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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2 Responses to “Generation Y, what will we be known for in 50 years?”
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As an expert in intergenerational communication, Misti Burmeister has worked with top Fortune 500 companies, military leaders and national associations to motivate and inspire their staff to work together, beyond their generational differences. As an experienced coach with clients ranging from young teenagers to top executives, Misti has opened doors of life changing transformation. Misti would like to share her insight to your audience and shed light to the questions and concerns individuals have about parents, children, seasoned bosses, young new hires and more
CEO of Inspirion Inc. Ms. Burmeister has recently published her latest book “From Boomers to Bloggers: Success Strategies Across Generations,” a book written on the topic of four diverse generations and the communication barriers they come across at work and at home. This book is an essential guide to overcoming the preconceived notions we have about other generations and open doors to happy and healthy relationships.
For more information please email lwardak@inspirioninc.com
http://www.inspirioninc.com
Generation Y in 50 years has the potential to drastically increase knowledge of space, improve the already floruishing space program, as well as possibly making lesiure space travel a reality. The possibilities are endless and as a part of Gen Y, I know that we will leave a legacy of greatness upon the aerospace industry.