Aim of the conference
The conference, inserted in the program of events celebrating the 800 years of the University of Padova, is jointly organized by several Departments and the Centre for Space Studies and Activities ‘Giuseppe Colombo’ (CISAS) of the University of Padova and by the INAF Astronomical Observatory of Padova, together with the EuroMoonMars programme.
The conference aims to bring together distinguished lecturers celebrating the immense legacy of the past 800 years in Science, Technology, Humanities, Art and Innovation of Padova, its University, Astronomical Observatory and entire City, a legacy that paves the way to further great achievements in a bright future.
To this end, the conference, besides presenting the complexity and risks of space travel, aims to emphasize the impact of Space research in everyday life and the progress of human exploration of deep Space, in order to create conditions for more comfortable life and work.
Sessions will be devoted to Astronomy, Astrophysics and Geodesy. Other sessions will treat habitats in Space, from the International Space Station (ISS) to the Moon and Mars. Several aspects of the life on such habitats will be examined, from biomedicine to nutrition to psychology to political interactions among nations and private consortia. Students will expound their experience in Space simulants.
A dedicated session will underline the specific role of women in Space science, technology and life.
Among such diverse aspects, the conference will touch on humanities and art in Space, for the better well-being of astronauts in long duration flights and sojourns. These sessions have been organized with the support of the EuroMoonMars and ArtMoonMars programmes and of the Moon Gallery Foundation.
The conference aims to involve the public as well. An exhibition, organized with the support of the City of Padova, will display models of scientific instruments realized by Academy and Industry, conceived for important Space missions where the University of Padova had and will have a leading role. Moreover, the exhibition will show a copy of the Moon Gallery artworks presently in flight aboard on the ISS. Several of such miniature masterpieces have been provided by Padova artists. Among these, a golden cube reminds of the eighteen years of Galileo Galilei in Padova, the happiest years of his life.
A public conference is foreseen with the Italian astronaut Maurizo Cheli, during which a live conversation will be attempted with Italian astronauts on the ISS and at the NASA Space Center in Houston. In the Social Event at the Specola, Apollo trees seeds will be donated to our University.
