As commercial space travel accelerates and plans for long-term human settlement beyond Earth move closer to reality, questions once confined to science fiction are becoming matters of scientific and policy relevance. We are on the cusp of a golden age of space travel in which, for the first time, it will be possible for large numbers of people to venture into space. But what happens to the human body and mind in the extreme conditions of space? What should space travelers expect during journeys to orbiting space stations, the Moon, or Mars — and what are the longer-term implications if some choose to stay? These questions extend even further when considering future generations: What would happen to children born on another planet, and how might life beyond Earth shape human evolution?
At this event, Scott Solomon, teaching professor at Rice University, discussed his new book “Becoming Martian” (MIT Press, 2026), which explores how humanity’s migration into space could reshape human biology and minds. Drawing on research from biology, genetics, and space science, Solomon examined the potential physical, psychological, and evolutionary consequences of sustained life in space. A book signing concluded the event.
This event was a collaboration between the Baker Institute Science and Technology Policy Program and Rice Space Institute. It was also a part of the Civic Scientist Lecture Series, sponsored by Dr. Virginia Clark, with additional support from Benjamin and Winifer Cheng, Rice University’s George R. Brown School of Engineering, and Weiss School of Natural Sciences.
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Civic Scientist Lecture Series
Sponsored by the Baker Institute Science and Technology Policy Program, the Civic Scientist Lecture Series aims to increase the engagement of scientists and engineers with society to expand the public’s knowledge and interest in science.
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Agenda
5:30 pm CDT — Reception and Book Sales
6:00 pm CDT — Presentation with Audience Q&A Session
7:00 pm CDT — Book Signing
Participants
Featured Speaker
Scott Solomon, Ph.D. is a biologist, professor, and science communicator. He teaches ecology, evolutionary biology, and scientific communication as a Teaching Professor at Rice University. Solomon is also a research associate at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History. He earned a doctorate in ecology, evolution, and behavior from the University of Texas at Austin where his research examined the evolutionary basis of biological diversity in the Amazon Basin. His current research focuses on interactions between native and non-native ants, the impacts of extreme flooding on ant communities, ant foraging behavior, and the co-evolution of ants and microbes. Solomon often speaks and writes about science for public audiences, including at schools, museums, and science cafés, and has appeared on NPR, the BBC World Service, and television programs such as “NASA’s Unexplained Files and Life 2.0.” He is the author of "Future Humans: Inside the Science of Our Continuing Evolution" (Yale University Press, 2016) and the forthcoming book "Becoming Martian" (MIT Press, 2026), scheduled for release in Feb. 2026.
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