KEYNOTE SPEECH  | TO MARS OR NOT TO MARS, THAT IS THE QUESTION...

Expect to get a whole new view on the world, space and the economy from this keynote speech by space expert and astronaut trainer Nancy Vermeulen. Not only will she explain what we have learnt so far from our journeys into space, she will also help you understand which obstacles we still need to overcome to make human interplanetary spaceflight a reality. Get ready to discover the future of space travel and the impact it might have on your daily life.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS KEYNOTE:

• Learn all about the future of space travel: What developments are to be expected in the coming years? Should we focus our efforts on the moon, or rather on Mars? Will we ever be able to live on another planet? What obstacles are left to overcome?

• Gain insight into the upcoming space economy:
  We are inevitably evolving towards a space economy. Human activity will no longer stop at the borders of our planet. Which materials can we extract from other planets? Can we grow food on the moon? What would happen if our production processes took place in a weightless environment? One thing is certain: The impact of spaceflight on our economy is bound to be significant.
  

• Get a different perspective on contemporary challenges: From space, we have a much clearer overview of the global challenges that humanity is facing today. Global warming, changes in fish stocks, the melting of the polar caps, desertification and natural disasters: all of these issues can be monitored much better from space. This keynote will help you understand that the benefits of space travel serve more than just political and economic interests.

• Find out what your team can learn from astronauts: Last but not least, there is also the psychological aspect. There are some parallels to be drawn between the business world and space travel. In both cases, the greatest challenge lies in the human psyche, and our capability to adapt to a changing world. Nancy Vermeulen and her team spent 14 days in the Utah desert, simulating a Mars expedition to discover how teams can continue to function and communicate under extreme conditions. Methods and training techniques that are developed under such exceptional conditions, can be applied to the business world.

WHO IS THE INTENDED AUDIENCE?

The keynote is suitable for both small and larger audiences.
Depending on the audience, the spoken language is either Dutch or English.
This keynote will inspire all organisations that want to find out what kind of impact space travel will have on entrepreneurship, sustainability, innovation, climate change or technology.