There is Enough Space for Everyone!

Roger That! is a two-day public symposium, honoring the memory of Grand Rapids astronaut Roger B. Chaffee, and intended to promote interest in both space exploration specifically and STEM in general. This year's keynote speaker is astronaut José Hernández, whose inspiring life story is the subject of the upcoming movie, "A Million Miles Away." The event also includes virtual presentations by experts around the world and in-person STEM-based activities for all ages, including a design challenge for 4th-8th graders at GVSU on Friday and family-friendly activities at Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) on Saturday.

STEM kits and classroom visits are available free of charge to interested K-12 teachers. Both are available on a first-requested, first-served basis. The STEM kits include instructions and equipment for hands-on exploration and are aligned with 5th grade NGSS standards, although teachers of any grade-level may request and receive the kits while supplies last. Please email [email protected] to request kits and/or classroom visits.

STEAM activities for K-5 students are organized by GRPM on Friday, February 10 to afford younger students the opportunity to learn about space exploration through a series of programs,including hands-on activities and planetarium presentations. Family-friendly activities also occur at GRPM on Saturday, February 11.

Design That! (a design challenge competition) is held at GVSU for 4th – 8th school students,with students working in teams to describe and solve problems in one of four areas – humans in space, communities in space, technology in space, or equal opportunities in space. Students are encouraged to design and build physical objects or use non-fictional and fictional narrative styles to present solutions to challenges related to space exploration. Design That! was carefully designed to align with specific NGSS standards, and students can present their projects in person and/or via short videos. Prizes will be awarded separately for 5th -6th grades and 7th -8th grades. Complete details about Design That! can be found on the symposium website and a flyer suitable for sharing with students is available by emailing [email protected].

An academic conference on Friday (8:30am - 4pm) features a series of virtual presentation by experts in two domains: Space & Society and Space & Science. These talks are geared towards an adult lay audience, primarily college students and the general public, but high school classes are welcome to attend and specific talks are accessible to all ages. The conference is free, but registration is required. Registration opens in January, at which time abstracts for the talks will be available on the symposium website.

Roger That! is pleased to announce our 2023 keynote speaker, José Hernández. Astronaut José Hernández grew up in a family of California farmworkers, moving from place to place throughout the different agricultural seasons. Drawn to the space program and encouraged by his family and teachers, Hernandez focused on his studies, going to college and eventually earning a Masters Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering. An upcoming movie about Hernández's story, A Million Miles Away is currently in production.  He will be speaking in the Loosemore Auditorium at GVSU's Pew Campus at 6pm on Friday, February 10, 2023 and at the Grand Rapids Public Museum at 11am on Saturday, February 11, 2023.

Roger That! Flyer

Locations: Grand Valley State University's Devos Center: (401 W Fulton Street, Grand Rapids, MI 49504), Building E, Loosemore Auditorium and Hager Exhibition Space
Grand Rapids Public Museum (272 Pearl Street NW, Grand Rapids Michigan 49504)

All activities at GVSU are free of charge.
The keynote at GRPM is free of charge; other activities are included with museum admission ($12 for adults with discounts for Kent County residents and seniors, $5 for children/students with free admission for Kent county children)

For more information about any aspect of the Roger That! symposium, visit gvsu.edu/rogerthat or contact Dr. Karen Gipson at [email protected].

The Roger That! symposium is funded in part by the Michigan Space Grant Consortium and in part by GVSU’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Astronaut Hernadez’s appearance is made possible by special augmented funding from GVSU’s Division of Inclusion and Equity and the Office of the President.