Fall 2020 Colloquium Speaker Series – Danielle Wood

Joint Colloquium with the George Perkins Marsh Institute

MIT Media Lab, Director of the Space Enabled Research Group

Sustainability in Space and on Earth: Research Initiatives of the Space Enabled Research Group

The presentation will present the work of the Space Enabled Research Group at the MIT Media

Lab. The mission of the Space Enabled Research Group is to advance justice in Earth’s complex

systems using designs enabled by space. Our message is that six types of space technology are

supporting societal needs, as defined by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

These six technologies include satellite earth observation, satellite communication, satellite

positioning, microgravity research, technology transfer, and the infrastructure related to space

research and education. While much good work has been done, barriers remain that limit the

application of space technology as a tool for sustainable development. The Space Enabled

Research Group works to increase the opportunities to apply space technology in support of the

Sustainable Development Goals and to support space sustainability. Our research applies six

methods, including design thinking, art, social science, complex systems, satellite engineering

and data science. We pursue our work by collaborating with development leaders who represent

multilateral organizations, national and local governments, non-profits and entrepreneurial firms

to identify opportunities to apply space technology in their work. We strive to enable a more just

future in which every community can easily and affordably apply space technology. The work

toward our mission covers three themes: 1) Research to apply existing space technology to

support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals; 2) Research to design space systems

that are accessible and sustainable; and 3) Research to study the relationship between technology

design and justice. The presentation will give examples of research projects within each of these

themes.

https://www.media.mit.edu/people/drwood/overview/