Special Guests at ESCᐱPE VELOCITY 2017
MORGAN GENDEL
The screenwriter best known to Star Trek fans as the man who wrote the Hugo Award-winning episode “The Inner Light” is coming to Escape Velocity. Patrick Stewart himself said that was his favorite episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and it is frequently ranked near the top of fan polls. To celebrate TNG’s 30th anniversary, EV17 will have a screening of “The Inner Light” and commentary by Mr. Gendel. Seating is limited, first come, first served. Early entry for VIP ticket holders
CAS ANVAR
We are excited to announce that Cas Anvar who plays everyone’s favorite Martian navy pilot, Alex Kamal in SyFy’s hit series ‘The Expanse” will be joining us. The Expanse is based on the popular novel series written by James S.A. Corey. You can meet Cas at Escape Velocity where he’ll be hosting a Q and A panel, signing autographs, and meeting with fans all weekend.
MASON PECK, PhD
Former NASA Chief Technologist and Associate Professor in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Cornell University and the Director of Cornell’s Space Systems Design Studio. Mason is also a member of the Museum’s Board of Advisors and Technology Subcommittee.
JOE HALDEMAN
Joe Haldeman is an American science fiction author. He is best known for his 1974 novel The Forever War. That novel, and other of his works including, The Hemingway Hoax (1991) and Forever Peace (1997), have won major science fiction awards including the Hugo Award and Nebula Award. His latest book, Work Done For Hire is a near-future science fiction story that considers the dangers of living in a surveillance state.
CATHERINE ASARO, PhD
Catherine is an author of science fiction, fantasy and thrillers, and has written over twenty-five novels, as well as short stories and non-fiction. Her acclaimed Ruby Dynasty series, called Saga of the Skolian Empire, combines adventure, hard science, math, romance and fast-paced action. Catherine earned her doctorate in theoretical chemical physics from Harvard and is known as a hard science fiction writer for the scientific depth of her work, including Primary Inversion, The Radiant Seas and Spherical Harmonic.
THOMAS DOLBY
Gifted musician, inventor, writer, teacher, and engineer extraordinaire Thomas Dolby will be a featured speaker at Escape Velocity. The pioneer of synthpop best known for his single “She Blinded Me With Science” will take the stage at EV17 to talk about the intersection of music and technology and perform a sample of his hit songs.
JAMIE ANDERSON
F – A – B . . . the son of iconic British science fiction television and film producer, Gerry Anderson. Jamie talks about his father’s legacy surrounding the Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlett and Space:1999. Jamie’s excited to share more about his new project: Firestorm.
MARC OKRAND
A scholared linguist, Marc’s work is in Native American languages and famously devising the Klingon language spoken in the original Star Trek films. The language he developed has also been used in a number of episodes of Star Trek television series. He also created the Vulcan dialogue for the original Star Trek films and served as a consultant for the Klingon, Romulan and Vulcan languages on the reboots, Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness. He is the author of The Klingon Dictionary, Conversational Klingon and The Klingon Way.
C. ALEX YOUNG, PhD
Solar astrophysicist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Associate Director for Science of its Heliophysics Science Division. Alex is also a member of the Museum’s Board of Advisors and Chair of the Technology Subcommittee
DAVID BRIN, PhD
David is best-known for shining light — plausibly and entertainingly — on technology, society, and countless challenges confronting our rambunctious civilization. His best-selling novels include The Postman (filmed in 1997) plus explorations of our near-future in Earth and Existence. As a scientist, tech consultant and world-known author, he speaks, advises, and writes widely on topics from national defense and homeland security to astronomy and space exploration. David serves as one of the Museum’s Board of Advisors.
JAMES SURIANO
James is a sci-fi and fantasy author originally from New York and educated at Johns Hopkins University. He is the author of Inbiotic and The Antarcticans. His next two novels, Dark and The Cult of Mao were released in 2016. A self proclaimed sci-fi fan since birth, James is thrilled to be a part of Escape Velocity.
JEFF RUTENBECK, PhD
Dean of the School of Communication (SOC) at American University. Building on experience, he has launched an initiative with the College of Arts & Sciences to develop a center for persuasive gaming at AU. While at his previous position, Jeff oversaw growing programs in game design, game art and animation, public relations, broadcast and streaming media, and emergent media (MFA).member Jeff serves as one of the Museum’s Board of Advisors.