Obligatory Panel Plug One: ‘100 Year Starship, Interstellar Travel and Beyond.’

Private space exploration projects have made headlines recently with companies like Space X, Planetary Resources and Virgin Galactic, but the first woman of color in space, Dr. Mae Jemison, has grander ambitions. In 2012, under Dr. Jemison’s leadership, the "100 Year Starship" initiative received widespread media attention as well as seed funding from DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency). The goal of “100 Year Starship” is to enable human interstellar flight within the next 100 years and enhance life on earth through the application of interstellar research and technologies.

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Obligatory Panel Plug Two: ‘Physical Products & the New Distribution Model.’

The old model of brand building and product distribution of physical goods has changed. No longer do you need to introduce via traditional media channels (commercials, trade press, long lead placements in magazines) or physical space in a showroom. As social channels become more and more efficient, creators can connect directly with their consumers in new ways. From here, commerce can occur and word-of-mouth can grow a brand quickly without tons of media spend. This conversation will showcase entrepreneurs who make physical, tangible goods yet have used the internet in novel ways — through content, social media, and innovative new business models — to create new, successful brands from scratch.

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Obligatory Panel Plug Three: ‘The Future of Building Things.’

Proponents of 3D printing say it has the potential to radically alter a number of industries, enable rapid prototyping and cut time to market, as well as democratize manufacturing. This discussion will explore various aspects of the emerging technology, its current limitations and also explore the macroeconomic implications as building moves from emerging economies like China back to more established ones (US, UK, etc).

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Obligatory Panel Plug Four: ‘Space Out, Sketch Your Ride for the Next Century.’

Extraterrestrial travel is within our (civilian) grasp and it is time for designers, space fanatics, and wannabe astronauts to come together to imagine the future. Using pen and paper, we will sketch our ultimate personal spaceship while honing our ability to sketch ideas as physical objects and interfaces. Whether your approach borders on the rational or the fantastical, we will work against an agreed upon set of design constraints and have a hell of a lot of fun. Absolutely no drawing experience required!

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