Space Exploration
12:00 PM | Location: Boomer B
Hope vs. Despair: How Sci-Fi Imagines the Future
From Star Trek's utopian ideals to Cyberpunk's corporate dystopias, sf has always wrestled with our best and worst possible futures. Join us as we break down how these visions of tomorrow shape our present.
Moderator: David Rike
Panelists: Allison Stein, Charles Dane Clark, David Rike, Ted Pennella
4:00 PM | Location: Boomer B
How to Write Non-Human Protagonists
What challenges arise when writing characters who are not human? Panelists explore how to write compelling protagonists who are aliens, robots, or other non-human entities.
Moderator: Phillip Drayer Duncan
Panelists: A. Lee Martinez, David Carrico, Max Griffin, Phillip Drayer Duncan, Rhonda Eudaly
9:00 PM | Location: Embassy Hotel: Crimson Meeting Room
Stellarium: Myths and Legends of the Night Sky
What do the stars say? Across cultures and religions, the night sky has inspired myths, legends, and spiritual beliefs. This panel will uncover the stories behind constellations and their significance in folklore, mythology, and history.
Moderator: Mel. White
Panelists: Joshua Caudill, Laura J. Underwood, Mel. White
2:00 PM | Location: Boomer B
Humanity, F*ck Yeah!
In the vastness of the cosmos, humans might seem small, but we've got something no alien race can match: pure, unrelenting grit. This panel dives into the Humanity, F*ck Yeah!* (HFY) genre, where we're the underdogs who rise to the occasion, outsmarting or outlasting advanced civilizations. From clever survival tactics to showing our superiority in unexpected ways, discover why HFY stories celebrate humanity's surprising strength in the face of cosmic challenges.
Moderator: Cap’n Ed
Panelists: A.C. Smart, Cap’n Ed, David Rike, Gypsy Jess, Rhonda Eudaly
3:00 PM | Location: Embassy Hotel: Bedlam 2 Boardroom
How To Design Your Own Starfighter - Sketch & Learn
Follow JEO Creations as he guides you through the creation process of your very own starfighter! This sketch and learn workshop is great for any skill level!
Click here to reserve your spot.
Limit: 14
Moderator: Eric Osborn/ JEO Creations
Panelists: Eric Osborn/ JEO Creations
12:00 PM | Location: Boomer A
Humanity Among the Stars: The Ethical Implications of Colonizing Other Planets
As humanity looks to the stars, the possibility of colonizing other planets becomes ever more plausible. But what ethical questions arise when we consider colonizing worlds beyond Earth? From terraforming to the displacement of potential alien life, this panel will explore the moral quandaries surrounding space colonization, examining how these issues are handled in speculative fiction and how they may play out in the real world.
Moderator: Dara Fogel, PhD
Panelists: Aaron Bossig, Charles Dane Clark, Dara Fogel, PhD, Robb Wetmore