In this episode of StrictlyVC Download, Connie Loizos speaks with Mary Jane Rubenstein, professor of religion and science and technology studies at Wesleyan University and author of the book “Endless Worlds: The Many Lives of the Multiverse,” which was the research material for the Oscar-winning film “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”
As the space economy heats up and venture capital flows into startups promising everything from asteroid mining to lunar gas stations, Dr. Rubenstein offers a critical perspective on the ethics and values shaping humanity's expansion beyond Earth. Dr. Rubenstein will discuss how religious narratives have shaped space exploration, from the Apollo program to today's commercial enterprises. A look at how science fiction has influenced the industry (as a cautionary tale, sometimes misread as an instruction manual). He makes the case for why space debris is an issue that unites the nation, and ultimately leaves listeners wondering whether we're truly imagining new possibilities in space, or merely extending the worst of what's on Earth.