February 4, 2019

What IF the sky is not the limit?


Astronaut Capt. Scott Kelly to speak at Purdue

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Imagine spending an entire year in space, away from loved ones and family. What happens to your body, your mind and your well-being? And, what can you learn about leadership and teamwork through the experience?

Astronaut Scott Kelly will present “What IF the sky is not the limit?” on March 5 to a sold out crowd at Stewart Center’s Loeb Playhouse. He will share his insights into the leadership and teamwork necessary to survive for a year in space and the demands involved with deprivation from loved ones and planet Earth. With his awe-inspiring stories from space and personal reflections, the former NASA astronaut inspires others to believe that they can reach any goal, no matter how ambitious or audacious.

Scott Kelly Scott Kelly. (Courtesy photo) Download image

The event is a part of Purdue University’s Ideas Festival, the centerpiece of Purdue’s Giant Leaps Sesquicentennial Campaign, which is a series of events that connect world-renowned speakers and Purdue expertise in a conversation on the most critical problems facing the world. One of the Ideas Festival’s themes is Giant Leaps in Space. The event is sponsored by the Purdue Honors College and Purdue Polytechnic Institute.

Kelly, a 20-year veteran of the NASA, spent 520 days in space over four missions. His missions included serving as the commander of the International Space Station from March 2015 through March 2016 during his record-setting year in space. On this mission – together with his identical twin brother, Mark, who remained on Earth – Kelly paved the way for the future of space travel and exploration as part of an unprecedented NASA study on how space affects the human body.

“Captain Scott Kelly brings unique insight into the discovery of the future due to his record-setting year in space,” said Rhonda Phillips, dean of the Honors College. “His experience has relevance for all regardless of interest or major, and we are excited to see how students can benefit from his perspective. We can’t wait to hear what the future holds.”

“We are thrilled that Captain Kelly chose Purdue Polytechnic and the Honors College as a place to personally share experiences from his record-setting time in space,” said Gary Bertoline, dean of Purdue Polytechnic Institute. “Hosting him here will be our own giant leap, and the honor will be all ours.”

The Honors College also will host Kelly for a panel discussion as part of the second annual Aronson Family Science and Society Honors Lecture Series at 4 p.m. on March 5 in Honors College and Residences North, Honors Hall. Along with Kelly, this panel will feature Purdue professors Briony Horgan from the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences and Marshall Porterfield from the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. The Aronson Lecture Series provides a venue for students, faculty and staff to have meaningful conversations about technological innovations and their roles in society.

A Q&A session will follow the panel discussion. A reception featuring “space food,” courtesy of Purdue Dining, will precede the panel discussion. Tickets for the Aronson Family Science and Society Honors Lecture Series are available to Honors College students here.

Along with his time in NASA, Kelly’s career includes serving as a member of the United States Navy (1987-2012). His memoir “Endurance: My Year in Space and Our Journey to Mars” is a New York Times best-seller. 

Writer: Bob Mills, 765-496-0153, mills144@purdue.edu

Media contact: Amy Patterson Neubert, 765-494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu

Note to Journalists: No audio or video recordings permitted.

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