Our Space Family

Colonel Hadfield has been described as an astronaut rock star. From posting breathtaking photos of the Earth from orbit, to filming a music video cover of David Bowie's "Space Oddity" aboard the International Space Station, Chris Hadfield made space and science cool again. Graduating from the Royal Military College as a Mechanical Engineer, Hadfield went on to train as a fighter pilot. In 1992, Hadfield was selected to become one of four new Canadian Astronauts from a pool of 5330 applicants. Hadfield completed several Shuttle missions and installed the Canadarm2 on the International Space Station, making him the first Canadian to leave a space craft. Hadfield went on to command the International Space Station between March and May of 2013 where his use of social media and passion for public outreach made him one of the most recognized astronauts since the days of Apollo.

Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry, is guardian of the Roddenberry legacy and champions its universal ideals to new generations. As the son of legendary science fiction producer, Gene Roddenberry, whose Star Trek series continues to inspire today, Rod has followed in his father’s footsteps to be a catalyst in the creation of a world where humanity works together for the greater good. In 2011, Rod became CEO of Roddenberry Entertainment. Roddenberry Entertainment builds on the best of Gene Roddenberry’s work and continues to pioneer the development of a multi-media portfolio of provocative science fiction that incorporates graphic novels, comics, television, and film projects including the critically acclaimed Trek Nation which debuted in 2011. Rod also serves as chair for the Roddenberry Foundation which seeks to usher in a Star Trek future for today's society.

As a student at Cornell University, Bill Nye the Science Guy was introduced to the wonders of astronomy in a class taught by Carl Sagan himself; one of the original founders of The Planetary Society. Nye came full circle to join the Society’s Board of Directors, then become the organization’s Vice-president, and now its first Chief Executive Officer. Nye’s mission for many years has been to turn on the public in general, and kids in particular, to the “way cool” wonders of science. Scientist, comedian, teacher, and author, Nye became a household name with his innovative, fast-paced television series, Bill Nye the Science Guy. His latest TV program, 100 Greatest Discoveries, airs in eight installments on the Science Channel. Nye spent several years working as an engineer until he combined his dual love of science and comedy to create the Science Guy.

Henry Dlugosz has always been fascinated by science and technology. At an early age, Henry could be found watching planes land at an airport near his community in rural Poland. Living among the first regions of the country to be attacked by Nazi military forces in WWII, Henry was taken as prisoner of war and relocated to Germany. During an American attack on Germany, Henry was liberated and briefly joined the American military where he served as a guard during the Nuremberg War Tribunals. Following the war, Henry moved to Thunder Bay, Ontario where he threw a luger pistol he owned into a river, met his wife Bernice, started a family, and built a cottage on the shores of Shebandowan lake. It was there he would go on to inspire Matthew with the stars of the Northern Ontario night sky and remind us all that you never grow old as long as you continue to embrace curiosity.

Wil Wheaton is an actor widely known for his critically acclaimed role in Rob Reiner's Stand By Me, and as Wesley Crusher in Star Trek: The Next Generation. As an actor, Wil has crafted memorable recurring roles in SyFy's Eureka, Felicia Day's webseries The Guild, and as a fictionalized version of himself in the CBS hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory. As an author, Wil has published several books including Just a Geek, Dancing Barefoot and Memories of the Future, a nostalgic episode guide of the first half of the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation. As a voice actor, Wil has contributed to several large video game titles such as EverQuest, Grand Theft Auto, Fallout, and DC Universe Online. Referred to as the Geek in Chief, Wil is a champion of geek culture, an avid and passionate gamer, and writes openly about mental health and the need to create positive fan communities.

Ann joined the video-game industry in 1997. She's worked as a game designer, narrative designer, and writer on a wide range of projects. In 2010 she joined BioWare Montréal, where she wrote for the epic sci-fi video game series, Mass Effect 3 and Mass Effect 3: Omega, contributed to the fantasy RPG game Dragon Age: Inqusition, and worked on Mass Effect: Andromeda. In 2015 she co-authored The Game Narrative Toolbox, an all-inclusive guide to videogame narrative design. At Ubisoft she helped create the "Discovery Tour" mode in Assasin's Creed Origins. Currently, Ann is working at WB Games Montréal as Narrative Director. A determined advocate for diversity in games, she works to mentor and support like-minded voices in the industry.

Sara discovered her interest in space & astronomy at an early age. An advocate for women and people of colour in STEM, her hope is to relay her own passion for discovery into excitement for learning at all ages. Committed to equity, diversity, and meaningful inclusion, Sara is a community builder at heart. Sara has used her expertise gained through completing a PhD in Planetary Geology to share knowledge about space with the public through radio shows, hands-on workshops, tutorials, talks, and more.

Soyeon earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in Taejŏn in 2001 and 2002, respectively. On 8 April 2008, Soyeon, South Korea's astronaut, was launched into space on board Soyuz TMA-12, with two Russian cosmonauts, Sergei Volkov and Oleg Kononenko, and returned to Earth along with ISS crew members Peggy Whitson and Yuri Malenchenko aboard Soyuz TMA-11, on April 19, 2008. Recently, Dr. Yi received her MBA at the Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley with an emphasis on technology and global leadership in May 2014. She also volunteers as a science communicator at the Seattle Museum of Flight.

Rekha Sharma is a Canadian actress of Indian descent who portrayed Commander Ellen Landry – the first security officer of the USS Discovery – as well as Landry's mirror universe counterpart in Star Trek: Discovery. Prior to this, she appeared as Avi Samara in the fan series Star Trek Continues episode "Still Treads the Shadow". Sharma played Tory Foster in Ronald D. Moore's Battlestar Galactica series. Sharma's hobbies include painting as well as playing the sarangi. In 2018, Sharma started raising money in the fight against veteran suicide through "Team Donut by Rekha Sharma."

Robert "Bob" Picardo is an American actor. He is known for his portrayals of Dr. Dick Richards on ABC's China Beach; the Emergency Medical Hologram (EMH), also known as The Doctor, on Star Trek: Voyager; the Cowboy in Innerspace, Coach Cutlip on The Wonder Years (where he received an Emmy nomination); Ben Wheeler in Wagons East; and as Richard Woolsey in the Stargate television franchise. Picardo is also a member of the Board of Directors of The Planetary Society.

Robert J. Sawyer is one of only eight writers in history (and the only Canadian) to win all three of the science-fiction field's top honors for best novel of the year: Rob's novels are top-ten national mainstream bestsellers in Canada, appearing on the Globe and Mail and Maclean's bestsellers' lists, and they've hit #1 on the science-fiction bestsellers' lists published by Locus, Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk, and Audible.com. His twenty-three novels include Red Planet Blues, Triggers, Calculating God, and the "WWW" trilogy of Wake, Watch, and Wonder, each volume of which separately won the Aurora Award — Canada's top honor in science fiction — for Best Novel of the Year.

Devoted to the intersection of research and public outreach, Dr. Trottier explores the cosmos as an amateur astronomer, published astrophotographer, and Professor of Physics at Simon Fraser University. As part of his outreach activities, Dr. Trottier hosts Starry Nights, a series of public astronomy parties, and is currently spearheading an SFU Astronomical Teach Observatory and Science Outreach Centre.

Michele earned degrees in Theater and Classical Vocal Music Performance, completed a prestigious internship with "Theatre de la Juene Lune." She hooked up with a sketch comedy group called A.S.S. (Another Showcase Showdown) with which she created and performed dozens of original comedy characters, sketches, short films, and musical numbers for 8 years all over LA and beyond - including the HBO Comedy Workspace and the Aspen Comedy Arts Festival. In addition to her role as Dr. Elise McKennah in "Star Trek: Continues" Michele is also known to Sci-Fi fans as insane bounty hunter Red in "Fallout: Nuka Break", and as Betty the Personality Core in the Portal-based "Aperture R&D". She also voices characters in video games she has no idea how to play like "Star Trek: Online", "Final Fantasy XIII" and "Dynasty Warriors 7&8".

As a graphic artist, science fiction fan, and author, Michael Okuda is best known for his legacy within the Star Trek Franchise. His credits include The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, Enterprise, and numerous feature films. Additionally, Michael has designed logos for NASA and in 2009 received the NASA Exceptional Public Service Medal at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

Erin Macdonald is an astrophysicist, aerospace engineer, and science fiction consultant. She hosts the YouTube channel, Dr. Erin Explains the Universe, teaches STEM through popular culture, and consults with science fiction creators. After deciding not to pursue an academic research career, Erin began giving talks at science fiction conventions in the areas of her expertise and linking the science to the various fandoms of her audience members. She has used Voltron: Legendary Defender to teach about spacetime. She has made appearances at such conventions as Awesome Con and Dragon Con. This led her to meeting and working with science fiction writers in the entertainment industry. She recently announced her creation an Audible Original course, The Science of Sci-Fi From Warp Speed to Interstellar Travel.

Jill Tarter is an American astronomer best known for her work on the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI). Tarter is the former director of the Center for SETI Research, holding the Bernard M. Oliver Chair for SETI at the SETI Institute. In 2002, Discover magazine recognized her as one of the 50 most important women in science.Tarter's astronomical work is illustrated in Carl Sagan's novel Contact. In the film version of Contact, the protagonist Ellie Arroway is played by Jodie Foster. Tarter conversed with the actress for months before and during filming, and Arroway was "largely based" on Tarter's work.

Rick Green is an award winning producer, director, writer and comedic performer who has made hundreds of television, radio and stage shows including: History Bites, The Red Green Show, groundbreaking sci-fi magazine series Prisoners of Gravity, and the documentary ADD & Loving It. His site, TotallyADD.com, is dedicated to helping adults with Attention Deficit Disorder and those affected by it.

Bobak Ferdowsi is an American systems engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He served on the Cassini–Huygens and Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity missions. Ferdowsi gained media fame in August 2012, when he wore a mohawk hairstyle, uncharacteristic of engineers, during the Curiosity landing. It unexpectedly became an iconic image of the event with coverage in the news and social media; U.S. President Obama even commented on the popularity of "Mohawk Guy".

Larry Nemecek an American Star Trek author, actor, editor, archivist, consultant, interviewer and producer, first widely known thanks to his classic best-seller "Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion" from Pocket Books. He has portrayed Dr. McCoy in the Star Trek Continues web series episodes "Pilgrim of Eternity" and "Lolani" and served as the series' Creative Consultant. Larry hosts The Trek Files on the Roddenberry Podcast Network, launched in January 2018 as a 15-minute look with a guest at papers, letters, memos and other documents from Gene Roddenberry's own archives. A documentary, "The Con of Wrath," is in the works about the infamous true-life Ultimate Fantasy arena show and convention in 1982 Houston — known as perhaps Star Trek's "most glorious failure."

Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens are a New York Times-bestselling husband-and-wife writing/producing team. In genre media, the Reeves-Stevenses are well known for their involvement with the Star Trek franchise. In addition to having written twenty Star Trek books, including six novels on their own, ten novels with William Shatner, and four non-fiction volumes detailing the production history of the franchise, they acted as executive story editors and co-producers on the fourth season of Star Trek: Enterprise. Both are among the series writers who had cameos in "These Are the Voyages...", the final episode of Enterprise. Previously, they acted as staff writers and supervising producers in the second and third seasons of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World, and wrote episodes of Batman: The Animated Series.