Generation Y, what will we be known for in 50 years?
February 29th, 2008 By Matt Filed Under Big Idea Space
Having just returned from the 3rd Exploration Conference in Denver, and having had time to think more about the potential role of Generation Y in NASA, the aerospace community, and humanity (I know, I know, you are thinking “get the supersoaker“, but that’s what happens when I get a window seat.), I think we have the chance to offer an answer to the question in the title of this post.
Past generations often claim fame for amazing accomplishments like the invention of computers, Internet, global communications, landing on the moon and about a thousand other things that have completely changed the world. Subsequent generations have had the benefit of building on these accomplishments.
So….what are we going to do as a generation that changes the world forever?
There are a few things moving already that will definitely have a bearing on this. Things like social networking, peer media, virtual worlds; all the things that Gen Y is already doing as a group. But youtube videos of people accidentally injuring themselves and captioned pictures are not likely going to have the same kind of lasting impact as, say, the first application of semiconductor technology has had. While Gen X and Gen Y have obviously been very busy creating and populating a huge infrastructure of what are converging towards pervasive communication tools, they have often been disregarded as senseless toys by those who don’t use them.
But that’s about to change.
With projects like NASA’s CoLab and its associated activities like the Participatory Exploration Summit, Open NASA and especially the Next Generation Exploration Conference, these very Generation Y tools and interactions are starting to get used for something more than just entertaining each other. They are starting to become a part of how Generation Y does serious business. Yes, that’s right. Your knowledge of Web 2.0 participatory applications might actually be useful in the “real world” in the near future.
What am I really getting at? At the 3rd Space Exploration Conference, moderated by George Whitesides, of the National Space Society, the NASA CoLab team and other panellists presented some of these ideas to the NASA community. The audience at the conference had very few members of Generation Y in it. The presentations were very different from any others during the conference. What kind of reaction could this type of exchange receive? In most instances, this would be a recipe for complete disaster; a true generational communication gap opportunity. But instead of being rebuked, the panel was met with questions that indicated serious consideration of their message had occurred. Not all of the feedback was 100% positive, but that’s part of a healthy conversation.
Am I saying this was an arrival at a finish line? No. This was the creation of a foothold for the dialogue to continue around incorporating more of the Generation Y perspective into NASA projects. This was the starting gun.
Having participating in many of the conferences, summits and other activities that lead up to this panel, a commonly expressed concern has been something like “How do we know that NASA will listen?” and “How do we know this will be more than just a report in a binder on a shelf at NASA HQ?”
This panel is how.
So, “What will Generation Y be known for in 50 years?” I think some of the things presented during the panel and the CoLab philosophy are good candidate answers. What if with the next generation of space exploration aboard Orion was not recorded in the history books as “humans going back to the moon”, but as “the first time that the entire world touches the moon”? I think we just got one step closer to realizing this, but the dialogue must continue in order to get to that finish line.
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Meeting Space
February 11th, 2008 By _randall Filed Under Meeting Space
A place, or uh, space rather, where you can share your Second Life or Real Life space-related events. Did you know NASA Colab has a gathering once a month, around the schedule of the full moon, to bring together creative communities of
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Big Idea Space
February 11th, 2008 By _randall Filed Under Big Idea Space
Put Donny Deutsch in a room with a bunch of astronauts and this is what you get…. entrepreneurs and innovators working together to solve humankind’s life problems using space products and services. Have a product, service or idea you want the world to know about? It’s time you quit being a fly on the wall and do something about it…. this is your shot at being heard, and we’re smiling because of it. Beware, investors may be lurking.
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Babble Space
February 11th, 2008 By _randall Filed Under Babble Space
Its 4 o’clock in the afternoon and you’re bored, but you should be working. All you really want to do is get home and veg out on last night’s pizza. Well, sorry buddy, you’ll be stuck at your desk for another hour. Until then, sit back and give US some food for thought. Share your nonsensical stories no one else wants to hear or link us to your own personal blog and twitter posts! I’ll tell you one if you tell me one first.
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Political Space
February 11th, 2008 By _randall Filed Under Political Space
Your tax dollars, your space program! What space policy issues are important to you? Should we spend more on NASA, the International Space Station, provide more funding to prize competitions? What does our leadership feel? What about those aspiring to be leaders? Election 2008 is alive and kickin, but some of these candidates are kickin space to the curb. We want to be in the know and we want you to be informed. Don’t forget to vote!
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Factoid Space
February 11th, 2008 By _randall Filed Under Factoid Space
YES! Finally a place for us all to store the useless knowledge we’ve accumulated over the many years of working next to the rocket scientist, program manager or even the lovely blonde receptionist. This is the “did you know” section where you can tell us anything from famous space anniversaries to how a gravity assist maneuver works. We’re neither historians nor propulsion engineers so we leave this precious space in your hands.
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Student Space
February 11th, 2008 By _randall Filed Under Student Space
Having problems passing your aeroelasticity class? Have a question regarding astrodynamics, electrotechnology or some other course ending in “ics” or “ology?” Are you excited about researching an interesting space related problem? This is where you network with friends, enemies and everyone in-between. Discover your inner mentor.
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Industry Space
February 11th, 2008 By _randall Filed Under Industry Space
What’s the latest haps in the space industry? Give us the inside scoop to the latest and greatest news going down on your side of the cube. Have a small business or supply chain issue you want to bring to the table? Are there any new job requirements or industry skills that could help out a fellow space cadet? Maybe there’s an upcoming job announcement and you want someone young and hip to join your team? This is your cheap (as in free), one-stop, space industry, news source for everything industry related. We aren’t here for nothing; spill it Albert.
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Your Work Space
February 11th, 2008 By _randall Filed Under Your Work Space
This is a space for you to divulge anything from quality of life issues to your most embarassing work blunders. In essence, we want to hear about issues like high cost of living, the time a piece of gum slipped out of your mouth nearly breaking a multi-gazillion dollar satellite, the time you asked what those giant reels of tape were for, or simply tell us about how you feel being young and working in the space industry. It’s like myspace with substance!
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Hello world!
February 7th, 2008 By Matt Filed Under Uncategorized
Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!
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