🖖 The problem to solve

So in yesterday’s email I talked about what question I’m answering with my work.

My premise.

Nicolas Cole says it’s one of the four questions to answer before you begin writing.

My best answer was:

What would happen if human life, technology, and nature were balanced?

The next question to ask is what problem am I solving?

That’s a tougher one to answer.

I’m not

• an astrobiologist

• a nutritionist

• an engineer

• a dietician

• an astrophysicist

Professionally I’ve been a chef for more than a decade. And personally, I’d like to enjoy my coffee looking out at the landscape while ending my day with a good sci-fi movie or series.

Or recently a book.

When it comes down to it, the problem I want to solve is finding a way to get us out there faster. To do my part.

To get us to the stars I’m finding it necessary to also solve problems that are down here on Earth at the same time.

The problems

Space travel, like other industries, has big environmental consequences. Focusing on sustainability reduces these impacts.

Reducing pollution, lowering resource consumption, and preserving natural habitats are top priorities. Both on Earth and in space. We only have the one Earth. And we’d have to bring with us everything we use in space, so we need to value those resources.

I can offer strategies for some of these efforts.

The exploration and colonisation of space raises ethical questions too. About our responsibilities to other planets and their ecosystems. Balancing tech and nature involves considering the rights of indigenous life forms.

We’re gonna come across planets with microorganisms.

Do we stay and study them?

Do we leave the planet alone so that it can evolve in its own way?

If someone stopped to study primordial Earth, wouldn’t things have turned out differently?

Would we even exist?

Minimising interference with natural processes and maintaining the integrity of celestial bodies is also a top priority.

Extended space missions are gonna take a toll on astronauts' physical and mental health.

Addressing the balance between technology and nature involves designing habitats and spacecraft and spacesuits that promote well-being in as many ways as possible.

We can incorporate biophilic design principles- design that connects our innate need to affiliate with nature in the modern built environment.

As humanity expands into space, there’s also a risk of cultural homogenisation and loss of diversity. Communication is essential. As multiple cultures are working together, a common language will need to be used.

A common language will even evolve into a new language.

The series, The Expanse, does a great job of touching on this. They have a group of people called Belters who are people born throughout the asteroid belt and moons of different planets of our solar system.

They have their own language that evolved from a mix of Earth languages.

“I think”
Belter: mi pensa
Spanish: yo pienso
French: je pense

“Friend”
Belter: kopeng
Mandarin Chinese: pengyou (朋友)

My work could explore ways to preserve cultural heritage while embracing technological progress. Ways to foster a sense of belonging and identity among space settlers.

Overall, I’d say my work won’t touch on how we’ll get there, but how we’ll live once we’re there.

That’s the problem I could help solve:

Solutions for achieving a balanced relationship between tech and nature in the context of space exploration. I can help to ensure a sustainable future for humanity beyond Earth.

No pressure.