Space Exploration…for Whom?
There is always someone musing on the phrase: “space: the final frontier.” The desire to explore the Universe and the possibility of colonising another distant planet—i.e., the so-called utopian “planet B” is extremely compelling. It is with this backdrop that, at our BEP2025 event, we examine who is likely to benefit from space exploration, as well as whether or not to prioritise exploring space at any expense.
This hybrid event will take place in Leeds, UK at the St George’s Centre, 60 Great George St, Leeds, LS1 3DL and ONLINE on Saturday the 22nd March, 2025 and everyone is welcome to join us, either in person or virtually. We look forward to seeing you…
TO REGISTER TO THIS EVENT PLEASE CLICK THIS LINK OR scan QR
THIS YEAR’S PANELLISTS…
BEP2025 delves into the history and current state of space exploration, beginning with the Moon—our nearest celestial neighbour. Far from being pristine, the Moon is now home to approximately 200,000 kg of debris left by various missions. As developing nations join the space race, the result is inevitable: more “space trash.” Meanwhile, Earth’s orbit has become a cluttered realm of satellites, rocket remnants, and even terrestrial microbes and tardigrades which are introduced during exploration. Yet the challenges still faced on Earth, including climate change, dwindling ecosystems and the ongoing extinction of fauna and flora seem no nearer resolution.
Our Earth’s population has already surpassed 8.2 billion and is projected to be close to 10 billion by 2050. Alarmingly, a quarter of humanity survives on less than $4.00 a day, grappling with dire poverty. With restricted resources and urgent needs on Earth, can space exploration truly justify its costs? Advocates suggest that space-related industries could alleviate poverty by creating jobs and realising new innovations, but critics question whether this vision is achievable—or simply a distraction from pressing global issues.
As we contemplate humanity’s future, one key dilemma persists: Should we prioritise space exploration or redirect those efforts toward solving Earth’s immediate problems, such as hunger, resource depletion, climate change and ever-increasing levels of waste. Space Exploration vs. Feeding a Starving World—the debate continues and we are asking you to consider: What kind of future are we building, and for whom?
