Keynote Talk: Michaela Musilová (SK)
Dr. Michaela Musilova is an award-winning astrobiologist, explorer, keynote speaker and author. Michaela has been conducting space-related research at institutions around the world, including: NASA, ESA, CalTech, University College London, Chiba University (Japan), Canada-France-Hawaii telescope and many others. She was also the Commander of over 30 simulated missions to the Moon and Mars, the most missions led on record, in collaboration with NASA and many international organizations.
Currently, Michaela is the President and Founder of the non-profit XtremeFrontiers. She is pioneering a unique global project: Astro Seven Summits. It represents a world-first in combining expeditions to the highest mountain on each continent together with scientific research in cooperation with NASA and institutions worldwide, educational activities and filming documentaries.
Michaela’s work has been recognised through numerous awards, including Forbes Slovakia’s Most Promising 30 Under 30; Top 100 Aerospace and Aviation Professionals on LinkedIn in 2021 & 2022; and the Emerging Space Leaders Grant. She was even selected to journey to Antarctica with the largest all-female in STEM expedition.
A great part of Michaela’s work is teaching and giving keynote presentations to audiences of all ages around the world. Her outreach work, work with international media and her biography, A Woman from Mars, aim to help educate and empower young people worldwide. Furthermore, she is helping others succeed in the space sector as Global Faculty at the International Space University, Ambassador for Space ScAvengers and the Head of Research of NEEDRONIX.
Keywords: science, astrobiology, life on Mars and Moon
Afternoon topic: Into the Universe
Technology enables discovery, exploration, and new understanding of the universe we are a part of. How deep can we go? How does the connection between art and science contribute to discovery? Can the Moon become our next home?
We can understand the dimensions that transcend us with the help of mathematics, physics, computing, statistics and other artificial tools. These not only give us the illusion that we understand our universe, but also the illusion of order that reflects the nightmares of perceived chaos. But we refuse to acknowledge that this illusion has gradually become law. The space we call the Universe seems to have multiple possible interpretations, and meanwhile advanced data systems are gradually building a parallel, virtual, imprint of it. Scientific models and explanations of the nature and origin of the Universe, like other theories, have naturally gone through phases of acceptance and transcendence. Do we now find ourselves once again in a similar era that, albeit without corporal punishment, is moving on to another paradigm of interpretation of the physical nature of matter and the universe? How many more interpretations and plausible theories will have to gradually fall before we finally find the answer?
