“Extraordinary tomorrow to create a better today”

This is the message from Mae Jemison, the first black woman to travel in space, at the opening of the ‘EU Science: Global Challenges & Global Collaboration’ conference in Brussels.

Jemison was joined by an esteemed panel of guests at the start of the five-day conference being held at the European Parliament and attended by PEN.

Outlining her thoughts on her project, the 100 Year Starship, she said actors now needed to decide how to “improve the world” in which we live and how to obtain new energy sources, creating sustainability. Speaking about her programme, Jemison said that the scheme’s objectives was not about sending humans to another star, but completing this mission required energy and this was the main issue facing Earth. She added that solving this problem would assist the subsequent generation in the “next 100 years”.

Also commenting was Professor John Wood, visiting academic at Imperial College London and former chief executive of the Council for the Central Laboratories of the Research Councils, who said that “science had to get back to basics” and it was now more important than ever to “share the diverse cultures of Europe” by working together.

The conference is a global gathering of researchers, politicians and academics to encourage greater co-operation in R&D and increased international participation in Horizon 2020.