What do we hope for in space travel and in astrobiology? What is so important about life that we continue to look for it and hope to spread it throughout the galaxy? These two speakers exemplify the well-informed optimism of astrobiology. Dr. Rika Anderson studies the co-evolution of organisms and environments. Teaching biology at Carleton College, she deftly weaves here scientific studies into a broader picture of history, philosophy, and practical knowledge. A long-time member of the astrobiology community, Dr. Anderson has experience integrating data from diverse fields and communicating the importance of science. Becky Chambers wrote the Wayfarer series of sci-fi novels, which won the Hugo Award for Best Series in 2019. She has been cited as a prime example of a new style in science fiction that is hopeful and strongly character driven. Her 2019 novella To Be Taught, if Fortunate brilliantly captures the ethos of astrobiology research while asking deeper questions about our place in the cosmos.
