Gerstein Library: Space Mythbusters

Demystify pop culture myths in astronomy, space, and extraterrestrial life. Hear the real story from real scientists!

Come see fascinating presentations and join a discussion with interesting speakers at this special space-themed Science Literacy Week event.

For just the fourth time in history, in 2016, the Canadian Space Agency held an astronaut recruitment campaign to hire two new astronauts. Applicants needed a degree in science, medicine or engineering, professional experience in their field, to be in excellent health and meet some physical requirements. 3,772 Canadians applied for these two jobs from across Canada and abroad. Over a period of six months, the initial applicant pool was winnowed to the top 72 candidates, including scientists, engineers, doctors, professors and test pilots. Candidate were tested on their strategic thinking, physical fitness, judgment, motivation, resourcefulness, teamwork, communication and social media skills. I will talk about what this experience was like as an astronaut candidate and give some insight into what the job of astronaut actually entails. Ele Willoughby will also talk about CSA's next space mission when astronaut David Saint-Jacques will fly to the International Space Station on his first mission this December.

Ele Willoughby (PhD, U of T physics, 2003) is an experimental marine geophysicist, science artist and communicator. In 2016 she was selected as an astronaut candidate for the Canadian Space Agency's Astronaut Recruitment Campaign.

We don't need a backup Earth (yet): Humans needing to flee Earth as a result of some calamity is a common trope (e.g. such as in the film Interstellar), and it's usually not the best solution to the problem. This talk will explore other common misconceptions along the way.

Adiv Paradise is a PhD student in UofT’s Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics. His research is on 3D climate modelling of Earth-like planets. Before coming to UofT, he obtained a degree in astrophysics and physics from the University of Minnesota and has worked in space physics lab as well as Los Alamos National Lab.

Science or Fiction? Astronomy in Pop Culture

Yvette Cendes is a PhD candidate in astronomy at U of T's Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics. Her research studies radio astronomy signals from space. Yvette is also a freelance science writer for publications such as Astronomy, Discover, and Sky & Telescope.

Doors open at 5:30pm. Light refreshments will be served.

Any questions? Email scilit.to@utoronto.ca

Who can attend: Everyone. Priority will be given to currently registered University of Toronto students, faculty, staff and researchers.
Fee: Free
Tickets: Eventbrite
Organized by: Gerstein Science Information Centre
Location: Gerstein Science Information Centre, University of Toronto, 9 King's College Circle, Alice Moulton Room (2nd floor), Toronto, ON

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/space-mythbusters-tickets-50204080757