Survive 1,000 centuries

 

Roger-Maurice Bonnet, astrophysicist and author of “Surviving 1,000 centuries: Can we do it?” Credit: ESA/DR

With the space age, mankind has become aware of the finitude and the fragility of the Earth: its resources are not endless and the ecosystem which ensures our survival can be disrupted to the point of bringing our future into question. Such is the issue covered in the book “Surviving 1,000 centuries: Can we do it?” which draws a parallel between a spaceship and our planet, the only one to date capable of sheltering all human beings. And like the astronauts that take care not to damage their precious vehicle, human beings are bound by an obligation of solidarity with a view to preserving their future. This parallel with astronavigation is logical for the author of this book, Roger-Maurice Bonnet: astrophysicist, from 1983 to 2001 he was Director of the Scientific Programme for the European Space Agency. He is currently President of COSPAR (Committee on Space Research) and Executive Director of the ISSI (International Space Science Institute).
Roger-Maurice Bonnet believes that it is time to understand the risks and challenges that oppose us so that we can collectively set up the strategies which will ensure our survival. A fair and efficient distribution of the resources of our planet is therefore necessary and satellites have a major role to play in this worldwide “management”.
This fascinating subject concerns us all and is to form the basis of Roger-Maurice Bonnet’s conference which is to be held on Tuesday 1 December at 20:30 at the Cité de l'Espace in Toulouse, France.
Entry is free of charge but reservation is strongly recommended. Contact the Cité de l’Espace via this email address or by telephone on 0820-377-223 (0,12€ TTC/min from France).

La Cité de l’espace

Les Amis de la Cité de l’Espace (Friends of the Cité de l’Espace)

Biography of Roger-Maurice Bonnet (Wikipedia)

The book: “Surviving 1,000 centuries: Can we do it” (Springer)

Published on 24 November 2009