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The Ethics of Outer Space
Kelsey Johnson
Professor at UVA Astronomy Department
Next CAS Meeting
Wednesday, July 1st at 7 pm
At Leander McCormick Observatory -
Abstract:
As humanity extends its reach beyond Earth—through planetary exploration, satellite constellations, lunar industries, and the prospect of human settlement elsewhere—the ethical stakes of space activity are rapidly expanding. This talk will overview human activities that are impacting the space environment and discuss a framework for thinking ethically about outer space, introducing several ethical lenses that might guide decision making both now and in the coming years. The goal is not to settle which framework is "right," but to work toward building a shared ethical vocabulary for confronting the profound question now before us: how should humanity behave in the cosmos? -
CV:
Dr. Kelsey Johnson earned her BA in Physics from Carleton College and her MS and PhD in Astrophysics from the University of Colorado. Her early fascination with the universe has driven her career, leading her to explore significant questions about the cosmos and to inspire future generations through education.
Dr. Johnson's primary research focuses on the formation and evolution of massive stars and star clusters. She investigates how these processes occur in various environments, including the Milky Way and more extreme conditions found in starburst galaxies. Her work spans multiple wavelengths, including radio, infrared, and visible light, allowing her to probe different stages of star evolution.
Her book is entitled “Into The Unknown: The Quest To Understand The Mysteries Of The Cosmos”