The Colonization of Space

Submitted by Marlys Schneider
Phone: (907) 474-6287
09/18/03

Jay Huebner, Ph D. will present, "The Colonization of Space" Wednesday Sept. 24, 2003. Huebner’s talk be in the auditorium of the Noel Wien Library at 7 p.m. The presentation is free and open to everyone.

For more information contact the UAF Chemistry Department at 474-5510. The UAF Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Alaska Section of the American Chemical Society are both sponsors of this talk.

It is technically feasible to build attractive artificial worlds in outer space that can sustain large human populations and industrial civilizations independent of Earth. Artificial environments may allow for much greater efficiencies in some agriculture and industries than on earth. Raw materials and solar energy for such habitats are abundant in solar space. This slide illustrated presentation will describe where and how such habitats can be constructed and maintained. Discussing space colonies provides a convenient means to clarify a number of issues of general concern with which chemists identify, such as, the benefits of increased industrial activities, the limits to growth for Earth’s industries and population, human survival of global thermonuclear war or asteroid collision with Earth, and the role science and technology have in shaping human destiny. This presentation lends itself to a lively and wide ranging discussion, which the author encourages.