Chicago Society’s annual conference will launch this Saturday, bringing together speakers from the National Aeronautics and Space Association (NASA), science fiction, and space business. The day-long event is entitled, “Space: Speculations and Exploration.”

The event will feature a keynote address from Robert Rosner, Ph.D., a UChicago professor in both the astronomy and astrophysics and the physics departments. Rosner previously served as Argonne National Laboratory’s associate director for physical, biological, and computing sciences as well as its chief scientist.

There will also be discussion panels on space from the perspectives of science, business, and creative fiction. Panelists include Grace Wolf-Chase, Adler Planetarium astronomer; Eligar Sadeh, CEO of Astroconsulting; Charles Blandchard, former general counsel of the United States Air Force and Army; David Livingston, host of *The Space Show*; and John Hemry, *New York Times* bestselling author of *The Lost Fleet* series.

Breakfast and lunch at the conference will be provided. The event is free to the public, but it is recommended that attendees register online in advance.

Chicago Society, the organization hosting the event, is an RSO that promotes connections between UChicago and the broader community by planning events that bring together students, professors, and professionals to discuss a wide variety of subjects. In the past, the group has brought speakers to campus such as former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates, hosted dialogues about topics such as the College Core curriculum, and held pop-up classes with renowned professors.