Presenting the 50 year visions for Space

I am Tiffany Frierson, and I am a physics student at the University of Memphis with a deep passion for space exploration and science. I have been working with the Space Generation Advisory Council since January 2007. I saw an ad on Facebook about filling out a survey to see what people aged 18-29 think should happen within the next 50 years as far as space is concerned. That alone intrigued me, but there was also a chance to help work on the survey and possibly be chosen to go to a symposium on space exploration. I couldn't pass that up.

Until then, I hadn't even heard of the Space Generation Advisory Council. I had no idea of what kind of work they do or even if they were legit. I didn't even know how important this symposium would be. But I am so passionate about space I gave them a try. I'd hopefully get to work with other space enthusiasts as well as see what other people my age thought about space. What harm could that do, right?

Little did I know this organization would change my life.

I worked (with people who I believe will be my friends for life) on sorting the first round of the survey and developing and sorting the second round as well. And to my pleasant surprise, both rounds of the survey were successful. We got many interesting and surprising ideas from many people from many different parts of the world.

But to my utter shock, I found out I was actually chosen to present the results of this survey to the symposium in Boston (called the Future of Space Exploration: Solutions to Earthly Problems?). I have to pause here and say I have never felt so shocked...and so honored in my life. I'm not normally the type of person to get chosen for things like this. And I looked through the symposium web site, saw the VIP who would be there and got extremely excited. My hotel for a week, some of my meals and my travel expenses would all be covered, too. This was a dream come true (no, this will not turn into a horror story. Far from it.)

My mom and I packed our bags and drove from Memphis to Boston (an over 24 hour drive). We got there a day earlier than expected, and the man in charge of booking the hotel for the SGAC people was kind enough to arrange for us to check in a day early (thank you so much, Mark. I owe you so much.).

Boston is an amazing, beautiful city with so much to see and do. My mom and I were the first ones to get to Boston, so we spent about a day sightseeing and just enjoying the city. The population there is highly diverse and interesting and the food is absolutely amazing.

A day after we arrive, Chris Boshuizen checked into the hotel. The morning after he got there, we met up in the lobby of the hotel and discussed our presentation and the symposium in general.

I cannot say good enough things about Chris. He is an immensely intelligent, kind person with an incredible sense of humor. After we discussed the presentation, he, my mom and I went out to do some more sightseeing and talking. Also, he showed us how to use the public transportation system. If it wasn't for him, we would easily have paid over a hundred dollars for parking for the week we stayed in Boston.

The day or two after Chris arrive, the delegate from China, Shi Heng, arrived. His travel expenses and hotel, too, were covered. Shi is an incredibly nice, smart and kind person who contributed so much to this project.

On Wednesday, the day before the symposium, we spent almost the entire day working on our presentation at the Center for Astrophysics at Harvard University. This was extremely exciting. Not only did we get the experience of being at Harvard and working there, but we were given a tour of the century-old observatory (by a kind man who also gave me and Shi a free poster from NASA). Also, we took a break from all of that working and were treated to a free lunch by William Marshall, co-chair of SGAC and a scholar on space policy (and an all-around amazing man). He helped us so much on our presentation. We could not have done as well as we did if it wasn't for him.

Thursday morning was the first day of the symposium. The very first thing we saw was the President of India giving a speech on his vision for the Indian space program. He was connected to the conference by a video link, so participants at the symposium were able to ask him questions at the end of his speech and get his answers in real-time.

Throughout the symposium, many very important space professionals gave presentations, including former astronauts, the 2006 Nobel Prize winner in Physics, CEOs of private aerospace companies and more. All of them had unique views on what direction space exploration should go within the next 50 years. But all of them had extremely educated, interesting views on the subject. Throughout the day, I gave out flyers designed by Shi and Chris and met so many different people. I took pictures with people I never thought I'd have the honor to be in the same room with. And I met other students with the same desire I have of getting humans into outer space. The symposium lasted all day Thursday and Friday but we had many breaks in-between, including breakfast, lunch and Thursday night dinner. That was some of the best food I've ever had the pleasure to eat. It was very high-class (and expensive-looking and -tasting).

We gave part one of our presentation on Thursday night. All of us were extremely nervous. I thought I would pass out before I gave my speech. That would have been very embarrassing. Anyway, Mark Lupisella introduced us. Chris gave an overview of the organization and the basics behind the survey. I gave the summary on Theme 1 of the survey: using space exploration for human survival. Sheng gave Themes 2 and 3 of the survey. Then Chris gave an overall summary of the entire project and suggestions for follow-up for the Saturday talks.

I did not get to attend the Saturday invitation-only talks. But that in no way lessened the experience of attending the main conference. This is easily the most important event I have ever attended. I got to network with so many people and I will look fondly upon my entire week in Boston. I could not have had this opportunity without SGAC and I am in immense debt to these people. Thank you so much for providing me with this opportunity.

I will cherish these memories for a lifetime.

Tiffany