Our Place in Space | Twilight Talk | Kayla Barron, Oliver Jeffers and Professor Stephen Smartt

Sat 30 July 2022

Midsummer Common

Kayla Barron, Oliver Jeffers and Professor Stephen Smartt will be live in the stage tent on Midsummer Common as part of the Our Place in Space launch weekend of events — chaired by the awesome TV Presenter and theoretical physicist Mark Langtry.

This star-studded lineup of great minds from across STEAM will discuss space travel, the solar system and how the experience of distance can facilitate a perspective that brings us together as humans on Earth. Following their discussion, Mark will invite the audience to ask some questions.

Meet Kayla Barron
Kayla Barron is an American NASA astronaut, engineer and member of the first class of women commissioned into the submarine community as a Submarine Warfare Officer. A Gates Cambridge Scholar, she earned a master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Cambridge.

In 2017, Kayla was selected by NASA to join the 2017 Astronaut Candidate Class where she served as a member of the NASA SpaceX Crew-3 mission to the International Space Station spending 177 days in orbit.

Meet Oliver Jeffers

Oliver Jeffers is a visual artist, author and lead artist behind Our Place in Space. Curiosity and humour are underlying themes throughout Oliver's practice as an artist and storyteller. While investigating the ways the human mind understands its world, his work also functions as comic relief in the face of futility. Oliver grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland and currently works between here and Brooklyn, New York.

Meet Professor Stephen Smartt

Stephen is an astrophysicist who specialises in stellar evolution, supernovae and time domain sky surveys. He is credited with the discovery of stars that explode as supernovae, measuring their mass, luminosity and the chemical elements synthesized. He is currently a Professor of Astrophysics at the School of Mathematics and Physics at Queens University Belfast and provided scientific guidance in the design process of the Our Place in Space solar system trail.

Meet Mark Langtry

Mark is a Theoretical Physicist, former professional footballer, TV presenter and Head of Science & Sport at Explorium - Ireland's National Science Centre.

Also known as the "Science Guy", Mark is an experienced broadcaster and educational content creator who aims to inspire the next generation.

Cost: Free