Call for Expressions of Interest
CLOSED
A Call for Expressions of Interest from the
ESF Standing Committee for the Humanities (HUM (formerly SCH)) and the
ESF Expert Committee European Space Sciences Committee (ESSC)
The DEADLINE for online submission of Humans in Outer Space Call for Expressions of Interest is Saturday 31 MAY 2008.
Space age has reached its 50th anniversary. Development of robotic exploration to distant planets and bodies across the solar system, as well as pioneering human space exploration in Earth orbit and the Moon, paved the way for ambitious long-term space exploration. Europe has always played a significant role in the endeavours of humankind to explore other worlds and to understand the Universe in which we live.
Today, space exploration goes far beyond a merely technological endeavour, as its further development will have a tremendous social, cultural and economic impact. Space activities are now entering an era where the contribution of the humanities - history, philosophy, anthropology, the arts as well as the social sciences - political science, economics and law - will become crucial for the future of space exploration. Now that the awareness for the societal complexity of activities in space is growing internationally, it is vital that Europe, with a stronghold in natural sciences as well as its identity firmly rooted in the humanities and the social sciences, grasps the opportunity to involve their specific knowledge(s) in the long-term planning of exploration undertakings.
Our generation may be given the opportunity to explore new places and discover new worlds. Those adventures will be driven by the human desire of quest for knowledge and human curiosity. They will provide a main opportunity for equitable international cooperation. Humans divided on Earth will hopefully unite in space as citizens of one planet.
During 2007, the European Science Foundation (ESF) has set up the first comprehensive trans-disciplinary dialogue on humans in outer space. This dialogue goes further than regarding humans as better-than-robot tools for exploration. It investigates the human quest for odysseys beyond Earth’s atmosphere and reflects on the implications of the findings of extraterrestrial life.
The inherent human curiosity for exploring the unknown is at the heart of this dialogue, and has been addressed through collaboration between the ESF Standing Committee for the Humanities (HUM (formerly SCH)) and the ESF European Space Sciences Committee (ESSC), in cooperation with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI) in Vienna. A conference on ‘Humans in Outer Space’ was organised on 11 – 12 October 2007 in Vienna, resulting in the Vienna Vision on Humans in Outer Space. The vision provides a European perspective in identifying the relevant needs and interests linked with space exploration by humans.
ESF’s Standing Committee for the Humanities together with ESF’s Expert Committee on Space Sciences have identified the topic as an area for cross-disciplinary collaboration, that should be addressed through a broad European approach. The main purpose of this call for Expressions of Interest is to identify key challenging topics from any discipline in this area and investigate the best ways to explore them.
This consultation process will provide ESF with the views of the European scientific community on these issues. All Expressions of Interest received will be synthesised in order to identify key topics of interest to be developed at the European level.
One topic recognized by ESF and ESA as interesting for further cross-disciplinary collaboration is the human impact of human spaceflight. Human spaceflight is a major endeavour that calls together many scientific and technical disciplines. Up to now, the emphasis in this context has mostly been on engineering, physical and life sciences aspects, where major achievements have been obtained.
However, with Europe preparing itself for a decision on its ambition in future human spaceflight to further destinations than a low orbit around Earth, it is timely to address also the human and social aspects of having ‘some of us out there’.
The Vienna Vision on Humans in Outer Space clearly indicates that here is a very interesting field to explore. Europe could take the lead in bringing this a step further and provide a social sciences and humanities based framework for decisions and events that are expected to happen in the next decades. Examples include:
· Psychology of isolation
· Ethical aspects of human spaceflight
· Socio-economic costs and benefits
· Space law
· Religious implications of leaving Earth
· Administrative and social structures in Lunar or Martian settlements
· Finding non-terrestrial life forms: social, psychological, religious
implications
· Artistic expression as a means to share the human exploration experience
After selection by a multidisciplinary panel, the most engaging ideas will be pursued in a collaborative way through ESF-managed workshop(s) to be held in 2008 / 2009.
Submission
Submissions of Expression of Interest are invited from researchers based in Europe. The abstract should be submitted by 31 May 2008 via on-line form and should not exceed 400 words.
Click here to enter the submission page.
A panel will discuss the received ideas (Expressions of Interest) in June 2008. All applicants will be informed about the outcome of this exercise. The most engaging ideas will be pursued in a collaborative way through ESF-managed workshop(s) to be held in 2008 / 2009.
Further Information and Contacts
Dr. Monique van Donzel, Standing Committee for the Humanities
Dr. Jean-Claude Worms, European Space Sciences Committee
Ms. Marie Suchanova, general enquiries
European Science Foundation
1, quai Lezay Marnésia – BP 90015
67080 Strasbourg cedex – France
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 76 71 00
Fax +33 (0)3 88 76 71 81
Email: HiOS[at]esf.org
