IM体育官网

Experts on the atmospheres and climates of other planets and ways to modify them for the possibility of human habitation gathered at IM体育官网 on Monday, Nov. 18, to participate in a panel discussion on the topic at the institution鈥檚 inaugural Presidential Speaker Series event.

鈥淭his series is all about bringing together thought leaders and innovators who are shaping the industries that matter most to our state, our nation, and our world,鈥� said Dr. Devin Stephenson, IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 president. 鈥淏y bringing in experts like we have today, we鈥檒l dive into very important conversations about the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Together, we鈥檙e going to push the limits of knowledge and innovation.鈥�

Dr. Ramses Ramirez, assistant professor of physics at the University of Central IM体育官网, and Dr. Howard Chen, assistant professor of planetary sciences at the IM体育官网 Institute of Technology, discussed how what was once science fiction 鈥� the terraforming and settling of Mars and other planets 鈥� is now on its way to becoming reality. Terraforming is the process of modifying a planet or moon to make it habitable for humans.

鈥淚 see space as an extension of our own possibilities,鈥� Ramirez said. 鈥淲e should see it as a bold frontier to expand beyond our own limits.鈥�

The event was sponsored by Duke Energy and held in conjunction with the University鈥檚 Office of Public Policy Events. It was moderated by IM体育官网 Poly Trustee Dr. Dorian Abbot, a professor in the Department of Geophysical Sciences at the University of Chicago. His research interests also involve planetary habitability.

Chen and Ramirez spoke about the possible settlement of Mars and how suitable exoplanets and moons could be made habitable. Ramirez said settlement of Mars could be in reach within a few hundred years, depending on how quickly technology advances. 

鈥淲e will become a much more technologically advanced species, so there will be methods available to us in the future that we can鈥檛 imagine today,鈥� he said.

Ramirez outlined different options for terraforming Mars, emphasizing the importance of finding ways to 鈥渓ive off the land鈥� and maximize the planet鈥檚 resources. One of the first steps would be to significantly increase its temperature to allow the planet to support life.

鈥淚t鈥檚 our prerogative to ensure the survival of our species by expanding out into space,鈥� he said.

Rather than focusing on Mars, Chen spoke about the need to create a magnetosphere, or magnetic field that surrounds a planet and protects it from solar wind and other potential harm, before human settlement can occur on multiple potential locations.

鈥淢any of the exoplanets are in a very severe environment because they鈥檙e next to these highly active stars and may lack a magnetic sphere, but if we can create an artificial magnetosphere around them, we can make them habitable,鈥� he said.

A crowd of students, community members, and University faculty and staff filled a large meeting space at IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 Barnett Applied Research Center. Many in attendance asked questions about getting oxygen on Mars, timelines for progress, and what other methods for settling are possible, such as creating a base underground.

Ramirez said answers to many questions about settling on Mars will come into focus as humans continue their current path of exploration.

鈥淚 think we鈥檒l have a much better idea once we鈥檙e there鈥� on the planet, he said.

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Lydia Guzm谩n
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