Purdue University is a leading institution in space exploration, including human spaceflight, planetary science, astronautical engineering, and more. Establishing interdisciplinary connections between academic research groups and industry partners will build a competitive workforce that is ready to respond to upcoming space exploration opportunities. The 2nd annual Advancing Space Exploration at Purdue Symposium, hosted by the College of Science, will bring together leaders from inside and outside Purdue to discuss opportunities for universities to work with industry partners to make the next giant leap in robotic and human space exploration. We will explore ways to develop spacecraft missions, discuss needed scientific, engineering, and technology developments, and identify opportunities for collaboration with both NASA and the private sector for the successful flight of compelling spacecraft missions.
Advancing Space Exploration at Purdue
Building bridges between academia and industry to enable exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
2026 Advancing Space Exploration
- Hear from experts and thought leaders in the space industry
- Connect with leading industries driving technological advancements
- Network with top talent and faculty at the forefront of space exploration
Scheduling is ongoing and the schedule may have frequent updates as we add speakers.
- 8:30 AM–11:30 AM: Academia-Industry Partnerships in Space Exploration. Speakers include George Pollock IV (The Aerospace Corporation, Principal Director of Architecture and Design), Brian Joyal (CEO, Veridiam Inc), and Rob Lillis (planetary space physicist and geophysicist at UC Berkeley Space Sciences Lab)
- 11:45 AM – 1:00 PM: Lunch Break
- 1:15 PM–2:35 PM: Opportunities in Space Exploration on, above, and in orbit around Earth. Speakers include Steven Collicott (Professor, AAE), Andrea Donnellan (Professor and Department Head, EAPS), Zoltan Nagy (Professor, Chemical Engineering), Jim Garrison (Professor, AAE), and Stacey Connaughton (Director, Purdue Policy Research Institute)
- 2:35 PM–3:45 PM: Opportunities in exploring the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Speakers include Ali Bramson (Assistant Professor, EAPS), Barrett Caldwell (Professor, IE), Merel von't Hoff (Assistant Professor, Physics & Astronomy), and Vilas Pol (Professor, Chemical Engineering)
- 3:45 PM–4:00 PM: Break
- 4:00–4:30: Fireside chat on the human exploration of space
- 4:30–5:00: Poster session
Speakers for the 2026 Advancing Space Exploration include:
George Pollock - The principal director of the Architecture and Design Subdivision in the Systems Engineering Division at The Aerospace Corporation, where he leads a nationwide team of systems engineers and system architects supporting national security, civil, and commercial space missions. Pollock is also responsible for innovation that enables enterprise mission success, enterprise integration, and new operating models for Aerospace customers.
Rob Lillis - A planetary space physicist and geophysicist at UC Berkeley Space Sciences Lab specializing in four main areas: 1) solar energetic particles and their effects on planetary environments, 2) electrodynamics of planetary ionospheres, 3) remote sensing of crustal magnetism and 4) the physics of atmospheric escape and climate evolution. Lillis has studied several planets but Mars is his primary focus. His research approach is broad, encompassing data analysis, modeling and both instrumentation and mission development. Lillis is the Principal Investigator for the ESCAPADE twin spacecraft Mars mission (launching Fall 2025), as well as being involved in two operational Mars missions: MAVEN (NASA) and the Emirates Mars Mission (UCB PI).
Lodging:
Purdue West Lafayette is very walkable, and the Union Club Hotel in the Purdue Memorial Union is a convenient on-campus location for overnight visitors.
There are a variety of other lodging options in the Greater Lafayette area — some within walking distance. Visit Lafayette-West Lafayette is a great resource to locate nearby hotels, campgrounds and vacation rentals to fit your needs.
Learn more about the event. Contact us.
Brought to you by:
Purdue University College of Science
2025 Event Recap
2025 Event Recap
In 2025, the College of Science in combination with the College of Engineering held the first of many collaborative conventions at Purdue University to help the world boldly explore the vast universe around us. We call "dibs" in being the first to go, and we plan to stay the course. At Purdue, we'd like to play a part in every mission. The Advancing Space Exploration at Purdue convention was set up to help faculty and staff collaborate on our next giant leaps.