Civic Scientist Lecture Series: Becoming Martian With Scott Solomon

The Civic Scientist Lecture Series features Scott Solomon, a teaching professor at Rice University, discussing the scientific and policy implications of expanding human presence in space. With accelerating commercial space travel and long-term settlement plans for destinations like Mars, the lecture addresses the effects of extreme space conditions on the human body and mind. Solomon explores what space travelers can anticipate during voyages to orbital stations, the Moon, and Mars, as well as the long-term biological outcomes for individuals remaining off-world.

The discussion centers on Solomon's book, "Becoming Martian" (MIT Press, 2026). This work examines how humanity's migration beyond Earth might reshape human biology, posing questions about the evolution of future generations born on other planets. The lecture provides a scientific exploration of human adaptation to extraterrestrial environments and the future of space settlement.