Podcasts about Astronautics

In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Andy Crocker about what losing to Musk and Bezos taught him about real leadership. Andy Crocker is an aerospace executive with three decades of experience building high-performance teams and leading ambitious projects, including NASA's Human Landing System. He holds degrees in engineering, humanities, management, and leadership and is an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. His multidisciplinary educational background and diverse career shaped his unique perspective that led him to write The Unconditionals in which he reveals the foundational, timeless values that help readers unlock the potential for their greatest personal and professional fulfillment. He recently founded Overview Affection, a company that aims to extend the values contained in The Unconditionals to individuals and organizations. Check out all of the podcasts in the HCI Podcast Network!

NASA's normally vibrant presence at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics' showcase Aviation and Ascend events was cut to the bone this year as the agency faces crippling budget cuts. Aviation Week's Graham Warwick, Guy Norris and Garrett Reim were in Las Vegas for the events. They share their impressions from there and concerns about what the NASA cuts could mean for U.S. competitiveness in commercial aviation and space.

In Everyday Guardians, the podcast series of the Securing the Future of Space campaign, we speak with the people who are helping to build a more resilient, sustainable and secure orbital environment - whether through technology, policy or ethical leadership. Securing the Future of Space is underwritten by the American Space Exploration Fund. In the third episode, we hear from Nobu Okada, Founder & CEO of Astroscale. Since establishing Astroscale in 2013, Nobu Okada has grown the company from a one-person venture into a global organization with offices in five countries and led the company to a successful IPO in 2024. A highly respected figure in the space industry, Nobu is an Honorary Ambassador of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), a member of the International Academy of Astronautics, an advisory board member of the Space Generation Advisory Council, and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. He plays an active role in United Nations forums, contributing to key workshops and committee discussions that shape the global agenda for space sustainability. Nobu previously served as the IAF's Vice President for Space Economy and Sponsorship and co-chaired the World Economic Forum's Global Future Council on Space Technologies until 2021. Under Nobu's leadership, Astroscale has received numerous accolades, including the IAF Excellence in Industry (SME) in 2023, the Japanese Prime Minister's Award in 2022, and recognition as one of TIME100's Most Influential Companies in 2022. Nobu has also received individual recognition, including the 2020 SpaceNews Company Leader of the Year and the 2019 Forbes JAPAN Start-up of The Year. Before founding Astroscale, Nobu was an IT entrepreneur and strategy consultant, managing IT companies across the Asia-Pacific region. He successfully led one company to an IPO. Earlier in his career, he worked at McKinsey & Company and served in the Japanese Ministry of Finance. Nobu holds a bachelor's degree in Agriculture from the University of Tokyo and an MBA from the Krannert School of Business, Purdue University.

In this episode of Notable Leaders' Radio, I sit down with Andy Crocker, author of The Unconditionals, to explore how five core values, unconditional love, gratitude, integrity, accountability, and endeavor, can transform how we face challenges and build resilience. Andy shares powerful insights and real-life stories that reveal how grounding yourself in these values can help you recover from failure faster, pivot with purpose, and live a life defined by meaning, not perfection. In this episode, you'll learn how to: See failure as a launchpad, not a dead end. When you stop viewing setbacks as defeat, you recover faster and grow wiser, equipped to seize new opportunities with greater clarity and courage. Define success on your own terms. Ditch the societal checklist. Pursuing fulfillment, not perfection, leads to greater joy, authenticity, and personal achievement. Pivot with purpose when life shifts. Unexpected turns are inevitable. A values-based mindset empowers you to adjust course with intention and rediscover meaning, even in the midst of change. Embrace imperfection as a path to progress. Mastery isn't about getting it right the first time—it's about learning, evolving, and moving forward without fear of failure. RESOURCES: Guest Bio: Andy Crocker is an aerospace executive with three decades of experience building high-performance teams and leading ambitious projects, including NASA's Human Landing System. He holds degrees in engineering, humanities, management, and leadership and is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. This multidisciplinary educational background and diverse career shaped his perspective that led him to write The Unconditionals, in which he reveals the foundational, timeless values that help us unlock the potential for our greatest personal and professional fulfillment. He recently founded Overview Affection, a company that aims to extend the values contained in The Unconditionals to individuals and organizations.   Website/Social Links https://andycrockerbooks.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andycrocker/ https://www.facebook.com/andycrockerbooks/  https://www.instagram.com/andycrockerbooks/  BOOKS: The Unconditionals: Five Timeless Values to Live Without Limits and Ignite Your Superpower https://amzn.to/44AptaE   Belinda's Bio: Belinda Pruyne is a renowned Leadership Advisor, Executive Coach, Consultant, and Keynote Speaker recognized for her ability to transform executives, professionals, and small business owners into highly respected, influential leaders. As the Founder of BelindaPruyne.com, she partners with top-tier organizations, including IBM, Booz Allen Hamilton, BBDO, Hilton, Leidos, Yale School of Medicine, Landis, Discovery Channel, and the Portland Trail Blazers. Recently, she led the redesign of two global internal advertising agencies for Cella, a leader in creative staffing and consulting. She is also a founding C-suite and executive management coach for Chief, the fastest-growing executive women's network. A thought leader in leadership development, Belinda is the creator and host of the Notable Leaders Radio podcast, where she has conducted 95+ interviews with top executives and business leaders, revealing the untold stories behind their success. Previously, as Executive Vice President, Global Director of Creative Management at Grey Advertising, she oversaw a global team of 500 professionals, gaining deep expertise in client services and executive leadership. With 25+ years of experience, Belinda is a trusted advisor to startups, turnarounds, acquisitions, and Fortune 500 companies, delivering strategic, high-impact solutions in today's fast-evolving business landscape. Website: Belindapruyne.com The Values Catalyst: https://belindapruyne.com/vci Email Address: hello@belindapruyne.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/belindapruyne  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NotableLeadersNetwork.BelindaPruyne/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/belindapruyne?lang=en  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belindapruyne/ 

The Smart 7 is an award winning daily podcast, in association with METRO that gives you everything you need to know in 7 minutes, at 7am, 7 days a week...With over 18 million downloads and consistently charting, including as No. 1 News Podcast on Spotify, we're a trusted source for people every day and the Sunday 7 won a Gold Award as “Best Conversation Starter” in the International Signal Podcast Awards If you're enjoying it, please follow, share, or even post a review, it all helps...Today's episode includes the following guests:Guests: Dr Andy Shapanis - Chief Executive of blood testing company XgeneraWes Streeting - UK Secretary of Health Nuha Yassin - Consultant Robotic Colorectal Surgeon at Solihull Hospital Will Guyatt - The Smart 7's Tech Guru Dr Jon LaPook - CBS News Senior Medical Correspondent Professor Stephen Till - Prof of Allergy at Guy's and St Thomas's Hospitals, and King's College London Carolin Frueh - Assistant Professor of Aeronautics & Astronautics at Purdue University Dr Rodrigo Iamaro - Director of the Bezos Institute for Sustainable Protein at Imperial College London Professor Ren Ng - Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at the University of California at Berkeley Dr Cameron Khan - Infectious Disease specialist at the University of Toronto Dr Maria Van Kerkhove - WHO Director for Preparedness and Pandemic Prevention Derek Manzello - Marine Biologist and Coordinator of the NOAA Coral Reef WatchContact us over @TheSmart7pod or visit www.thesmart7.com or find out more at www.metro.co.uk Presented by Jamie East, written by Liam Thompson, researched by Lucie Lewis and produced by Daft Doris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Could there be life on Venus? Guest: Sara Seager, Astrophysicist and Professor of Physics, Planetary Science, and Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are political tensions making people reconsider parenthood? Guest: Zachary Neal, Professor of Psychology at Michigan State University Will the gun buyback program be revived? Guest: Dr. Noah Schwartz, Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of the Fraser Valley and Author of “On Target: Gun Culture, Storytelling, and the NRA” Could there be life on Venus? Guest: Sara Seager, Astrophysicist and Professor of Physics, Planetary Science, and Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT How a mouse watching the Matrix improved our knowledge of the brain Guest: Dr. Forrest Collman, Associate Director of Informatics at the Allen Institute for Brain Science How RFK Jr.'s policies can impact Canada Guest: Taylor Noakes, Independent Journalist and Public Historian from Montreal Who should be the MP for Port Moody–Coquitlam? Guest: Bonita Zarillo, NDP Candidate for Port Moody–Coquitlam Guest: Zoe Royer, Liberal Candidate for Port Moody–Coquitlam Guest: Paul Lambert, Conservative Candidate for Port Moody–Coquitlam Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when today's treasure – satellites that give us access to broadband internet and accurate weather forecasts among other things – become tomorrow's trash? Or, in other words, where does all that space junk go? And what does climate change have to do with it? Last month, a team of aerospace engineers at MIT released their findings from a research study on the effects of climate change on satellites in the Earth's upper atmosphere. Will Parker, PhD candidate in Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT, and lead author of the study, joins The Excerpt to discuss how global warming affects satellites. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“The world's leading alien hunter” —New York Times MagazineFrom acclaimed Harvard astrophysicist and bestselling author of Extraterrestrial comes a mind-expanding new book explaining why becoming an interstellar species is imperative for humanity's survival and detailing a game plan for how we can settle among the stars.In the New York Times bestseller Extraterrestrial, Avi Loeb, the longest serving Chair of Harvard's Astronomy Department,presented a theory that shook the scientific community: our solar system, Loeb claimed, had likely been visited by a piece of advanced alien technology from a distant star.This provocative and persuasive argument opened millions of minds internationally to the vast possibilities of our universe and the existence of intelligent life beyond Earth. But a crucial question remained: now that we are aware of the existence of extraterrestrial life, what do we do next? How do we prepare ourselves for interaction with interstellar extraterrestrial civilization? How can our species become interstellar?Now Loeb tackles these questions in a revelatory, powerful call to arms that reimagines the idea of contact with extraterrestrial civilizations. Dismantling our science-fiction fueled visions of a human and alien life encounter, Interstellar provides a realistic and practical blueprint for how such an interaction might actually occur, resetting our cultural understanding and expectation of what it means to identify an extraterrestrial object.From awe-inspiring searches for extraterrestrial technology, to the heated debate of the existence of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, Loeb provides a thrilling, front-row view of the monumental progress in science and technology currently preparing us for contact. He also lays out the profound implications of becoming—or not becoming—interstellar; in an urgent, eloquent appeal for more proactive engagement with the world beyond ours, he powerfully contends why we must seek out other life forms, and in the process, choose who and what we are within the universe.Combining cutting edge science, physics, and philosophy, Interstellar revolutionizes the approach to our search for extraterrestrial life and our preparation for its discovery. In this eye-opening, necessary look at our future, Avi Loeb artfully and expertly raises some of the most important questions facing us as humans, and proves, once again, that scientific curiosity is the key to our survival.Abraham (Avi) Loeb is the Frank B. Baird, Jr., Professor of Science at Harvard University, the longest-serving chair of Harvard's Department of Astronomy, the founding director of Harvard's Black Hole Initiative, and the current director of the Institute for Theory and Computation (ITC) within the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. He also heads the Galileo Project, chairs the Advisory Committee for the Breakthrough Starshot Initiative, and is former chair of the Board on Physics and Astronomy of the National Academies. Author of eight books and more than a thousand scientific papers, Loeb is an elected fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Physical Society, and the International Academy of Astronautics. In 2012, Time selected Loeb as one of the twenty-five most influential people in space. He lives near Boston, Massachusetts.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/earth-ancients--2790919/support.

This informative session will examine the space industry, highlighting key trends, emerging technologies and opportunities within the sector. Experts from the New York Consortium for Space Technology (NYCST), a groundbreaking center funded by the U.S. Department of Defense and led by Cornell University, will discuss the latest developments in space technology and share how you can get involved with NYCST.PanelMason Peck, Stephen J. Fujikawa Professor of Astronautics, Cornell Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell UniversityGregory Ray, Vice President, Emerging Science and Technology, Voyager SpaceJohn Neal, Executive Director, Space Policy, U.S. Chamber of CommerceWhat You'll LearnThe evolution of humanity in spaceA look at today's space technology industryCurrent and emerging trends in space technologyThe private sector's role in space technology and opportunities for industryThe Cornell Keynotes podcast is brought to you by eCornell, which offers more than 200 online certificate programs to help professionals advance their careers and organizations. Learn more in our technology and engineering programs, including the Spaceflight Mechanics certificate.Did you enjoy this episode of the Cornell Keynotes podcast? Watch the full Keynote. Follow eCornell on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and X.

The United Kingdom's robust and ambitious space sector has many personalities. Each year at the Better Satellite World Awards Dinner in December in London, the SSPI UK Chapter recognizes one of them as the Satellite Personality of the Year. In this podcast, we hear from the 2024 honoree, Dr. David Parker FRAeS, Non-Executive Board Member of the UK Space Agency and Visiting Professor at the University of Southampton. This interview was originally broadcast as part of the Personalities of the Space & Satellite Industry podcast series, which aired before Dr. Parker was named the 2024 Satellite Personality of the Year. Dr. David Parker has led a distinguished thirty-five-year career in the space sector, spanning industry, UK government and the European Space Agency (ESA). Until June 2023, he served as ESA's Director of Space Exploration at ESTEC in the Netherlands, overseeing astronaut missions to the International Space Station, Europe's involvement in Artemis and pioneering projects like training an astronaut with a physical disability. Previously, he was the Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency (2013-2016), where he led Tim Peake's ISS mission and negotiated ESA's first UK center in Harwell. Starting in the UK space industry in 1990, he contributed to projects like XMM-Newton and ExoMars. Dr. Parker holds a degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics and a PhD from NASA Langley Research Center. He has received several accolades, including the Royal Aeronautical Society's Geoffrey Pardoe award. He currently works part-time at ESA, serves on the UK Space Agency Board and is a Visiting Professor at the University of Southampton.

Today, we meet with Daniel Portas Levy, a 10th grader at Florida Atlantic University High School, where he is also pursuing an undergraduate degree in mathematics. He has been a part of the Wolfpack CubeSat Development Team since middle school. He brought that early interest along with him as he entered high school where he joined their aerospace team, and he is currently their software lead. His primary focus is on the applications of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, particularly in space missions and aerospace education. He has shared his ideas with the scientific community at international conferences such as the Committee on Space Research, the Astrobiology Science Conference, and the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics' SciTech Conference. We look forward to catching up with Daniel and know that his work will inspire you to consider the future of AI and machine learning.https://www.smallsateducation.org/ (link to SmallSat Education Conference mentioned in promo

With increased conversations about journeying beyond Earth, to Mars and beyond....we thought we would re-release this timely episode we recorded in Fall 2023. We were grateful to speak with Dr. ALVIN HARVEY a Navajo/Diné Scientist about Space Justice, the ethics of travelling beyond Earth, what it means to be in relationship with Space, how space is ALIVE, and why humans really shouldn't do donuts on Mars. Alvin is a doing his post-doc on Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT. Remember, you can support the pod and rock some unique Indigenous Science merch at www.relationalsciencecircle.com/shop, all proceeds go towards Knowledge Keeper honoraria, following protocols, and keeping the pod going. Please like, share, follow, and rate the pod, it goes a long way to share this knowledge. Hand to heart to support from Indigenous Screen Office and Bespoke Productions Hub.Educator and those interested in learning more, full detailed shownotes with additional links, videos, books, articles ect, are here. Also check out https://www.relationalsciencecircle.com/ to learn more about Indigenous Science and Education. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send us a textChristmas comes a day late! Instead of Ave Maria, we celebrate with world famous Harvard astrophysicist and best-selling author Avi Loeb. Avi joins the Afraid of Nothing podcast for the third time to discuss New Jersey drones, AI in the next decade, what interests him the most in the sky, and what is the biggest question he wants to solve. About Avi LoebAbraham (Avi) Loeb is the Frank B. Baird, Jr., Professor of Science at Harvard University and a bestselling author (in lists of the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, Die Zeit, Der Spiegel, L'Express and more). He received a PhD in Physics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel at age 24 (1980-1986), led the first international project supported by the Strategic Defense Initiative (1983-1988), and was subsequently a long-term member of the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton (1988-1993). Avi has written 9 books, including most recently, Extraterrestrial and Interstellar, as well as over a thousand scientific papers (with h-index of 129 and i10-index of 609) on a wide range of topics, including black holes, the first stars, the search for extraterrestrial life and the future of the Universe. Avi is the Director of the Institute for Theory and Computation (2007-present) within the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, and also serves as the Head of the Galileo Project (2021-present). He had been the longest serving Chair of Harvard's Department of Astronomy (2011-2020) and the Founding Director of Harvard's Black Hole Initiative (2016-2021). He is an elected fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, the American Physical Society, and the International Academy of Astronautics. Loeb is a former member of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) at the White House, a former chair of the Board on Physics and Astronomy of the National Academies (2018-2021) and a current member of the Advisory Board for "Einstein: Visualize the Impossible" of the Hebrew University. He chaired the Advisory Committee for the Breakthrough Starshot I ClairvoyagingLauren & Frank explore esotericism, intuition, psychic growth, healing, and bad jokes.Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the showSUPPORT THE PODCAST NEW: SHOP OUR STORE ON SHOPIFY!Never Be Afraid to Look Good at https://383e86-d1.myshopify.com/.FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE/REVIEW...On our website at afraidofnothingpodcast.com.SUBSCRIBE...Your gracious donation here helps defray production costs. Beyond my undying gratitude, you will also will be shouted out in an upcoming episode.WATCH ON YOUTUBE...We are uploading past episodes on our Youtube channel. WATCH THE DOC… VIMEO ON DEMAND: Rent the Afraid of Nothing documentary here: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/aondoc. TUBI: watch for free with ads on tubitv.com. REVIEW OUR FILM ON ROTTEN TOMATOES...Write your five-star review here.

Over decades of space exploration, thousands of rockets have launched, resulting in a sea of debris circling the Earth. It's estimated that there are 30,000 objects over 10 cm, 500,000 marble-sized debris, and 100 million smaller than that.Episode host Anna Ploszajski bravely goes into the unknown, in conversation with:Mike Lindsay, Chief Technology Operator at Astroscale, a start-up seeking to make space more sustainable by pioneering clean-up tech.Hugh Lewis, Professor of Astronautics at the University of Southampton.New episodes - conversations about how to rebuild the world better - every other Friday.Find podcast transcripts on our website.Follow @QEPrize on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we talk to Professor Robert Miller, Director of the Whittle Laboratory at the University of Cambridge, who shares why 2030 targets are crucial for the aviation industry's transition towards net zero.Miller is also the head of the Aviation Impact Accelerator (AIA), a collaboration between the Whittle Laboratory and the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. The AIA recently released the “Five Years to Chart a New Future for Aviation” report which outlined 4 key Sustainable Aviation Goals, which, if achieved in the next 5 years, can help aviation reach net-zero by 2050. Miller shares insights into the recently released report and highlights several key issues:The misconception of smooth technology transitions, emphasising that historical precedents show abrupt changes with usually one dominant solution emerging, similar to VHS vs Betamax or cars vs horses.Operation Blue Skies which seeks to address persistent contrails by setting up “Airspace-Scale Living Labs”.The introduction of bold efficiency measures that could halve fuel burn by 2050, including reducing aircraft life from 30 to 15 years, flying 15% slower, and better matching aircraft to route distances.The challenges of scaling Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) within global biomass limitations, with potential ticket price increases ranging from 30%-90% depending on production method.The opportunity for hydrogen adoption in long-haul aviation, with potential for 10-30% fleet penetration by 2050, focusing initially on the 50 largest hub airports that consume half of global jet fuel.The importance of launching moonshot technology demonstrations by 2030, including cryogenic hydrogen/methane fuels, synthetic biology, and hydrogen-electric propulsion.Throughout the conversation, Miller emphasises the urgency of immediate action. He stresses that while only 10% of the global population has flown, expanding access to air travel must be balanced with aggressive decarbonisation efforts.If you LOVED this episode, you'll also love the conversation we had with Dr Florian Allroggen, Executive Director, Aerospace Climate & Sustainability, and a Research Scientist in MIT's Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, who shares the science behind contrails, their climate impact, and practical solutions for mitigation. Check it out here. Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry's challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air'. Click here to learn more.Feel free to reach out via email to podcast@simpliflying.com. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It's about time.Links & More:Aviation Impact AcceleratorThe Whittle Laboratory  Five Years to Chart a New Future for Aviation - Aviation Impact Accelerator Cambridge report sets four goals to be implemented by 2030 for global aviation to reach Net Zero - GreenAir News 

Dr. Richard Boyatzis is a Distinguished University Professor at Case Western Reserve University, renowned for his research on leadership, emotional intelligence, and sustainable change. With a Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Harvard and a background in Aeronautics and Astronautics from MIT, Dr. Boyatzis has authored influential books, including Primal Leadership with Daniel Goleman and Helping People Change. He is ranked in the top 2% of all scientists worldwide by the Public Library of Science and has accumulated over 58 years of research on the Intentional Change Theory. He is the author of a new book, The Science of Change: Discovering Sustained, Desired Change from Individuals to Organizations and Communities.   In today's episode, host Shay Beider speaks with Dr. Richard Boyatzis to unpack the science behind lasting change, focusing on how we can transform our lives by engaging with the Positive Emotional Attractor (PEA) and steering clear of the Negative Emotional Attractor (NEA). He explains that life stressors often activate the NEA, which can close us off and inhibit change. Dr. Boyatzis shares the importance of “resonant relationships” in supporting meaningful change and opening people up to their ideal selves. This episode delves into creating change within family systems and why it is important to consider individual healing in the context of one's family and community.   Transcripts for this episode are available at: https://www.integrativetouch.org/conversations-on-healing    Show Notes: Learn more about Richard Boyatzis here Read his book, “Primal Leadership”, with Daniel Goleman Read “Helping People Change” here Check out his newest book, “The Science of Change”  Look into the MDAnderson Center   This podcast was created by Integrative Touch (InTouch), which is changing healthcare through human connectivity. A leader in the field of integrative medicine, InTouch exists to alleviate pain and isolation for anyone affected by illness, disability or trauma. This includes kids and adults with cancers, genetic conditions, autism, cerebral palsy, traumatic stress, and other serious health issues. The founder, Shay Beider, pioneered a new therapy called Integrative Touch™Therapy that supports healing from trauma and serious illness. The organization provides proven integrative medicine therapies, education and support that fill critical healthcare gaps. Their success is driven by deep compassion, community and integrity.  Each year, InTouch reaches thousands of people at the Integrative Touch Healing Center, both in person and through Telehealth. Thanks to the incredible support of volunteers and contributors, InTouch created a unique scholarship model called Heal it Forward that brings services to people in need at little or no cost to them. To learn more or donate to Heal it Forward, please visit IntegrativeTouch.org  

In this episode, we talk to Dr Florian Allroggen, Executive Director, Aerospace Climate & Sustainability, and a Research Scientist in MIT's Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, who shares insights into the science of contrails and their impact on aviation's climate footprint.Allroggen discusses his role, focusing on understanding aviation's environmental impact and developing solutions for a net-zero pathway. He highlights several key issues:The formation of contrails as ice clouds when aircraft exhaust meets cold atmospheric conditions, and their dual role in both warming and cooling the atmosphere.The comparable magnitude of contrail warming effects to CO2 emissions, with varying impacts depending on the timeframe considered – contrails having larger short-term effects while CO2's impact accumulates over centuries.The potential for contrail avoidance through flight path adjustments, particularly by changing aircraft altitude rather than horizontal routing, due to the “pancake-like” nature of contrail-forming regions.The development of real-time contrail detection technology using NASA satellite imagery and machine learning, currently being tested with Delta Air Lines.The challenges of implementing contrail avoidance strategies, including the need for air traffic control coordination and the balance between fuel efficiency and contrail reduction.The need for a holistic approach to aviation sustainability, addressing both CO2 and non-CO2 impacts while maintaining safety.Throughout the conversation, Allroggen advocates for practical experimentation and implementation of contrail mitigation strategies, while acknowledging the uncertainties and challenges involved. He emphasises the importance of making robust decisions despite uncertainties, drawing parallels with everyday decision-making under uncertain conditions.If you LOVED this episode, you'll also love the conversation we had with  Maxime Meijers and Nicolas Meijers, co-founders of Estuaire. Check it out here. Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry's challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air'. Click here to learn more.Feel free to reach out via email to podcast@simpliflying.com. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It's about time.Links & More:Impacts of multi-layer overlap on contrail radiative forcing - DOAJClimate - MIT LAE   Delta to work with MIT to study impact of airplane contrails on climate - CEHS How rerouting planes to produce fewer contrails could help cool the planet - MIT Technology Review How Estuaire's data platform can help airlines and airports make better sustainability decisions - SimpliFlying 

The United Kingdom's robust and ambitious space sector has many personalities. In this podcast series, we introduce you to three whom the UK Chapter of SSPI is considering for its prestigious Personality of the Year Award in 2024. One of these three finalists will be named the 2024 Satellite Personality of the Year live at the Better Satellite World Awards Dinner in London on 2 December. Click here to join us there! Each of the three finalists is a star who has made significant contribution to the UK and global satellite industry and whose career is a study of performance and excellence at the highest level. In the first episode, we learn a bit more about Dr. David Parker FRAeS, Non-Executive Board Member of the UK Space Agency and Visiting Professor at the University of Southampton. Dr. David Parker has led a distinguished thirty-five-year career in the space sector, spanning industry, UK government and the European Space Agency (ESA). Until June 2023, he served as ESA's Director of Space Exploration at ESTEC in the Netherlands, overseeing astronaut missions to the International Space Station, Europe's involvement in Artemis and pioneering projects like training an astronaut with a physical disability. Previously, he was the Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency (2013-2016), where he led Tim Peake's ISS mission and negotiated ESA's first UK center in Harwell. Starting in the UK space industry in 1990, he contributed to projects like XMM-Newton and ExoMars. Dr. Parker holds a degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics and a PhD from NASA Langley Research Center. He has received several accolades, including the Royal Aeronautical Society's Geoffrey Pardoe award. He currently works part-time at ESA, serves on the UK Space Agency Board and is a Visiting Professor at the University of Southampton.

Barrett Caldwell, Ph.D., professor of industrial engineering and aeronautics and astronautics at Purdue University as well as a Fellow of IISE, returns for another round of "ExpertISE." This week, Dr. Caldwell gives his thoughts on the following question: "What role does ethics play in ISE and how are students prepared to handle ethical dilemmas in the field?"

Astronautics professor Grace Gao is an authority on the Global Positioning System. GPS has long been key to navigation on Earth, she says, but science is now shifting its focus outward to the frontiers of space. Gao is working on a GPS-like system for the Moon. To keep costs low, this lunar positioning system will leverage Earth-based satellites complemented by a network of smaller satellites in lunar orbit. It could lead to autonomous vehicles on the moon and a new era of lunar exploration, Gao tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering's The Future of Everything podcast. Have a question for Russ? Send it our way in writing or via voice memo, and it might be featured on an upcoming episode. Please introduce yourself, let us know where you're listening from, and share your quest. You can send questions to thefutureofeverything@stanford.edu.Episode Reference Links:Stanford Profile: Grace GaoGrace's Labe:Stanford NAV LabConnect With Us:Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything WebsiteConnect with Russ >>> Threads or Twitter/XConnect with School of Engineering >>> Twitter/XChapters:(00:00:00) IntroductionRuss Altman introduces Grace Gao, a professor of aeronautics and astronautics at Stanford University.(00:02:15) GNSS vs. GPSThe difference between GPS and GNSS, and the different global navigation systems.(00:03:09) How Does GPS Work? GPS operation, including the role of satellites, ground monitoring stations, and user receivers.(00:04:07) GPS Signal and SatellitesHow GPS uses multiple satellites and how the different global systems collaborate to improve accuracy.(00:05:23) GPS Challenges in CitiesIssues with GPS in urban environments and the importance of reliability and safety.(00:07:53) Improving GPS AccuracyMultimodal sensor fusion helps enhance GPS accuracy in challenging environments. (00:10:11) Collaboration Among Autonomous VehiclesThe potential for autonomous vehicles to share information for better navigation and safety.(00:14:07) GPS Safety and Signal JammingGPS safety concerns and real-world signal disruption examples.(00:18:56) GPS in Space TravelHow GNSS and Earth-based GPS systems can support space missions.(00:25:05) Designing Lunar GPSThe cost and coverage challenges of creating a lunar navigation system.(00:27:13) Autonomous Moon RoversNASA's plans for collaborative autonomous rovers on the Moon.(00:30:42) Conclusion Connect With Us:Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything WebsiteConnect with Russ >>> Threads or Twitter/XConnect with School of Engineering >>> Twitter/X

Reports that a college student pursuing a master's degree in physics enrolled to work as a janitor at a secondary school in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, have ignited heated debate online about whether he has made the best career choice.有报道称，一名物理学硕士研究生选择应聘江苏省苏州市一所中学的勤杂工，网民就他是否做出最佳职业选择开展了激烈讨论。According to a notice issued by the Suzhou High School Affiliated to Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the 24-year-old is expected to work as a janitor at the school.根据南京航空航天大学苏州附属中学发布的公告，这名24岁的学生将在学校担任勤杂工。A previous notice issued by the school did not list any requirements for a candidate's academic background, and only said it was looking for a male under age 50.学校之前发布的招聘启事没有列出对候选人学术背景的任何要求，只说需要一名50岁以下的男性。The master's student, Li Yongkang, told the Gusu Evening News that he had previously obtained a job offer from the school to work as a teacher.当事人李永康告诉《姑苏晚报》，他之前已经获得了学校的教师岗位录用通知。However, he was unable to get his master's degree as he had not published enough academic papers during postgraduate study, so he could not work at the school as a teacher.然而，由于在研究生学习期间没有发表足够的学术论文，他未能获得硕士学位，因此无法在学校担任教师。Meanwhile, he was satisfied with the school's work environment while doing an internship there, so he applied to become a janitor at the school and got the job.同时，他在学校实习时对学校的工作环境很满意，于是他申请应聘学校的勤杂工，并被成功录用。"Becoming a teacher is my dream, and I will start my new job while also waiting for the next opportunity to realize my teaching dream," he said.李永康表示：“能走上讲台是我的人生理想，我将一边开始新工作一边等待下一次实现教师梦想的机会。”Wang Jian, Party secretary of the school, said it had consulted with Li and will arrange for him to become a teaching assistant on the school's physics teaching team.学校党委书记王剑表示，已与李永康协商，将安排其担任学校物理教研组的助教。The news sparked heated discussions online and became a trending topic on social media platforms, with many saying that his choice was a waste of education resources. Others said Li's choice should be respected and some said that given the current tough job market, he was lucky to find a job.这一消息在网上引发热议，成为社交媒体平台上的热门话题。许多人认为他的选择是浪费教育资源，另一些人则认为，李永康的选择应该得到尊重。还有人说，考虑到当前严峻的就业环境，他能找到工作已经很幸运了。Due to the long-held belief among Chinese people favoring white-collar work over labor-intensive work and the apparent salary gap between the two, most people in the country still prefer office work to blue-collar work.由于中国人长期以来认为白领工作优于体力劳动工作，以及两者之间明显的工资差距，大多数人仍然青睐办公室工作而非蓝领工作。According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the unemployment rate of young people age 16 to 24 excluding students stood at 18.8 percent in August, up 1.7 percentage points from a month earlier.国家统计局数据显示，8月，16至24岁青年（不包括学生）的失业率为18.8%，比7月上升了1.7个百分点。The country is expected to have 11.79 million new college graduates this year, 210,000 more than a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Education.根据教育部的数据，今年全国预计将有1179万名应届大学生毕业，比去年同期增加21万人。Hu Xunhan, a senior undergraduate student in journalism at Changsha University of Science &Technology, said she has chosen to pursue a master's degree because she wants to study at a better university and defer entering the job market for a few years because it is too competitive.长沙理工大学新闻学专业大四本科生胡荀涵说，她之所以选择攻读硕士学位，是因为她想在更好的大学学习，并推迟几年进入就业市场，因为就业市场竞争太激烈了。Tao Yongfeng, director of the student enrollment and employment guidance office at Xiangtan University, said it is normal for college graduates to choose jobs that are "not-so-decent" from a traditional viewpoint nowadays and, in fact, it has become a new trend.湘潭大学招生与就业指导处处长陶永锋表示，现在的大学毕业生选择从传统观念来看“不那么体面”的工作很正常，事实上，这已经成为一种新趋势。"It has become more evident that 'looking fancy' is not the top concern for college graduates looking for jobs," he said. "They are more focused on finding something they are interested in and suitable for, which I believe is the best choice for them."“越来越明显的是，‘看上去很光鲜'并不是大学毕业生找工作时最关心的问题。”陶永锋说，“他们更注重找到自己感兴趣和适合的工作，我相信这对他们来说是最好的选择。”As college graduates born after 2000 are less concerned with financial burdens, salary also becomes less important, and they place more value on interest, room for growth, the work environment and workplace culture, Tao said.陶永锋认为，由于2000年以后出生的大学毕业生不太关心经济负担，工资也变得不那么重要，他们更看重兴趣、发展空间、工作环境和职场文化。They are taking more time to carefully make the best choice for themselves. While many students have chosen stable jobs in government institutions, an increasing number of students are also starting their own businesses or working in new industries, he said.他们正在花更多的时间来认真做出最适合自己的选择。陶永锋表示，虽然许多学生选择了政府机构的稳定工作，但也有越来越多的学生开始自己创业或在新兴行业工作。Janitorialadj. 看门的；清洁部门的labor-intensive work劳动密集型工作，体力劳动工作

Have you ever felt intimidated by science, technology, engineering, or math concepts? Well, you are not alone. Emily Calandrelli, aka ‘The Space Gal,' is on a mission to make STEM easier to understand and fun for everyone!In this episode, Emily shares how she went from shying away from science to excelling in it, the experience of a lifetime that kicked off her love for aerospace, and how she is making science accessible—especially for kids who don't initially see themselves in STEM. Hear Emily's personal stories and advice for finding the confidence to take on hard challenges.Share this episode with friends, family, and colleagues. With the right support, anyone can not only survive in STEM but thrive in STEM!If your curiosity is ignited, check out all the programs, games, puzzles, and events available to K-12 students through the FAA's STEM Aviation and Space Education (AVSED) program.Is there someone in aerospace you would like to hear from or a topic that you would like more information on? Let us know! Send an email to podcast@faa.gov. We would love to hear from you!Meet Our Guest Emily Calandrelli is best known as the host and co-executive producer of the hit Netflix series Emily's Wonder Lab and to her growing army of followers on social media as ‘The Space Gal'. Emily is also a New York Times Bestselling Author, Emmy Nominated Executive Producer and Host of FOX's Xploration Outer Space and was a correspondent on Netflix's, Bill Nye Saves The World. Emily has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering from West Virginia University, and two Masters of Science degrees, one in Aeronautics and Astronautics and the other in Technology and Policy, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She wants to make science relatable, easy to understand and more exciting today than ever before in history.Photo credit: Morgan Demeter  

Barrett Caldwell, Ph.D., professor of industrial engineering and aeronautics and astronautics at Purdue University as well as a Fellow of IISE, returns for another round of "ExpertISE." This week, Dr. Caldwell gives his thoughts on the following question: "How important are group projects and teamwork in the ISE profession?"

Robotic spacecrafts? Manned missions to Mars? Affordable tourist trips to the stars? New life found? What is the likely future of space flight?Host Guru Madhavan pilots a soaring, speculative conversation with:Charles F. Bolden Jr., who in 2009 was appointed NASA Administrator by President Obama, making him only the second astronaut to hold that position.Professor Dava Newman, aerospace engineer, director of the MIT Media Lab, and holder of the Apollo Program Professor of Astronautics chair at MIT.New episodes - conversations about how to rebuild the world better - every other Friday.Find podcast transcripts on our website.Follow @QEPrize on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

During the past couple of decades, we have discovered that stars with planetary systems are not rare, exceptional cases, as we once assumed, but actually quite commonplace. However, because exoplanets are like fireflies next to blinding searchlights, they are incredibly difficult to study. Yet, as Sara Seager explains, we are making astonishing progress. Various ingenious methods and the use of powerful space telescopes enable us to learn about exoplanet atmospheres and even, in some cases, what their surfaces consist of. Sara Seager's research concentrates on the detection and analysis of exoplanet atmospheres, and she has just won the prestigious Kavli Prize for this work. She has had leadership roles in space missions designed to discover new exoplanets and find Earth analogs orbiting a sun-like star. She is a Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Professor of Planetary Science, and Professor of Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Two NASA astronauts named Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, are currently stuck in space. The pair launched in the Boeing Starliner earlier this year.  Malfunctions have delayed their return from what was originally meant to be an 8 day trip to the International Space Station. Now, they may not be back on Earth until February. And – most galling for Boeing: They may have to hitch a ride with its competitor, SpaceX. So, what exactly happened with Boeing's new spacecraft? And what will it take to get the Boeing Starliner back on Earth? Guests: Jim Hermanson, Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the University of Washington Dr. Wendy N. Whitman Cobb, Professor of Strategy and Security Studies at the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies  Relevant links: AP News: Could 2 NASA astronauts be stuck at the space station until next year? Here's what to know The Conversation: Boeing's Starliner launches toward the International Space Station − an important milestone for commercial spaceflight See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics' flagship Aviation Forum and Ascend conferences come together for the first time in Las Vegas, Aviation Week editors Guy Norris, Graham Warwick and Garrett Reim review some of the cutting-edge developments shared there.

In a speech to the Fourteenth Space Congress in 1977, Gene Roddenberry laid out the three arguments for human space exploration. Now, we revisit his words with Barrett S. Caldwell, PhD, Professor of Industrial Engineering (and Aeronautics and Astronautics) at Purdue. He reflects on Gene's visionary take on the space program and the inspiration that keeps us returning to the stars. Document and additional references: Beyond the Near Term - April 27, 1977 The Trek Files Season 12 on Memory Alpha All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

In a speech to the Fourteenth Space Congress in 1977, Gene Roddenberry laid out the three arguments for human space exploration. Now, we revisit his words with Barrett S. Caldwell, PhD, Professor of Industrial Engineering (and Aeronautics and Astronautics) at Purdue. He reflects on Gene's visionary take on the space program and the inspiration that keeps us returning to the stars. Document and additional references: Beyond the Near Term - April 27, 1977 The Trek Files Season 12 on Memory Alpha All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

In a speech to the Fourteenth Space Congress in 1977, Gene Roddenberry laid out the three arguments for human space exploration. Now, we revisit his words with Barrett S. Caldwell, PhD, Professor of Industrial Engineering (and Aeronautics and Astronautics) at Purdue. He reflects on Gene's visionary take on the space program and the inspiration that keeps us returning to the stars. Document and additional references: Beyond the Near Term - April 27, 1977 The Trek Files Season 12 on Memory Alpha All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

Purdue University's Barrett Caldwell, Ph.D., is back for another episode of "ExpertISE." Barrett is a professor of industrial engineering and aeronautics and astronautics at Purdue as well as a Fellow of IISE. This week, Barrett answers: "How do you see the intersection of ISE with the growing emphasis on remote work and decentralized teams?"

Find full show notes, bonus content and more on our Substack: https://designbetterpodcast.com/p/rewind-sara-seager It's a holiday week—happy 4th of July to those celebrating it

Key Moments:The voyage to a data-driven US Coast Guard (5:21)Navigating data-driven approaches to US Coast Guard operations (20:28) Balancing experience-based decision making with data-informed decision making (25:34)In whose data do you trust? (30:10) Measuring the value of data (33:80)Should an AI ethicist be part of the team or should everyone really be an ethicist? (45:00) Key Quotes:“Up until three years ago when we started this, some people – and really our entire organization –  just thought data as IT. They didn't think much past that, because no one had ever really challenged them to think about it. So it wasn't really thought of as, ‘this is the data that we have, and this is the commander's business. This is how the business is going to run. It's not just letting IT figure it out.'” “I think that technology has helped us along the way to visualize data that otherwise would be difficult and time consuming to conceptualize and understand. And as we continue to find ways to make humans understand better what it is that they're looking at – especially in extremely dynamic and complex data situations – I think you'll start to see a shift of trust and that's really experience. It's experience in using data informed decision making activities.” “Would an ethics, an AI ethics advisor to the CDAO be a great thing? Absolutely. Are we all just ethicists? Yes, but I would say that there is a lot of understanding needed. There's a huge area where you could be an expert in the ethics of artificial intelligence and provide sound guidance day after day. I would think that this particular type of employee would be extremely valuable.” Mentions:U.S. Coast Guard 11 Missions AI U.S. Executive Orders White House Orders Federal Agencies to Name Chief AI Officers America's Cyber Defense AgencyMake Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life… And Maybe the World Bio: Captain Brian Erickson currently serves as the United States Coast Guard's first Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Officer and is principally responsible for the coordination of data and artificial intelligence activities across the organization. His previous assignments focused primarily on engineering and operations, serving at five operational assignments piloting rotary  and fixed wing aircraft performing search and rescue, law enforcement and other military mission profiles. Brian is a licensed Professional Engineer specializing in aerospace and also served in the Office of Budget and Programs working directly for the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). In 2020, he was selected as the Coast Guard's MIT Sloan Fellow following service as Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Air Station Savannah, GA. Brian is a 1998 graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and holds a Master of Science degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Purdue University as well as a Master of Business Administration from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a 2022 DataIQ Top 100 most influential persons in data and the 2023 MachineCon AI Leader of the Year. Hear more from Cindi Howson here. Sponsored by ThoughtSpot.

China has landed a spacecraft on the far side of the moon for a second time with the successful lunar touchdown of Chang'e 6. Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, who was planning the first private flight around the moon on SpaceX's Starliner called ‘dearMoon', cancels the project. Boeing's Starliner first crewed mission to the ISS is scheduled to launch on Wednesday, June 5, and more. Our 2024 N2K CyberWire Audience Survey is underway, make your voice heard and get in the running for a $100 Amazon gift card. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episode? Sign-up for our weekly intelligence roundup, Signals and Space, and you'll never miss a beat. And be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Our guest today is Dr. Minkwan Kim, Associate Professor in Astronautics at the University of Southampton.  You can connect with Dr. Kim on LinkedIn and learn more about his research on the website. Selected Reading China lands on moon's far side in historic sample-retrieval mission- Reuters dearMoon Notice of Project Cancellation LAUNCH: ULA Atlas V Boeing Starliner Crewed Flight Test L3Harris Completes Sale of Non-Core Assets to an Affiliate of Kanders & Company, Inc. for $200 Million SAIC Announces First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2025 Results- Business Wire Astra Space Inc. Receives and Subsequently Cures Deficiency Notice from Nasdaq Due to Late 10-Q Filing- Business Wire NASA Awards Advance Technologies for Future Habitable Worlds Mission Eutelsat Group Achieves Platinum Score in Space Sustainability Rating- Business Wire Hybrid Acquisition for Proliferated LEO (HALO) Program Solicitation China gifts Arab states flags returned from space to show friendship - CGTN Japan loses contact with Akatsuki, humanity's only active Venus probe- Space T-Minus Crew Survey We want to hear from you! Please complete our 4 question survey. It'll help us get better and deliver you the most mission-critical space intel every day. Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Barrett Caldwell, Ph.D., professor of industrial engineering and aeronautics and astronautics at Purdue University as well as a Fellow of IISE, returns for another round of "ExpertISE." This week, Dr. Caldwell gives his thoughts on the following question: "What role does continuous learning play in the ever-evolving ISE landscape?"

Congratulations to the entire OSIRIS-REx team!

Welcome to our new weekly spotlight, "ExpertISE," which welcomes voices of experience from the field of industrial and systems engineering to answer questions about professional work, careers, academia, and other sectors.In our premiere episode of "ExpertISE," we welcome Barrett Caldwell, Ph.D., a professor of industrial engineering and aeronautics and astronautics at Purdue University as well as a Fellow of IISE. Dr. Caldwell gives his thoughts on the following question: "How have international collaborations or perspectives influenced or enriched your ISE projects?"You'll find more "ExpertISE" episodes in the near future as well as our regular "Problem Solved" episodes.

Ben Pascoe talks space exploration with scientist/research engineer in space science and technology, member of International Academy of Astronautics, Dr. Jan Balaz at his workshop at the Department of Space Physics at the Slovak Academy of Sciences.

Eric Allison is Chief Product Officer at Joby Aviation.    Joby builds quiet, all-electric aircraft to connect people like never before.  With up to 150 miles of range and the ability to take off and land vertically, the Joby aircraft will change the way people move while reducing the acoustic and climate footprint of flight. Their long-term vision is to build a global passenger service that helps the world connect with the people and places that matter most, while helping to protect our precious planet. As well as strategic partnerships with Toyota, Delta, Uber, and many more, Joby has a team of more than 1400 engineers and experts working to bring aerial ridesharing to our skies. Prior to joining Joby, Eric led the Elevate team at Uber, developing software tools that built on more than a decade of experience enabling on-demand mobility. His experience in aerospace research, electric propulsion, energy storage, vehicle autonomy, and composite structures led him to the CEO position at Zee Aero, where he spearheaded the development of Cora, an autonomous air taxi vehicle. Eric holds a PhD in Ae ronautics and Astronautics from Stanford, an MS in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford, and a BS from the Milwaukee School of Engineering. In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Eric talks about Joby Aviation, their revolutionary EVTOL Air Taxi and the not-too-distant future of urban air mobility service.

In this week's episode, Ashwyn Sam (2020 cohort), 4th year PhD student in Aeronautics and Astronautics, reflects on the profound impact that a strong support system and the compassion of others have had on his professional journey. He also explains the beauty of theoretical physics, shares his passion for cinema, and reveals the reason he was fed goat brains as a child.Highlights from the episode: (3:40) Ashwyn's path to immigration to the United States from India, the advocacy of his parents in finding a scholarship to attend college, and how his experiences inform his Imagine a World statement(22:30) The origination of Ashwyn's interest in physics in The Big Bang Theory, and the factors leading to his his switch to engineering in college(29:26) Aswhyn's current research on the detection of small orbital debris (32:30) Ashwyn's interest in teaching and storytelling, how Knight-Hennessy has allowed him to develop these skills, and the best story he's heard recently(37:50) How Aswhyn's faith influences his approach to life(41:26) Ashwyn's improbable facts and advice for Knight-Hennessy applicants

Benevolent cyborgs. Not a phrase you hear often these days. With all the hand-wringing and media fear-mongering about AI and new technologies, we seem to have lost the bigger vision of how technology can improve our lives. That's why today, I'm speaking with Dr. Cori Lathan, a techno-optimist who believes technology can be used to build empathy and connection. Today we discuss how Star Wars and a very creative 2nd grade teacher sparked her journey into innovation and invention, how technology is being used to build empathy and connection, why empathy makes a better design team, and the future of human-machine interaction. To access the episode transcript, please click on the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com Key Takeaways:Technology can be a tool to help children achieve developmental milestones and build empathy. The media will give the negative side of AI and technology because it gets better views and clicks. But great things are happening with technology that is helping to create a beautiful future. Designing tech is about more than what happens behind the computer screen. It is about understanding the user experience and what it means for your end user. "We are creating the future, someone isn't doing it for us. We can create the future we want to see. We can choose the direction it goes." — Dr. Cori Lathan Episode References: Dr. Cori Lathan's Book: Inventing the Future, Stories from a Techno-Optimist: https://inventthefuture.tech/Dr. Cori Lathan's TEDx Talk: Innovation, Empathy, and the Future of Human-Machine Interaction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnV6QDhwvhkThe Empathy Edge Podcast: Ron Gura: How Technology Helps People Navigate GriefBrand Story Breakthrough course to help you craft a clear, compelling brand story - includes weekly office hours with Maria!About Corinna Lathan + Founder and Former Board Chair and CEODr. Corinna Lathan is a technology entrepreneur who has developed robots for kids with disabilities, virtual reality technology for the space station, and wearable sensors for training surgeons and soldiers. She is a global thought leader in the relationship between technology and human performance and believes in a future of benevolent cyborgs! Dr. Lathan is Co-Founder of AnthroTronix, Inc., a biomedical engineering company focused on brain health, which she led for 23 years as Board Chair. and CEO. She developed one of the first FDA-cleared digital health platforms winning a prestigious Gold Edison Award. She was named a Woman to Watch by Disruptive Women in Health Care, a Technology Pioneer, and a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. She also Chaired the Forum's Councils on Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, and Human Enhancement and Longevity. Dr. Lathan has been featured in Forbes, Time, and the New Yorker magazines and her work has led to such distinctions as MIT Technology Review Magazine's “Top 100 World Innovators,” and one of Fast Company Magazines “Most Creative People in Business.” Dr. Lathan received her B.A. in Biopsychology and Mathematics from Swarthmore College, an M.S. in Aeronautics and Astronautics, and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from M.I.T.Connect with Dr. Cori Lathan: AnthroTronix: www.atinc.com Twitter: twitter.com/clathan LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/clathan Instagram: instagram.com/drcoril Join the tribe, download your free guide! Discover what empathy can do for you: http://red-slice.com/business-benefits-empathy Connect with Maria: Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.comLearn more about Maria and her work: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak at your next event: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake my LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaX: @redsliceFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemaria

On this topical show re-air, Shannon Cheng of People Power Washington joins Crystal to dive into the intricacies of how the Seattle Police Officers Guild (SPOG) contract stands in the way of police accountability. With negotiations already underway, Crystal and Shannon talk about what we should be looking for in the next SPOG contract and why police accountability is important. An overview of the historic difficulty bargaining with SPOG highlights how the City has been left with a lacking accountability system, how the community has struggled to have their interests represented at the table, and how the Seattle Police Department has fallen out of compliance with its consent decree. With little insight into the closed-door negotiations with SPOG, Crystal and Shannon look for signs in recent agreements with other local police unions where progress in accountability reforms was paired with officer wage increases. As always, a full text transcript of the show is available below and at officialhacksandwonks.com. Follow us on Twitter at @HacksWonks. Find the host, Crystal Fincher, on Twitter at @finchfrii and find Shannon Cheng at @drbestturtle and People Power Washington at @PeoplePowerWA.   Shannon Cheng Shannon Cheng is the Chair of People Power Washington, a grassroots volunteer organization which champions policies that divest from police and reinvest in community-based solutions and alternate crisis response, decriminalize non-serious offenses, and implement accountability and enforceable standards for police officers and agencies. People Power Washington was instrumental in the passage of the 2020 King County charter amendments to reform public safety, and continues to be involved with public safety advocacy in the City of Seattle, King County, and Washington State Legislature. Shannon holds a Bachelor and Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She continued her graduate work at MIT and earned a PhD in Space Propulsion with a Minor in Geology/Geophysics because she loves rocks. Since graduating, Shannon has been working on computational lighting technology with her husband, becoming a passionate orienteer, and organizing in support of civil liberties — from immigrants' rights to voting rights to criminal justice reform.   Resources Sign up for the People Power Washington mailing list   “Police Management Contract, Which Includes Concessions, Could Serve as Template for SPOG Negotiations” by Erica C. Barnett from PubliCola   Timeline of Seattle Police Accountability | ACLU of Washington   “As negotiations with city loom, Seattle's police union has had an outsized influence on police accountability measures” by Mike Carter from The Seattle Times   Public Employees' Collective Bargaining Act | Revised Code of Washington   “Officials Announce Changes to Police Union Negotiation Strategy, But Accountability and Bargaining Experts Say More Should Be Done” by Paul Kiefer from PubliCola   “New King County police contract increases pay, body cams, and civilian oversight” by Amy Radil from KUOW   “King County strikes deal with union for bodycams on sheriff's deputies” by Daniel Gutman from The Seattle Times   “Seattle police union elects hard-line candidate as president in landslide vote” by Steve Miletich and Daniel Beekman from The Seattle Times   “Seattle approves new police contract, despite community pushback” by David Kroman from Crosscut   Transcript [00:00:00] Crystal Fincher: Welcome to Hacks & Wonks. I'm Crystal Fincher, and I'm a political consultant and your host. On this show, we talk with policy wonks and political hacks to gather insight into local politics and policy in Washington state through the lens of those doing the work with behind-the-scenes perspectives on what's happening, why it's happening, and what you can do about it. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get the full versions of our Friday almost-live shows and our midweek show delivered to your podcast feed. If you like us, the most helpful thing you can do is leave a review wherever you listen to Hacks & Wonks. Full transcripts and resources referenced in the show are always available at officialhacksandwonks.com and in our episode notes. Today, I am thrilled to be welcoming a crucial clutch member of our team and absolute talented woman in her own right, Dr. Shannon Cheng. Welcome to the show. [00:01:05] Shannon Cheng: Hi, Crystal - excited to be here. [00:01:08] Crystal Fincher: Excited to have you here. Now, you wear many hats. One of those is as Chair of People Power Washington - Police Accountability. Can you just let us know a little bit about the organization and what brought you to the work? [00:01:21] Shannon Cheng: People Power Washington - we're a volunteer-run, grassroots group focused on bringing equitable public safety and police accountability. We focus on several geographic areas - we started off working in Seattle - we also do work in King County as well as now Washington State. We're working at different levels of government because our experience was - working at the city level - we found out there were some things that really had to be taken care of at the state level and vice versa. We started off in 2017, right around when the Seattle Police Accountability Ordinance was passed, and that's how we got involved more deeply and have continued. And then in 2020, when the summer protests were happening, a lot of people came out of the woodwork really wanting to get involved with this issue in particular. And so our group's really expanded and that's why we added on King County to some of the work that we do. [00:02:14] Crystal Fincher: When it comes to police accountability, really wanted to have this show because over and over again, no matter what direction we come at it from, it seems like one of the biggest barriers to accountability that we always hear is the police union contracts. And we hear from the police chiefs, from the mayors that, Oh, that would be great to do, but we can't do it because of the contract. Or we hear about discipline that has been taken, that is then reversed after arbitration, because of things having to do with the contract. So I really wanted to talk about and examine that, especially because that contract is currently being renegotiated. So why is this so important and what's at stake? [00:02:59] Shannon Cheng: As we have been working on trying to get better police accountability in Seattle specifically, what our group kept running up against - any kind of progress that was trying to be made, any solution that was being suggested to try to improve the system - the barrier we kept running up against and being told was, Well, that has to be bargained in the SPOG contract. And SPOG is the Seattle Police Officers Guild - they're the police union in Seattle that represents our officers and sergeants. There's another police union also - the SPMA, the Seattle Police Management Association - which represents the lieutenants and captains. But SPOG is the main one that is constantly standing in the way. And so I think one thing that - I think when we talk about police accountability, it's helpful to think about are there are these different branches of accountability and we have obstacles along all of those paths. So when we talk about police accountability, I think it's important to realize there's several different tracks that we can try to hold police accountability and then understanding what are the obstacles that are in each of those tracks. So the first one would be criminal accountability. This is where the state would charge an officer. And we have seen a lot of issues with that where we don't have an independent prosecutor who is willing to bring charges against a police officer. Oftentimes the investigations that are done that would lead to charges being brought are not being done in a way that doesn't have conflicts of interest. So that's something that's being worked on. There's also civil liability, where a person who has suffered distress at the hands of a police officer would be able to bring civil charges and get redress in that fashion. On the federal level, that is what is blocked by qualified immunity. People may have heard of that, where if the case is not exactly been decided with this exact same parameters in a previous precedent, then people are not able to get their case through. Another avenue of accountability is regulatory, which would be decertifying a police officer who has fallen beneath the standards that have been set for what a police officer should do. And then the final one that I think that many people think about a lot is what I would call administrative accountability. And this is done at the local level in our local police departments - and it has to do with how we can impose discipline on police officers at the local level. So when the police chief - as you were saying, Crystal - decides that an officer was acting in a way that they need to be disciplined, then that's what we call administrative accountability. And so the reason that the SPOG contract is so important is that it basically dictates how the City can impose accountability onto our officers. And so everything that ever happens that has to do with looking into how the officer may have behaved, or deciding whether that was within policy, and then if it was not within policy, what kind of discipline can be imposed, or even whether that discipline sticks - all of that is tied up into what is agreed upon between the City and the Seattle Police Officers Guild in their contract. [00:06:29] Crystal Fincher: So when we hear accountability being talked about, there are actually specific policies and things that - many people have looked at this contract process and best practices around the country and have come out with. What are the recommendations that are specifically being made for the next SPOG contract? What should the public be looking to get out of this? [00:06:54] Shannon Cheng: Yeah - I think at a minimum - the next SPOG contract should be in alignment with the recently negotiated contract with the Seattle Police Management Association. We were able to get things such as subpoena power for the Office of Police Accountability and the Office of Inspector General through that contract. We also were able to restructure the disciplinary review process so that it was less biased towards officers getting discipline overturned in arbitration. I think there was also a clear definition of what honesty means for police officers, which is very important. So yes, minimum is what happened in the SPMA contract. And then beyond that, it should go further and not block anything from the 2017 accountability ordinance - so things such as being able to civilianize the Office of Police Accountability so that we don't have the conflict of interest of officers investigating other officers. And then I think a broader conversation that the City has been trying to but has been hampered is talking about what kind of alternative public safety response that we might want to be able to have other than sending an armed officer. I think there's been a lot of concern that the SPOG contract, as written, could lead to an unfair labor practice claim by the union if Seattle moves forward with any kind of pilot. And so this is what has been holding us back in ways that a lot of other cities around the country have been able to move forward. [00:08:29] Crystal Fincher: Yeah, absolutely. And cities in our area have been able to move forward. Seattle appears to be behind the curve when it comes to things like the holistic types of responses - to be able to send an appropriate response to whatever the emergency is, which isn't always an armed police officer - it may be a social worker, someone who can address substance use disorder, or different things to address those issues that just can't be handled by a police officer with a gun or through our criminal system. So I think having those things in mind is really important as we continue to move through this in this conversation. And this is a really challenging issue for people to deal with because of the messaging environment and the way that the politics of the situation has unfolded. Because there are some folks - we've heard repeatedly from the head of the Seattle Police Officers Guild, who has been known for making incendiary statements before, and this kind of feeling or proposition that police accountability is inherently anti-police. When I think - on the ground - most people, even if they don't mind having the police show up and seeing them all over the place, is that we all have standards for our jobs, for our performance, how we should deal with other people, and there are rules. And if those rules are broken, there should be some kind of accountability attached to that. If you are not doing what you're supposed to be doing, if you're abusing others on the job - that, in every other circumstance, is grounds for usually immediate termination. But we're finding nearly the opposite in terms of the police. I think a lot of people are challenged by the notion that, Hey, why am I held accountable for being able to de-escalate a situation, follow the rules and regulations of my job. Yet people who have control over other people's human and civil rights don't have that and a big challenge having to do with that. So as we navigate this - I guess starting off - how do you think of and characterize and do this work, and refute those kinds of accusations and challenges? [00:11:07] Shannon Cheng: I think it's important to remember that police officers and law enforcement are given special extra powers that a lot of the rest of us don't have. They have state-sanctioned power to take away life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. So they have direct control over the civil and constitutional rights of people in situations. And we trust them to uphold the Constitution and not overstep bounds - and that's what we would expect to see. Unfortunately, that's not what happens a lot of the time and that's where we do need accountability to come into play - when people's rights have been violated. [00:11:55] Crystal Fincher: Okay, so we've talked about the different types of police accountability. We've talked about administrative accountability. I just want to review where we're at in this process, specifically, when it comes to the Seattle Police Officers Guild contract. [00:12:12] Shannon Cheng: Okay, so the current Seattle Police Officers Guild contract expired at the end of 2020. So currently the officers are working without a current contract and the City and the union are under negotiations for the next contract. We don't have much visibility into when the next step is going to happen and we don't know what parameters they are going to be bargaining. [00:12:43] Crystal Fincher: So right now they're operating without a contract and that means the current contract continues. And we had this conversation, or we had a public conversation about this - not many people were probably tuned into that conversation - before the last contract negotiation. What went into that contract negotiation and how does that tee up what's at stake in this contract? [00:13:05] Shannon Cheng: Yeah, the previous contract negotiation was finished in the end of 2018. And so that contract had already been overdue for several years. And one of the reasons it took so long to negotiate is that the City of Seattle has been under consent decree since 2012 - so 10 years - and what that means is that the Department of Justice came in, did an investigation into officers at the bequest of many community organizations, and found that there was unconstitutional policing happening in the City of Seattle. So basically the federal government is providing our local law enforcement oversight and trying to bring them back into compliance with the Constitution. So as part of that - in 2017, the City of Seattle passed an ordinance that established a police accountability system that at the time was hailed as being a landmark accountability system, that had three branches - people may have heard of them. There's the OPA, which is the Office of Police Accountability - their job is to do investigations and suggest discipline that the chief will then apply. There's also the OIG, which is the Office of Inspector General, which is observing and making systemic recommendations to the system. And then finally there was the CPC, which is the Community Police Commission, and their role was to bring community voices in - it was the community that originally brought up issues with how policing was being done in Seattle, and so this was to continue to let them have a voice into how we rectify the system. So the issue is that that ordinance passed into City law in 2017, but it was not actually implementable until the next SPOG contract was negotiated with the officers. And in 2018, 18 months after that landmark law got passed, a SPOG contract got ratified which basically rolled back a lot of the provisions from the police accountability ordinance. And so there was a lot of community outcry - many groups came out, including the CPC, to ask that the City Council and the mayor reject that contract because it basically did not honor what - all the work that had been done to try to put a workable system into place. [00:15:43] Crystal Fincher: We're picking up this contract negotiation again here - that's currently being negotiated. I think a lot of people are looking at this - looking at the conflicting statements that we've heard from the mayor between what was said while on the campaign trail and what has been said after he was elected to office, in addition to some leaked comments. So in this particular contract, what are the things that are important to get out of it to ensure the kind of accountability that we've talked about, to ensure that people are treated in accordance with the law, in accordance with regulations. And that's not to say that they can't do their jobs, just that they should be able to do it correctly. What are the most important things to consider here? [00:16:36] Shannon Cheng: I think the contract really needs to allow us to see what a robust accountability system could do. I think there's this assumption that because we have the existence of these three bodies - the CPC, the OPA, and the OIG - that we have a working accountability system, and people often blame that system for not imposing the accountability. But the truth is that that system has not been able to be fully implemented because of the restrictions put on it by the 2018 SPOG contract. So since that contract passed, we've had incidents where the federal judge overseeing this consent decree ruled the City out of compliance on the issue of accountability specifically. There was a famous case where an officer's discipline got overturned in arbitration because the arbitrator decided that the chief's firing wouldn't stand. [00:17:32] Crystal Fincher: So that must be really a fundamental challenge that really speaks to the culture of the department. If you're trying to weed out - as they would call it - bad apples. They are constantly saying, This doesn't represent all of the officers and all that kind of stuff. Well, if it doesn't, then this is an issue of culture and you have to be able to weed out those bad apples in order to avoid spoiling the whole bunch, as the rest of that saying goes. But if those people are still winding back on the force - was that the case where an officer was - punched a handcuffed woman and broke her jaw, which is not supposed to happen as most people can deduce - and was actually fired by the chief, which is a high bar to clear. They cleared that bar, but were put back in the job through arbitration. What does that do to other officers? What does that say to other officers, especially when you hear the kinds of things coming from the head of the union - that come from them - and some of the really inflammatory things that really make it hard to believe that police are viewing every member of the public equally and doing their job impartially, and really putting the health and safety of the public as their primary priority. As we go through this, many people aren't familiar with union negotiations overall. This is a very different category of union, seeing that they have special privileges and abilities granted to them by the law. They get to impact other people's civil rights and lives. So in just the mechanics of negotiating this contract - it's hard because these negotiations are private - but what is the process of negotiation? How do people go about getting the kinds of concessions that are necessary to ensure that we're all safe? [00:19:35] Shannon Cheng: I think it's important to first understand that - in Washington State, public sector unions are given the right to collectively bargain under state law. This is the Public Employees' Collective Bargaining Act. This is where a public employer and a public sector union and their exclusive bargaining representative will sit down at a table and hash out personnel matters such as wages, hours, working conditions, as well as grievance procedures. Under this state act, police guilds and associations fall into a special category - they're classified as uniformed personnel, and so they are considered vital to the welfare and public safety of the State of Washington. So what this means is that - if in the course of doing the collective bargaining with one of these unions they can't reach an agreement, that union is not allowed to go on strike. Because of that, the Public Employees' Collective Bargaining Act then gives them the opportunity to instead go to a third-party arbitrator to decide the disputes about the contract. And then the Washington Open Public Meetings Act is what says that all these negotiations for collective bargaining are behind closed doors. So effectively, what this means is that the public has very little insight into what's happening. And for many unions that's reasonable, but as we discussed before - for police unions in particular, they have a lot of power and influence and impact, and they deal with the public nearly day to day in their jobs. And so how that happens and when things go wrong, the public has a deep interest into making sure that our interests are represented. So the way that - practically speaking - these negotiations happen at the City is that the two parties are the City of Seattle and the Seattle Police Officers Guild. So on the City side, we're represented by the Labor Relations Policy Committee. In the past, this was effectively only representatives from the mayor's office or direct reports from under the mayor. After getting burned so badly with that 2018 SPOG contract, there's been a lot of effort to change that so that other bodies have more input. So for example, the City Council has five representatives that sit on that committee and they have been able to get a City Council staffer to be able to be at the table for this round of negotiations. In addition, because accountability has been such a difficult point for them to negotiate at the table, they wanted to have an outside expert - with specific technical expertise about the accountability system - to be also present at the table. So that didn't quite happen. Instead, what they are having is representatives from our three accountability bodies able to be present only for the part of negotiations about accountability. So that's who's sitting at the table from the City side. And then SPOG has their representatives to represent the police union. So as I said, the public has very little input into how these negotiations are proceeding. The City Council did hold public hearings back in the fall of 2019 - ahead of the start of these negotiations - to get input into what the public would be interested in seeing. The issue is - 2019, at this point, is several years ago, and a lot has happened since then in this area, and the conversation and discourse has changed, I think, fueled by what happened in the summer of 2020 and all the protests that broke out. But collective bargaining is a lengthy process. It takes a long time. It's going to take several years. We expect to hopefully see a tentative SPOG contract come out sometime in this next stretch. But until it does, we really have very little insight into what is happening and what is being traded back and forth between the two sides. [00:23:54] Crystal Fincher: Okay. And just going through what the - continuing through what the process would be once they do come to an agreement in the negotiation - what are the steps to then get it approved officially? [00:24:08] Shannon Cheng: Right. So if a tentative agreement is reached, then the members of the Seattle Police Officers Guild will vote to see whether their guild would accept the contract. If a majority of them agree, then the tentative collective bargaining agreement would be sent to City Council for ratification. A majority of City Council members would have to vote for that. And if it passed out of City Council, then the mayor would have to actually sign the agreement. And then that would make the agreement official. [00:24:39] Crystal Fincher: Okay. And if they can't come to an agreement, what happens? [00:24:46] Shannon Cheng: Yeah, so if they can't come to an agreement - under state law, it could go to interest arbitration. And so this is where a third party arbitrator would make a binding decision on the topics of the contract that they have not been able to come to agreement with. I think historically - going to interest arbitration has been considered risky for the City because these arbitrators would look at like agreements from around the country to make their decision about what seemed fair or not. And this problem is not just in Seattle where we're having difficulty having good contracts with our police union - this happens around the country. So I think the sense has been that if we looked at other contracts, those would tend to lean towards the police union and not be in our favor. I think there are some who feel that - after the protests of 2020, that situation may have changed a little bit. And another note is that that other police union we talked about in Seattle that represents the captains and lieutenants, the SPMA - they recently negotiated a contract that did include more of the progress we would want to see in accountability. So it's possible that if SPOG had to go to arbitration and they looked at this other contract from the same city, that they would agree that SPOG should do the same. [00:26:16] Crystal Fincher: So what are the signs and signals that we're getting from this current negotiation? Where does it look like things stand? It's hard because so much of the process is opaque, but what have you been able to glean? [00:26:31] Shannon Cheng: Yeah. So about the specific SPOG negotiations themselves - that as they're happening now - very little. It is very opaque, as you said. But so instead we can try to look at these hopeful signs of other police guilds that have had their contracts negotiated in the recent past. So as I just said, the Seattle Police Management Association contract - that was bargained and passed and accepted this past summer in June 2022. From that contract, SPMA got wage increases that went back retroactively and are pretty in line with sort of the consumer price index. And what Seattle got was that we were finally able to get some of the elements that were missing from that 2017 police accountability ordinance. One thing that has been not available is that our accountability bodies have not had subpoena power over the police department. And so in the SPMA contract, they just didn't mention subpoena power at all - and so because of that exclusion of that term, then it is now granted under the accountability ordinance. Other improvements that happened was handling how badly arbitration can go sometimes for the City. So trying to - we can't get rid of arbitration as a route for disciplinary appeal, but we can put some guardrails around it. So what they were able to negotiate was that officers couldn't bring new information into the appeal decision. Previously, the initial investigation would happen, the discipline would be decided - and then in the officer's appeal of the decision, they could bring up new information that was not available to the original investigators. And so it was like having another investigation all over again. So they have now said, No, the officer needs to provide all of the information up front and that all needs to be considered first at the first investigation. They also have decided that the arbitrators have to decide whether the chief-imposed discipline was arbitrary or capricious - and if not, they can't overturn the chief's discipline. So these are all positive things that we've seen in the Seattle Police Management Association contract and we would definitely hope to see the same put into the upcoming SPOG contract. Then in King County, our sheriff's office - they recently reached an agreement with their deputies just this past November and got similar wins. In exchange for pretty generous wage increases, the County has finally been able to get the Office of Law Enforcement Oversight the authority to actually conduct independent investigations as well as subpoena power. These are things that County voters had passed overwhelmingly in charter amendments and then got enshrined in county ordinance, but again, those were being blocked by the police officers guild contract not accepting those changes. So those have both moved forward and I think those are very positive signs that it is possible to sit down at these difficult negotiations with our police guilds and give them fair wage increases. And in exchange, have them accept reasonable accountability measures. I think unhopeful signs - that I think about - is just how SPOG historically has been a very difficult union to negotiate with. We've just seen that they are much more - they're less willing to give unless they get something in exchange. For example, when we wanted them to start wearing Body-Worn Cameras, we had to pay them extra in order to do that. So things like that give me pause in terms of how negotiations with SPOG would be going - because they have been difficult. I think also their current leadership, the SPOG president, has been very antagonistic and unaligned with a lot of the efforts have been made to try to improve public safety. [00:31:00] Crystal Fincher: Yeah, I agree with the evaluation of not being aligned. You just mentioned the county-wide vote for increased accountability and restructuring the County Sheriff's department to make that possible. Seattle has voted over and over again, both for statutory improvements and for candidates who have promised on the campaign trail to increase accountability measures. Yet there has been really inflammatory positions and statements made that seem to suggest that they think the public just wants to reject that, and you have to hate police in order to want any kind of accountability, and it's just unacceptable to even think about. And over and over again, the public in opinion polls and in elections says the opposite. They do want people to be accountable for performing on the jobs much like they are. We shouldn't expect people - service workers making minimum wage - to be able to de-escalate situations that we don't expect of police, who that's supposed to be one of the things they're trained and expected to do. So I think a definite misalignment between what the public wants and expects, and what SPOG is willing to entertain and discuss. So since we're in this time without a contract, what are possible outcomes that could happen short of getting a contract, or that could inhibit contract negotiations moving forward? [00:33:03] Shannon Cheng: I think what's really going to be important with these upcoming negotiations is that the City is taking seriously what the public has over and over said that they want to see - which is we need to have a robust police accountability system that hasn't been watered down and that is allowable by the SPOG contract. In 2018 - at that City Council hearing where they ratified the problematic contract - there were masses of community members who came out. Groups, citizens, many people came out saying, We agree that SPOG has the right to have pay increases, they've been working without a contract for a long time - they deserve to have fair wages and benefits - but not at the cost of throwing out all the work that we've done under the consent decree and trying to put together a system where we have an accountability system that will help build community trust in what this office, this department that is supposedly here to protect and serve us is doing. And unfortunately the other side came out to that same City Council hearing and everybody was just talking past each other. They were just saying things like, We deserve to have raises. If you don't pass this, it means that you think we don't deserve raises. And that is not what the community was saying. They were saying, You deserve a raise, but in exchange, you need to give us accountability. And they just left out the accountability piece completely. And so I think it's really important that - as the City moves forward, that they listen to what the public has been saying and make sure that we get that accountability this time, not at the expense of this argument of, Oh, well, the officers have been working without a updated contract for too long. Because these negotiations - we know they take a long time - historically they have been. This is not an unknown, they should have been prepared for that, and to know that this would be an argument that was going to be made. So absolutely, they need to tie any increase or benefits that they give - which is our leverage over the police guild - to getting what we want back, which is full implementation of the 2017 police accountability ordinance. At the minimum, they should have the same things that were negotiated and agreed upon in the SPMA contract in the SPOG contract. And then they should go beyond. Right now, we have an issue where the Office of Police Accountability is restricted in the number of civilian investigators that they can have and what kinds of cases those civilian investigators can manage. We have a situation where we have cops investigating cops. And it's cops who then get put back into the system where maybe they're the ones under investigation again. So I think just anybody can see that there's a huge conflict of interest there where - an officer assigned to be an investigator maybe wouldn't want to do the best job of the investigation because they're going to be back working with these same people in a short time period. So we need to really button down and get our accountability system into a situation where it is more in line with what had been celebrated as this groundbreaking, new way of approaching the issue. Because right now, the current system is just really broken. [00:36:41] Crystal Fincher: It is really broken and I appreciate all the work that you've done, that other organizations have done to - one, highlight and help people see what are the processes and policies behind this brokenness, and what is the path to being able to have more accountability in this system. I guess heading into - closing this and final words - if people are interested in making a difference in this issue and trying to make sure that we have accountability, it seems like there are a couple different options. One big opportunity is with the elections that we have coming up. You'd mentioned that it's going to take a majority of the council to ratify whatever contract does wind up happening. We will have several open seats coming in this City Council election. So what are the kinds of things that people should be looking to hear from candidates in order to have confidence that they are going to act on the kind of accountability measures that are necessary? [00:37:51] Shannon Cheng: I think first and foremost, hearing from people that they recognize that there is a problem with the current system. And that they deeply understand that just because we have a system in name, it doesn't mean that the system is working. And that this is all tied up in these contract negotiations. I don't know if by the time elections happen, whether the negotiations will have moved forward or not. But I am sure that whatever contract does come out, more work is going to be needed to be done for the future one. So setting ourselves up for success and having people that even recognize that there is a problem. I think that so often - police officers are given the benefit of the doubt sometimes, and they don't like receiving criticism. Nobody does, but police officers in general get very defensive and it can be hard to stand up to that and push back, especially with a lot of the mainstream narratives that are going around - but somebody who is going to be bold and willing to stand up for what the public wants in the face of all of that pushback. [00:39:05] Crystal Fincher: That makes sense. What are other ways that the public can help push this in the right direction? [00:39:10] Shannon Cheng: I think being in touch with your electeds - City Council is important, but honestly, I think the mayor is the one who holds the keys to a lot of how this plays out. So if anybody has the ability to figure out how to tell the mayor that this is absolutely what we want and we will not accept a contract that does not bring our accountability system up to snuff, that's important. Our group is going to be monitoring and watching for when this contract does get negotiated and comes out, and we'll be looking at it and try to analyze it. We don't know exactly how much time we will have between when that contract comes out and when the City Council vote and mayor signing will happen, but we will be on alert. And so if you're interested and want to receive updates about when that happens and when is an effective time to make your voice heard, you could sign up for our mailing list. If you go to wethepeoplepower.org/join-us, there's a form there where you can sign up. As I said, we also do work at the King County and state levels, but you can have an option to only receive alerts about the areas that you're interested in. [00:40:24] Crystal Fincher: Thanks for helping us understand the really intricate and confusing process with the contract. And thanks so much - we will be following up on this as we get more news about it. [00:40:35] Shannon Cheng: Thanks, Crystal. [00:40:36] Crystal Fincher: Thank you for listening to Hacks & Wonks, which is co-produced by Shannon Cheng and Bryce Cannatelli. You can follow Hacks & Wonks on Twitter @HacksWonks. You can catch Hacks & Wonks on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts - just type "Hacks and Wonks" into the search bar. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get the full versions of our Friday almost-live shows and our midweek show delivered to your podcast feed. If you like us, leave a review wherever you listen. You can also get a full transcript of this episode and links to the resources referenced in the show at officialhacksandwonks.com and in the episode notes. Thanks for tuning in - talk to you next time.

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“The world's leading alien hunter” —New York Times MagazineFrom acclaimed Harvard astrophysicist and bestselling author of Extraterrestrial comes a mind-expanding new book explaining why becoming an interstellar species is imperative for humanity's survival and detailing a game plan for how we can settle among the stars.In the New York Times bestseller Extraterrestrial, Avi Loeb, the longest serving Chair of Harvard's Astronomy Department,presented a theory that shook the scientific community: our solar system, Loeb claimed, had likely been visited by a piece of advanced alien technology from a distant star. This provocative and persuasive argument opened millions of minds internationally to the vast possibilities of our universe and the existence of intelligent life beyond Earth. But a crucial question remained: now that we are aware of the existence of extraterrestrial life, what do we do next? How do we prepare ourselves for interaction with interstellar extraterrestrial civilization? How can our species become interstellar?Now Loeb tackles these questions in a revelatory, powerful call to arms that reimagines the idea of contact with extraterrestrial civilizations. Dismantling our science-fiction fueled visions of a human and alien life encounter, Interstellar provides a realistic and practical blueprint for how such an interaction might actually occur, resetting our cultural understanding and expectation of what it means to identify an extraterrestrial object. From awe-inspiring searches for extraterrestrial technology, to the heated debate of the existence of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, Loeb provides a thrilling, front-row view of the monumental progress in science and technology currently preparing us for contact. He also lays out the profound implications of becoming—or not becoming—interstellar; in an urgent, eloquent appeal for more proactive engagement with the world beyond ours, he powerfully contends why we must seek out other life forms, and in the process, choose who and what we are within the universe.Combining cutting edge science, physics, and philosophy, Interstellar revolutionizes the approach to our search for extraterrestrial life and our preparation for its discovery. In this eye-opening, necessary look at our future, Avi Loeb artfully and expertly raises some of the most important questions facing us as humans, and proves, once again, that scientific curiosity is the key to our survival.Abraham (Avi) Loeb is the Frank B. Baird, Jr., Professor of Science at Harvard University, the longest-serving chair of Harvard's Department of Astronomy, the founding director of Harvard's Black Hole Initiative, and the current director of the Institute for Theory and Computation (ITC) within the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. He also heads the Galileo Project, chairs the Advisory Committee for the Breakthrough Starshot Initiative, and is former chair of the Board on Physics and Astronomy of the National Academies. Author of eight books and more than a thousand scientific papers, Loeb is an elected fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Physical Society, and the International Academy of Astronautics. In 2012, Time selected Loeb as one of the twenty-five most influential people in space. He lives near Boston, Massachusetts.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/2790919/advertisement

Avi Loeb is the Frank B. Baird, Jr., Professor of Science at Harvard University, the longest-serving chair of Harvard's Department of Astronomy, founding director of Harvard's Black Hole Initiative, and director of the Institute for Theory and Computation (ITC) within the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. He also chairs the Advisory Committee for the Breakthrough Starshot Initiative, and serves as the science theory director for all Initiatives of the Breakthrough Prize Foundation, as well as former chair of the Board on Physics and Astronomy of the National Academies. Author of eight books and over a thousand scientific papers, Loeb is an elected fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, the American Physical Society, and the International Academy of Astronautics. In 2012, Time selected Loeb as one of the twenty-five most influential people in space.   Today on the show we discuss: why he thinks extra terrestrial life exists that can interact with humans, Avi's recent expedition to the Pacific Ocean to find what he believes is the first interstellar meteor, how he envisions a future interaction with extra terrestrial life, why AI might play a pivotal role in communicating with extra terrestrial life, whether or not Avi thinks life on Mars exists, how the average person can spot extra terrestrial life and much more.    Thanks to today's sponsor: Caldera Lab: https://www.calderalab.com/ Use Promo code "Doug" at checkout to receive 20% off your order       Episode Resources: Avi | Interstellar, Medium       ⚠ DISCLAIMER ⚠ Please be advised; the topics in my content are for informational, discussion, and entertainment purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your health or mental health professional or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your current condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard from your favorite creator, on social media, or shared within content you've consumed. I do not endorse or support the claims of any guests and I strongly encourage all of my viewers and listeners to do their own due diligence before buying products or supporting brands discussed by guests on the show.    If you are in crisis or you think you may have an emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. If you do not have a health professional who is able to assist you, use these resources to find help: Emergency Medical Services—911 If the situation is potentially life-threatening, get immediate emergency assistance by calling 911, available 24 hours a day. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org.  SAMHSA addiction and mental health treatment Referral Helpline, 1-877-SAMHSA7 (1-877-726-4727) and https://www.samhsa.gov and https://www.samhsa.gov  

Did Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb discover the remnants of an interstellar meteor in the form of spherules on the ocean floor? Could they be of alien origin? In today's special edition of The Michael Shermer Show the guest, Harvard astrophysicist Dr. Avi Loeb announces that he has discovered material from a large interstellar object from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean near Papua New Guinea in an expedition he led over the summer. The object, which he labels IM1—Interstellar Meteor 1—collided with Earth nearly a decade ago and was tracked by U.S. government satellites, which gave Loeb and his team coordinates of where to look. Most of the meteor burned up in the atmosphere but tiny spherules remained on the ocean bottom, which Loeb retrieved and had analyzed in labs at Harvard, UC Berkeley, and the Broker Corporation. These spherules are tiny—smaller than a grain of sand—and there are literally trillions of them around the world of both terrestrial and extraterrestrial origin, so whether or not these particular spherules are Interstellar in origin remains to be seen, despite Loeb's confidence that they are. Here is what he announced today in a press release: The Interstellar Expedition of June 2023–led by the expedition's Chief Scientist, Harvard University Astrophysicist Avi Loeb and coordinated by Expedition Leader Rob McCallum of EYOS Expeditions retrieved hundreds of metallic spheres thought to be unmatched to any existing alloys in our solar system from the seafloor in the Pacific Ocean near Papua New Guinea. Early analysis shows that some spherules from the meteor path contain extremely high abundances of Beryllium, Lanthanum and Uranium, labeled as a never-seen-before “BeLaU” composition. These spherules also exhibit iron isotope ratios unlike those found on Earth, the Moon and Mars, altogether implying an interstellar origin. The loss of volatile elements is consistent with IM1's airburst in the Earth's atmosphere. “The “BeLaU” composition is tantalizingly different by factors of hundreds from solar system materials, with beryllium production through spallation of heavier nuclei by cosmic-rays flagging interstellar travel,” says Avi Loeb. The press release of August 29, 2023 was timed with the publication date of Dr. Loeb's new book, Interstellar, whose subtitle hints at the scientist's larger ambitions: The Search for Extraterrestrial Life and Our Future in the Stars. Dr. Loeb's co-authored paper has not been peer reviewed. In fact, none of the world's leading experts on spherules from space have even seen any of Dr. Loeb's evidence. So in preparation for this episode, I contacted Peter Brown, an astronomer at Western University, Ontario, who specializes in the physics of meteors, and he directed me to the five leading experts in the world on spherules. These include: George Flynn, SUNY, Plattsburgh; Don Brownlee, University of Washington; John Bradley, University of Hawaii; Michael Zolensky, NASA; and Matthew Genge, Imperial College, London. I also consulted Steven Desch, from Arizona State University, as he has been quoted elsewhere as a critic of Avi Loeb's research. All expressed their skepticism about Dr. Loeb's findings, which I read on air to Avi to get his response. (See the show notes for this episode on skeptic.com.) Listen to the experts and Dr. Loeb's response to their skepticism in this episode. (Note: Steven Desch's initial statement, included in the show notes, was so negative that I chose not to read it on air, but include it in the show notes on skeptic.com for full disclosure of what he thinks about this research. I also included Dr. Desch's additional comments on why many scientists are skeptical of the U.S. government data on the meteor's trajectory and impact site.) I should note that I am a member of the Galileo Project team, which organized this expedition, and I consider Avi a friend and colleague who always welcomes my skepticism in our weekly team meetings. To that end let me emphasize that he is not claiming to have discovered alien technology, only the remnants of an interstellar object. Unfortunately, the media coverage surrounding the Galileo Project in general and this expedition in particular is only interested in whether or not we have made contact with ET. We have not, and Avi is not claiming that we have. No matter the scientific find is, the media reports it as aliens, aliens, and aliens. Alas. My own view is that aliens are very likely out there somewhere—given the astronomical numbers of hundreds of billions of galaxies, each of which has hundreds of billions of stars, each of which has planets it seems highly unlikely that we're alone in the cosmos—but that they have very likely not come here in any shape or form—nonhuman biologics or extraterrestrial metalogics (my own neologism echoing government whistleblower David Grusch's ridiculous description of alien pilots as “nonhuman biologics” in his Congressional testimony). The universe is vast and consists of mostly empty space. The odds are very long indeed that anyone could find us, much less leave traces for us to evaluate. But in keeping with Cromwell's Rule in Bayesian reasoning (never assign a 0 or 1 probability to anything because, as Oliver Cromwell famously said, “I beseech you in the bowels of Christ you might be mistaken”), we should keep an open mind and keep looking. That is why I support the SETI program and am on the Galileo Project team. The odds are long but the payoff would be spectacular if we ever did discover extraterrestrial intelligence or the technological artifacts of an extraterrestrial civilization. Abraham (Avi) Loeb is the Frank B. Baird, Jr., Professor of Science at Harvard University, the longest-serving chair of Harvard's Department of Astronomy, the founding director of Harvard's Black Hole Initiative, and the current director of the Institute for Theory and Computation (ITC) within the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. He also heads the Galileo Project, chairs the Advisory Committee for the Breakthrough Starshot Initiative, and is former chair of the Board on Physics and Astronomy of the National Academies. Author of eight books and more than a thousand scientific papers, Loeb is an elected fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Physical Society, and the International Academy of Astronautics. In 2012, Time selected Loeb as one of the 25 most influential people in space. He lives near Boston, Massachusetts.

Is nuclear power cheap and safe, or dangerous and expensive? Dr. Robert Zubrin is the author of “The Case for Nukes: How We Can Beat Global Warming and Create a Free, Open, and Magnificent Future.”  Zubrin holds Master of Science degrees in Nuclear Engineering and Aeronautics and Astronautics, and a doctorate in Nuclear Engineering, from the University of Washington. Prior to his work in aerospace, Dr. Zubrin worked in areas of radiation protection, nuclear power plant safety, thermonuclear fusion research, and as a secondary school science and math teacher.  Find his book at: mightyheaton.com/featured SUPPORT THE SHOW! Patreon.com/andrewheaton LINKS:  Zubrin on TPO: “I Want to Build a Moon Base” https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-98-i-want-to-build-a-moon-base-guest-robert-zubrin/id1439837349?i=1000434628317 Zubrin on ATA: “Turns Out, We're All Probably Martians” https://podcasts.apple.com/dk/podcast/turns-out-were-all-probably-martians/id1488171922?i=1000474556038&l=da  

In March 2017, an engineer at G.E. Aviation in Cincinnati received a request on LinkedIn. The engineer, Hua, is in his 40s, tall and athletic, with a boyish face that makes him look a decade younger. He moved to the United States from China in 2003 for graduate studies in structural engineering.The LinkedIn request came from Chen Feng, a school official at the Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, in eastern China. Days later, Chen sent him an email inviting him to the university to give a research presentation. Hua arranged to arrive in May, so he could attend a nephew's wedding and his college reunion at Harbin Institute of Technology. There was one problem, though: Hua knew that G.E. would deny permission to give the talk if he asked, which he was supposed to do. He went to Nanjing, and flew back to the United States after the presentation. He thought that would be the end of the matter.Many scientists and engineers of Chinese origin in the United States are invited to China to give presentations about their fields. Hua couldn't have known that his trip to Nanjing would prove to be the start of a series of events that would end up giving the U.S. government an unprecedented look inside China's widespread and tireless campaign of economic espionage targeting the United States, culminating in the first-ever conviction of a Chinese intelligence official on American soil.This story was recorded by Audm. To hear more audio stories from publications like The New York Times, download Audm for iPhone or Android.

How do satellites work? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice explore CubeSats, space lasers, and the ecology of low Earth orbit with VP of Raytheon, Sandy Brown, and associate professor of aeronautics and astronautics, Kerri Cahoy. NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can watch or listen to this entire episode commercial-free here: https://startalkmedia.com/show/satellite-showdown/Photo Credit: NASA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons