Ascension 2020

We had a BLAST at Ascension 2020 & we hope you did as well!

ascension sponsors

Ascension, our annual space conference, brings together students, researchers, and industry professionals over a 3-day event. The conference attempts to close the gap between industry and students by creating a place for students to find their own place in Canada’s space industry. Ascension has been held annually since 2015, with the most recent event held at the University of Alberta. Ascension 2020 will be held in concert with McMaster University at McMaster Innovation Park (MIP) on February 28 – March 1, 2020. Ascension 2020 is open to the public. This year’s theme is “Innovating Space: The Entrepreneurial Mission” to highlight the importance of the role private industry and small businesses play to advance innovation and development within the Canadian space sector. Over the course of the conference we will discuss existing and advancing technologies, hear from individuals who have started space companies, and discuss what current companies are doing to advance the industry.

Check out our 2020 Ascension Conference Booklet

Schedule

Over the course of the conference, there will be social events, panel discussions, presentations, and a student space teams expo. 

Friday night will kick off with a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, ART, and Match) Fair run in partnership with Starscape Creative. Join us for a fun night of art, performance, and networking. Friday night ONLY tickets are available.

Saturday Night we will be joined by a keynote guest (TBD) at our Gala Dinner in the beautiful atrium at McMaster Innovation Park. Enjoy a thre course meal and listen to members of industry talk about their experience in the space industry during this elegant evening. 

Keynote Speakers (click for bio if available):

image of Parshati Patel
Dr. Parshati Patel
(Western University)
Bhairavi Shankar
(Indus Space)
Christine Tovee
Dr. Mehran Anvari
Allyson Brady
(McMaster University)
Linda Dao
(Canadian Space Agency)
Click for more details (including location & participants)
Friday - February 28, 2020
Doors open/Registration
18:30-19:00
STEAM Fair Welcome
Hira Nadeem (SEDS-Canada)
Jay Modi (Starscape Creative)
19:00 - 19:20

Poetry
Ethan Kleinikkink, Hira Nadeem, Sobia Nadeem
19:20 - 19:35

Welcome & Keynote
Dr. Parshati Patel & Bhairavi Shankar
19:35 - 20:35

Performance by MAC Dance
20:35 - 20:50

STEAM Fair
20:50- 22:00
Join us for our kick off event - the STEAM Fair run in partnership with Starscape Creative. A fun night of art, performance, and networking awaits you, with a special guest talk from Dr. Parshati Patel and Bhairavi Shankar (double the fun!). Note that Tanya Harrison was not able to make it. Purchase a Friday night ONLY ticket if you can only make it for this one night!
Saturday - February 29, 2020
Registration / Light Breakfast
8:00 - 9:00
Location: TBD
Opening Keynote
Christine Tovee
9:00 - 10:00
Location: TBD
Panel #1: Space Start Ups
Moderator: Dr. Gay Yuyitung (MILO)
Participants: Jean-Francois Gauthier (GHGSat), Adam Trumpour (Launch Canada),
Sohrab Haghighat (SpaceRyde), Daniel McCammon (C6 Launch)
10:00 - 10:50
Location: TBD
In this panel members of industry will discuss the culture (policy, economic, and social) of space startups in Canada. They will share what they have learned are important things to consider when starting a company and what resources are available for the entrepreneur to disrupt the space industry.
Coffee break & snacks
Location: TBD
Session #1: Entrepreneurship in Space
Speaker 1: Julia Gibson (Sinclair Interplanetary)

Speaker 2: Adam Sniderman (Canadensys)
"The Changing Landscape of Lunar Exploration"
11:05 - 11:55
Location: TBD
The Entrepreneurship in Space session will highlight the experience of individuals whom are involved in entrepreneurial spirited enterprises in the space industry. They will share, to name a few, what it is like to build or be apart of a small team, discuss industry best practices, share lessons learned and important takeaways, and how to find opportunities in the industry, all for the aspiring entrepreneur in the audience.
Catered Lunch
Student Groups/Industry Expo
LinkedIn Photos
12:00 - 13:00
Location: TBD
Session #2: Student Competitions
Speaker 1: Devan Wagner (McMaster NEUDOSE)
Speaker 2: Michael Stramenga (MERGE)
Speaker 3:Alex Sekung (University of North Texas Analogue Astronauts)
13:00 - 14:00
Location: TBD
Student competitions are valuable and fun ways to build skills outside of the classroom, not to mention make new friends! In this session, participants of student competitions will tell you about their experience and how to get involved in the future to stack your resume with skills employers love.
Workshop: Build your company!
Hosted by Tammy Hwang (City of Hamilton, CoMotion Group)
14:00 - 15:30
Location: TBD
Build your company! Led by Tammy Hwang, a business development officer and startup advisor for the city of Hamilton and her company CoMotion on King, your task will be to form a business idea out of keywords selected to boost your creativity. You’ll learn what should go into a business idea, and how to pitch it! Take part in this fun and informal workshop to get your feet wet with the entrepreneurial spirit.
Student Abstract Winners
15:30 - 16:10

Room 1:
Arielle Ainabe (McMaster University)
"Tardigrade Mech: Boron Nitride Nanotube Composites for Space Radiation Protection"

Alyssa Ang, Shawn Lobo, Jeff Kim, Molly Lu, Priya Jain (Team WatLock, University of Waterloo)
"A Modular Habitation System for Mars Colonization"

Victoria Flood (University of Guelph)
"The Mars Science Laboratory Rover, CURIOSITY - Mission, Findings, and Operation"

Room 2:
Kirtan Dhunnoo (University of Alberta)
"Determining Response Differences to Microgravity in Male and Female Bioengineered Cartilage Tissue"

Addy Bhatia (University of Toronto)
"Design of a Novel Method for Realtime In-Situ Lunar Sample Analysis"

Tamjeed Elahee (University of Ottawa Rocketry)
"Cross-Platform Analysis of Antibiotic Resistance in Microgravity"
Location:TBD
Coffee break & snacks
Location: TBD
Panel #2: Education & EDI (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion)
Moderator: Dr. Parshati Patel, (Institute for Earth and Space Exploration, Western U)
Participants: Kate Howells (The Planetary Society), Bhairavi Shankar (Indus Space),
Eric Choi (Magellan Aerospace)
16:25 - 17:15
Location: TBD
Education, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) are critical components of moving any industry forward together as a community. In this panel, methods of promoting and improving EDI in workplaces, on campuses, and in the community will be discussed. Learn about outreach and why this is crucial to the space industry.
Session #3: Space Exploration
Speaker 1: Dr. Parshati Patel
Speaker 2: Dr. Shawna Pandya
17:15 - 18:00
Location: TBD
In this session, local explorers will talk about their work in exploring the cosmos!
GHGSat Networking Session
18:00 - 18:30
Location: TBD
Gala Dinner
with Dr. Anvari
"Remote Surgery: The Journey from the Arctic to Mars"
18:30 - 20:00
Location: TBD
Sunday - March 1, 2020
Light Breakfast
8:30-9:00
Location: TBD
Opening Keynote
Linda Dao (Canadian Space Agency)
9:00-10:00
Location: TBD
Panel #3: Space Law and Policy
Moderator: Aram Daniel Kerkonian (Ardaker Space Consultants)
Panelists: Michael Pley, Charlie Nitschelm (SEDS USA), Andrew Simon-Butler, Dr. Shawna Pandya
10:00 - 10:50
Location: TBD
Coffee break & snacks
Location: TBD
Session #4: Going Back to the Moon
Speaker 1: Elias Solorzano (MDA)
Speaker 2: Kaizad Raimalwala (MIssion Control)
11:05 - 11:55
Location: TBD
There is currently a tremendous amount of excitement related to the ARTEMIS program to return to the moon, including the development of lunar gateway. In this session, space companies in Canada will talk about their own involvement in this endeavour, where we can expect Canada’s role to be, and what students need to know to get involved in the future.
Catered Lunch
Student Groups/Industry Expo
LinkedIn Photos
12:00 - 13:00
Location: TBD
Panel #4: Space for a New Generation – Harnessing the Creative Economy
Moderator: Zaid Rana (SGAC)
Participants: Kaizad Raimalwala (Mission Control), Michael Pley,
Andrea Yip (Luna Design and Innovation), Tanya Harrison (Planet)
13:00 - 13:55
Location: TBD
SGAC presents an interactive panel centred on youth capacity development, grassroots initiatives and entrepreneurial dynamics: learn about the exciting potential of harnessing the Creative Economy for a new space generation! SGAC's role in advocating industry opportunities for the Canadian youth home and abroad will also be a featured point throughout this exciting fireside chat. This includes in what ways Canadians can be positioned to be represented to the UN, space agencies, industry and non-profits.
First Ontario Networking Session
13:55 - 14:25
Location: TBD
Session #5: Advancing Technologies
Speaker 1: Artash Nath
Speaker 2: Shira Jackson (University of Toronto)
14:25 - 15:15
Location: TBD
In this session, you will hear from experts in technologies that are shaping the future. Learn why these technologies are so important and their use in the space industry. These technologies are relevant to the aspiring researcher, engineer, and entrepreneur.
Panel #5: Off the Record
Moderator: Hira Nadeem (SEDS Canada)
Participants: Eric Choi (Magellan Aerospace), Andrei Hanu (McMaster U),
Victoria Lewis (Kepler), Thomas Sears (Queen's U), Marianne Mader (CASC)
15:15 - 16:05
Location: TBD
In this dynamic and exciting panel, you will hear the advice that individuals from the space industry wish they could have given to their younger selves. They will go off the record (no tweeting or videoing from the audience allowed) to give you frank and brutally honest academic and career advice. Topics will range from what they consider (or throw out) when hiring, to degrees to avoid.
Closing Keynote
Allyson Brady (McMaster University)
16:05 - 17:05
Location:TBD
Closing Remarks
17:05 - 17:15
Location: TBD

Speakers & panelists (click for bio if available):

Speakers & panelists are listed in order of appearance

Dr. Gay Yuyitung
(MILO)
Jean-Francois Gauthier
(GHGSat)
Adam Trumpour
(Launch Canada)
Sohrab Haghighat
(SpaceRyde)
Julia Gibson
(Sinclair Interplanetary)
Adam Sniderman
(Canadensys)
Devan Wagner
(McMaster NEUDOSE)
Michael Stramenga
(MERGE)
Alex Sekung
(UNT Analogue Astronauts)
Tammy Hwang
(CoMotion Group)
Arielle Ainabe
(McMaster U)
Kirtan Dhunnoo
(U Alberta)
Hira Nadeem
(SEDS Canada)
Addy Bhatia
(U Toronto)
Victoria Flood
(U Guelph)
Tamjeed Elahee
(U Ottawa)
Kate Howells
(The Planetary Society)
Alyssa Ang
(WatLock)
Jeff Kim
(WatLock)
Priya Jain
(WatLock)
Molly Lu
(WatLock)
Shawn Lobo
(WatLock)
Alyssa Ang
(WatLock)
Michael Pley
Aram Kerkonian
(Ardaker Space Consultants)
Eric Choi
(Magellan Aerospace)
Daniel McCammon
(C6 Launch)
Shawna Pandya
Dr. Shawna Pandya
(Project PoSSUM)
Charlie Nitschelm
(SEDS USA)
Andrew
Simon-Butler
Elias Solorzano
(MDA)
Kaizad Raimalwala
(Mission Control Space Services)
Zaid Rana
(SGAC)
Andrea Yip
(Luna Design and Innovation)
Artash Nath
Shira Jackson
(U Toronto)
image of Marianne Mader
Dr. Marianne Mader
Thomas Sears
(Queen's U)
Vanessa Lewis
(Kepler Comms.)
Andrei Hanu
(McMaster U)
Jay Modi
(Starscape Creative)

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