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Sol Speaker Series

SOL SPEAKER LIASIONS

SOL Speaker Liaisons will be assisting in bringing in speakers from their Regions and helping us bridge the time zone gap. 

CAPT Pam Kingsley – USS Mercia, Region 20. Europe, Ireland and Great Britain
CMDR Ronel du Preez – USS Dauntless, Region 8. Bloemfontein; Free State; South Africa

Call out: Looking for Regional Sol Liaisons worldwide. Regional Sol Speaker Series Liaisons – STARFLEET (sfi.org)

We are seeking Regional Sol Liaisons to assist with bringing speakers in from around the world and making our events more accessible to everyone regardless of the time zone differences. Contact sfsci-director@sfi.org if you are interested or would like more information!

Welcome to the Sol Speaker Series sponsored by STARFLEET Sciences, a monthly online event free to SFI members! We provide interesting and inspiring presentations on a variety of science topics and you have an opportunity to ask questions of our guests at the end of their talks.  All events are posted on SFI’s YouTube Channel.

NEXT EVENT

May 17th, 11am EDT
“Flagship Species: How Cheetah Conservation Drives Biodiversity”.
Speaker: Owen Swart.

This talk explores how focusing conservation efforts on a single species can drive broader ecological benefits, from habitat protection to public education and fundraising. By protecting cheetahs, we safeguard entire ecosystems—demonstrating that saving one species can mean saving many.

Admiral Owen Swart is a lifelong Star Trek scholar and a dedicated advocate for biodiversity and wildlife conservation. He works hands-on in cheetah conservation, focusing on ambassador animals, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, and public education. Inspired by Star Trek’s vision of cooperation and sustainability, he applies these principles to protecting endangered species and promoting coexistence between humans and wildlife.

Charismatic megafauna like cheetahs capture the public’s imagination, making them powerful ambassadors for biodiversity.

register

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

  • 2:00 pm EDT    7 pm GMT+1
  • 7:00 pm EDT   11 pm GMT+1

We are hosting a special screening of the amazing documentary film about the fascinating Risso dolphins, “Scars: Politics in the Big Blue”! This event, sponsored by STARFLEET Sciences, is open to your friends and family however they must register to get the Zoom link. Donations to Nova Atlantis Foundation are welcome. More info on how to donate will be provided.

There will be two screening times on Thursday May 22nd to accommodate our different time zones:

“SCARS: Politics in the Big Blue”, produced by Karin Hartman and Pieter van der Harst, hosted by the Nova Atlantis Foundation, is a film focusing on the life history of Risso’s dolphins studied in the Azores since 2000. The film had its world premiere during the Wildlife Conservation Film Festival in New York on 22 October 2018 and won the “Award for best Drone Footage”. Next, Scars won the “Wildlife” Award at the International Ocean Film Festival in San Francisco in March 2019.

Watch the trailer here:
https://vimeo.com/271343334

 register

PAST SPEAKERS 2024

Jan 18 2024 – Star Trek Star Charting: It All Fits Now! ~ Larry Nemecek, Author of Star Trek: Stellar Cartography 

Feb 15 2024 – Astronomical Highlights 2024 and Beyond ~ John French, Abrams Planetarium, Michigan State University.

 Mar 21 2024 – Bound for Space! We Are Go for Grow! ~ Dianea Phillips, Aerospace Educator

 Apr 18 2024 – Astrophotography: Yes, You Can! ~ Commodore Mike Calhoun, Director of STARFLEET Sciences

May 16 2024 – The History of Astro-Imaging ~ Dr. Ron Brecher, Astrophotographer

Jun 20 2024 – We are not alone. The quest to search for life from Socrates to Webb and Beyond ~ Salem Emara, NASA JPL Space Ambassador

Jul 18 2024 – Models for How Space/Time Travel Could Work – Matthew Szydagis, UAlbany SUNY

Aug 15 2024 – Physiology and Space Exploration, Phyllis Friello, Johnson Space Center

Sep 19 2024  – Artemis: From the Earth to the Moon, Sharife Gacel, Analog Astronaut

 Oct 17 2024 – Black Holes – Arjun Ayyangar, NASA Solar System Ambassador

Nov 22  2024 Protecting the Final Frontier – Major Sam McEvoy, UK Space Command

Jan 16 2025 – The Universe Through Geordi’s VISOR, Dr Alfredo Carpineti

Feb 20 2025 – Power generation and warp drive, Douglas Johnston

Mar 8 – From the Depths of the Ocean to the Edges of the Cosmic Shore, Sarah Treadwell

Apr 26 2025 Humpbacks: The Star Trek Whales, Mark Palmer

YOUTUBE LINKS TO SOL EVENTS ON THE SFI YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Promo – https://youtu.be/m5SeRIfs3Lk?si=tMtcvSMqKKCfODPy

Jan 2024 event – Larry Nemecek https://youtu.be/tgcqzrmbn9k?si=tdXDPB2z8-nNI0fM

Feb 2024 event –  John French   https://youtu.be/DmetwemXgrQ?si=5b6-aXj8Lj6vUFZv

Mar 2024 event – Dianea Phillips  https://youtu.be/fGR3-HGMeQA?si=16tQj2m8dEZOE5c9

Apr 2024 event – Mike Calhoun  https://youtu.be/TnZZyCjkTTs?si=XTpcnAiQP9wEzTag

May 2024 event – Ron Brecher   https://youtu.be/2SbcEfc-580?si=JxHfLz2O1rpdv1k0

Jun 2024 event – Salem Emara.  https://youtu.be/oS7Ymz5HAaM?si=owFYw_JccUv_nbv

 Jul 2024 event – Matthew Szydagis. https://youtu.be/p9vE4Gw9bqU?si=vguXmbd1k2UL7AXs

Aug 2024 event – Phyllis Friello. https://youtu.be/jHX8cRHmnoI?si=ciuhuQEGLI6qBuId

Sep 2024 event – Sharife Gacel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK4tlkWAgcw

Oct 2024 event – Arjun Ayyangar https://youtu.be/m3OV67gbB3U?si=GU6EviR1rlBVBnX9

Nov 2024 event – Major Sam McEvoy https://youtu.be/6UH-6kElrDI?si=TKIYm-oKbJOpLRuY

Jan 2025 event – Dr Alfredo Carpineti https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0An-xVdFp8

Feb 2025 event – Douglas Johnston https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfEm9HK3EME

Mar 2025 event-Sarah Treadwell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmthVs1wheA

Apr 2025 – Mark Palmer TBA

Suggest a subject/speaker for the Sol speaker series:  sfsci-director@sfi.org