BARUCH S. BLUMBERG NASA/LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CHAIR IN ASTROBIOLOGY, EXPLORATION, & SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS!

The NASA/Library of Congress Chair in Astrobiology, Exploration, and Scientific Innovation represents an opportunity for high-level scholarship to understand the interface between human society and the scientific exploration of the cosmos.

In the spirit of Nobel laureate Dr. Barry Blumberg, whose life and work spanned multiple disciplines, the Blumberg Chair focuses on the concept of exploration broadly defined to include any aspect of space exploration within the parameters of NASA’s mission to “reveal the unknown for the benefit of humankind.” The Kluge Center seeks proposals that consider the philosophical, humanistic, legal, ethical, and policy dimensions of exploration.

SUBMIT AN APPLICATION

Visit the link above and follow the instructions on the right-side of the page.

Submission Deadline: October 15, 2023

Selections: Spring 2024

Appointment: October 1, 2024

The Chair is in residence at the Kluge Center, in the Library of Congress. The Library is at the heart of serious conversation among scholars and policymakers and the Kluge Center’s distinctive mission is to bridge the gap between scholarship and the policymaking community. As such, the Blumberg Chair holds a highly visible, public role. The Library is particularly interested in scholars who are able and willing to speak beyond their disciplinary home in a way that is accessible and compelling to a broad audience.

The Chair is open to established scholars and leading thinkers in the fields of philosophy, history, religion, astrobiology, astronomy, planetary science, the history of science, paleontology, Earth and atmospheric sciences, geological sciences, ethics, literature, media studies, or other related fields.

Meet the Most Recent Chair:

Dr. Sheri Wells-Jensen

Sheri Wells-Jensen is Associate Professor in the Department of English at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. A linguist with research interests in phonetics, braille, language creation, and disability studies, her early work on the potential for non-physically mediated language acquisition (by AI or other non-human beings) led to an ongoing interest in ethical issues related to space exploration, as well as disability issues in space travel. Her current research centers on increasing access for people with disabilities in space.

Part of this work includes her participation on the leadership board of Mission: AstroAccess, a project that promotes disability inclusion in space.

View past chairs