As the economic barriers to outer space shrink and opportunities for access expand, concerns about humans thriving in extraterrestrial environments and the impacts of humankind on those environments become less theoretical and more urgent. This conference endeavors to bring together scholars, technologists, policy specialists, artists, and other stakeholders to explore the ethical, legal, economic, cultural, biological, psychological, and environmental issues associated with the New Space era.

We welcome submissions addressing a wide range of topics and questions like… 

• How do we make the inhospitable environs of outer space physically, psychologically, and socially amenable to human exploration and habitation?
• Is space a “wilderness” in the same sense as wilderness on Earth?
• Can/Should terrestrial ethics guide our engagement with extraterrestrial life forms?  
• How should we regulate space activity through law and how could those laws be enforced?
• How do we balance diverse cultural perspectives in space research?
• What is the moral status of an extraterrestrial microbe? 
• What do representations of space exploration and habitation in film, literature, art, music, etc. reveal or reflect about our aspirations, social commitments, and imagined future for human communities in space?

You can access our Call for Papers and Submission Form using these links.

Timeline

• Submissions due 
  • Sunday, February 1
• Notification for accepted submissions
  • Sunday, March 1

Conference attendees can register soon. Registration fees are as follows: 

Early Bird Registration (Deadline March 30)

• Students ($150)
• Faculty/Post Docs/Non-academic professionals ($250) 

Late Registration (Deadline April 24) 

• Students ($175)
• Faculty/Post Docs/Non-academic professionals ($300) 

The conference fees include: 

• Access to all talks, panels, and keynotes
• Catered lunch on days one and two of the conference
• Coffee and tea service 
• Access to the conference reception

Refund Policy

Refunds of registration fees can be offered before the registration deadline of April 24. No refunds, full or partial, can be made after April 24. 

To encourage graduate students and early career academics interested in space studies to attend and share their research at the conference, we are offering a limited number of scholarships. These scholarships are designed to help defray conference registration and lodging costs. They do not cover the costs of travel to or from the conference. 

To be eligible for a scholarship, applicants must… 

• Be currently enrolled as a graduate student in a Masters or Ph.D. program at a nationally accredited college or university.
• Complete and submit the Scholarship Application form by February 1.

Applicants who submit a paper or poster presentation proposal for the conference and have that proposal accepted will receive priority consideration for scholarships. 

Scholarship recipients will be contacted after March 1 when accepted submissions are announced. Scholarship recipients have until March 30 to register for the conference and redeem their scholarship. Scholarships not redeemed by this date will be offered to other eligible conference participants or returned to the general conference funds. 

Information coming soon.

Information coming soon.

The (In)hospitable Space conference will convene on the campus of Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. All activities will take place in the Cohon University Center (CUC). Conference paper presentations will be given in the McKenna and Peter Rooms on the second floor of the CUC. Registration, lunch, plenary sessions, and keynotes will take place in the Conan Room on the first floor of the CUC. 

Lodging

Conference participants are responsible for booking their own lodging. Blocks of rooms have been set aside at the following locations:  

• On-Campus Housing (Carnegie Mellon University) [link not yet available]
• Courtyard by Marriott, Pittsburgh University Center (1 mile from campus)

For conference attendees not interested in these options, there are other alternatives in close proximity to Carnegie Mellon University’s campus.

Refunds for on-campus lodging can be offered before the registration deadline of April 24. No refunds, full or partial, can be made after April 24. 

Refunds for Courtyard by Marriott must be negotiated with them directly. Conference organizers will not be able to assist you with these refunds. 

Transportation

Pittsburgh is serviced by the Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) which is located 23 miles from Carnegie Mellon University’s campus. Travel time to or from the airport is typically 45 minutes but can be longer or shorter depending on the traffic and mode of transportation. 

Transportation options include: 

• Bus (28X Airport Flyer) 
  • Drops off at Forbes and Morewood on Carnegie Mellon University’s campus
• Uber & Rental Car from Pittsburgh International Airport

Excursion

Information not yet available

Refunds

Registration Fees 

Refunds of registration fees can be offered before the registration deadline of April 24. No refunds, full or partial, can be made after April 24. 

Lodging 

Refunds for on-campus lodging can be offered before the registration deadline of April 24. No refunds, full or partial, can be made after April 24. 

Refunds for Courtyard by Marriott must be negotiated with them directly. Conference organizers will not be able to assist you with these refunds.