CHARLES TOWN, W.Va.,
Aug. 22,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- American Public University
System (APUS) and the Policy Studies Organization (PSO) welcome
space enthusiasts and star gazers far and wide to register for the
fifth annual Space Education & Strategic Applications (SESA)
conference on Thursday, September 19
and Friday, September 20, 2024,
featuring a social media star astronaut, the Chief Master Sergeant
of the U.S. Space Force, and the Former James Webb Space Telescope
Mission Ops Manager. The virtual conference is open to the public
and free of charge.
Those interested in attending can register here.
This year's theme, "Preparing for the Cosmos: Readying the Next
Generation of Space Explorers," emphasizes the critical need for
developing the necessary infrastructure, policies, and technologies
to assist human exploration initiatives in space. The event brings
together innovators, researchers, and decision-makers from across
the space community.
"The space field is broad, encompassing almost any field you can
imagine, from scientists to lawyers, journalists to engineers,
medical experts to business professionals, agriculturists to
pilots," says Dr. Kristen Miller, APUS Professor of Space
Studies, who is helping to organize the event. "It's exciting to
participate with this rapidly expanding space community through the
SESA Conference and to contribute to humanity's progress towards
becoming a multi-planet species."
This year's out-of-this-world keynote speaker lineup
includes:
Dr. Sian Proctor, a
trailblazer in space exploration and a social media star, piloted
the first ever all-civilian orbital mission, SpaceX's Inspiration4.
She is also an Afrofuturism Space Artist and was the first African
American woman to paint in space. Dr. Proctor is the Chief
Inspiration Astronaut of Space2inspire and founder of The Proctor
Foundation for Art and Science. She serves on the National Space
Council Users' Advisory Group and was recently selected as a U.S.
Science Envoy with the State Department. She is also a Geoscience
Professor at Maricopa Community Colleges.
John F. Bentivegna, the
Chief Master Sergeant of the U.S. Space Force, serves at the
highest enlisted level of leadership. Chief Bentivegna advises the
Chief of Space Operations and the Secretary of the Air Force on
issues regarding welfare, readiness, morale, and development. Chief
Bentivegna's extensive career in space spans over two decades. He
began serving in the United States
Air Force in 1994 and has worked in both Maintenance and Space
Operations career fields, culminating in his current leadership
role.
Carl Starr has been
on the forefront of space exploration technology with a
distinguished career that includes 12 years in Army Space Command
and significant contributions to the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. He
played a pivotal role in the successful commissioning of the James
Webb Space Telescope and currently leads engineering efforts for
Millennium Space Systems, a Boeing company. Starr is also an
accomplished author and instructor, sharing his expertise with the
next generation of space professionals.
"This conference exemplifies our commitment to uniting leading
experts from industry, government, military, and academia to
promote vital discussions and advancements. Our university is
dedicated to supporting the growth of space studies through our
innovative curriculum and our ongoing collaboration with the Policy
Studies Organization," said Dr. Elizabeth
Johnson, Provost of APUS.
All conference attendees are also invited to a special stellar
experience on Thursday, September 19
at 9 p.m. ET: a virtual "Star Party at the APUS Wallace E. Boston
Observatory". Stargazers will witness the wonder of APUS' 24-inch
planewave research grade telescope in action and can view real-time
images of celestial objects including the Moon, star clusters,
nebulae, and galaxies. Hosted by members of the APUS Department of
Space Studies' Supernova Search Group, attendees will learn
interesting facts about the telescope, celestial objects in the
night sky, and astronomical techniques and instrumentation as the
telescope captures beautiful images.
For more information about the conference, including the agenda,
speaker bios, and registration details, visit the PSO conference
page or email STEM@apus.edu.
About the Policy Studies Organization (PSO)
Policy
Studies Organization publishes academic journals and book series,
sponsors conferences, and produces programs. It seeks to
disseminate scholarship and information to serve those making and
evaluating policy.
About American Public University System
American
Public University System (APUS) delivers affordable,
high-quality, workforce-relevant higher education. With a vibrant,
diverse, and inclusive 32-year history, and over 147,000 alumni
from more than 80 countries, APUS is recognized for its innovative
approach to online learning1. APUS is in the top 11% for
students' return on educational investment, compared to 4,500
colleges and universities nationwide, according to the Georgetown University Center on Education and the
Workforce (2022)2.
APUS, which includes American Military University (AMU) and
American Public University (APU), is accredited by the Higher
Learning Commission (HLC), an institutional accreditation
agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. APUS is a
wholly owned subsidiary of American Public Education,
Inc. (Nasdaq: APEI). For more information,
visit www.apus.edu.
1APUS has been honored with the Online
Learning Consortium's Gomory Award for Quality Online
Education and is a five-time recipient of the consortium's
Effective Practice
Award https://www.apus.edu/newsroom/awards/.
2Ranking
based on 20-year net present value (NPV)
https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/roi2022/.
CONTACT
Meg Sheeley
Manager, Public Relations, APUS
MSheeley@apus.edu
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SOURCE American Public University System