2026 Ad Astra Kansas Foundation Galaxy Forum - “Generations of Space Innovators”

The free public event will showcase winners of the 2026 Ad Astra Kansas Space Scholarship awards. The featured speaker will be retired astronaut and Kansan Steve Hawley presenting “An Astronomer’s Journey”. Next, University of Kansas doctoral student Kaitlin Sheriff explains why “Some Stars Are Terrible Neighbors” and...

The free public event will showcase winners of the 2026 Ad Astra Kansas Space Scholarship awards. The featured speaker will be retired astronaut and Kansan Steve Hawley presenting “An Astronomer’s Journey”. Next, University of Kansas doctoral student Kaitlin Sheriff explains why “Some Stars Are Terrible Neighbors” and KU undergraduate Lucciano Caceres Holgado touches on “”A World of Extreme Heat”. Wichita State University freshman Patrick Huser will present “Starting the High School Club: Manhattan Aeronautical and Space Administration (MASA),” which he co-founded in 2024 at USD 383. Sheriff, Holgado, and Huser are recipients of the 2026 Ad Astra Kansas Space Scholarships, which encourage students pursuing STEM fields. The Galaxy Forum gives the public an opportunity to learn about cutting-edge space science being conducted in Kansas and do some planetarium viewing. Presentations will run from 1 to 2:30 p.m., Saturday, October 10 followed by viewing at KU’s new portable planetarium from 2:30 to 4 p.m. The event will be held on the KU campus in Slawson Hall, Room G192, 1420 Naismith Drive, Lawrence. The event is co-sponsored by the KU Dept. of Physics and Astronomy. About the Ad Astra Kansas Foundation The Ad Astra Kansas Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 2001. Its mission is to advance the Kansas state motto, “To the stars through difficulties,” by promoting space science and education.