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Space: A Cultural User's GuideDr David Raitt, European Space Agency
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This evening's event coincides with the announcement of a new ESA study into the cultural utilisation of the International Space Station by art-science agency the Arts Catalyst; and with the launch of the new book, Zero Gravity: a cultural user's guide, which details recent artistic explorations in microgravity.
Marina Benjamin argues that today's space programmes have become pedestrian and remote, leaving nothing to nourish the soul or ignite the imagination. Could art and culture re-energise the space dream? Dr David Raitt discusses the latest cultural initiatives from the European Space Agency and explains why the artistic imagination might hold the key to realising visionary concepts such as the space elevator.
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Dr David Raitt has worked for the European Space Agency since 1969. He is now Senior Technology Transfer Officer in ESA's Technology Transfer and Promotion Office in The Netherlands, where his activities involve identifying and researching new breakthrough technological opportunities to ascertain their subsequent spin-off/spin-in possibilities in new markets. He is also involved in space art, culture, design, and educational activities, as well as projects relating to biomimetics, space elevators and materials, amongst others. He was responsible for a recent study, investigating whether science fiction literature, arts and films contained concepts or technologies which might be possible to achieve with today's scientific and technical advances. Dr Raitt is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and a Corresponding Member of the International Academy of Astronautics.
Marina Benjamin is a writer and arts critic. She has been arts editor for the New Statesman, deputy arts editor of the Evening Standard and a columnist for Scotland on Sunday. She is the author of Living at the End of the World (1998) and Rocket Dreams: How the Space Age Shaped our Vision of a World Beyond (2003) and is currently writing a memoir based on her grandmother's life in Baghdad.
| PROGRAMME | ||
| 5:00pm | Doors open: Opportunity for networking. Tea and biscuits provided from 5:30pm. | |
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6:00pm |
Presentations by Dr David Riatt and Marina Benjamin |
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| 7:30pm | Opportunity for further networking. (open reception). | |
This event has been organised jointly by the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) Space Group and The Arts Catalyst. The presentation will take place in the Lecture Theatre at 4 Hamilton Place, London W1J 7BQ. Nearest underground station Hyde Park. See maps multimap.com... streetmap.co.uk...
For further details: Conference Department, Royal Aeronautical Society, 4 Hamilton Place, London W1J 7BQ. tel 020 7670 4300 fax 020 7670 4349 email conference@aerosociety.com Or contact Mr Pat Norris email pat.norris@logica.com
To receive details of the RAeS Space Group and other future events please send an email to space@aerosociety.com with "subscribe" in the subject.
Related web sites: The Royal Aeronautical Society www.aerosociety.com RAeS Space Group www.aerosociety.com/space/ The Arts Catalyst www.artscatalyst.org European Space Agency www.esa.int/ Dr David Raitt www.nesta.co.uk/insidenesta/bios/3490/ Marina Benjamin www.randomhouse.co.uk/catalog/video.htm?command=search&db=main.txt&eqisbndata=0099283654
