Sean Graham

Marketplace Director
CreatorUp

Sean Graham is the Marketplace Director at CreatorUp, an immersive media & video production company that helps educators, entrepreneurs, marketers, leaders, and visionaries – meet their growing needs for video content globally. As a cognitive scientist with a background in film, tech and cultural diplomacy, Sean has produced VR content, digital media strategies, and global education campaigns for companies including Samsung, the Special Olympics, Sony, Google, YouTube, Twitter, L’Oréal, IHG, Abu Dhabi Tourism, NEOM, Arizona State University, the Mastercard Foundation, and more. After leading CreatorUp’s international expansion across EMEA and APAC, he now leads enterprise partnerships in space, web3, and cleantech.

Schedule for Science Fiction to Fact Session