Space: from infinite dreams to recurring nightmares

Part of this year’s Battle of Ideas festival, this discussion looks at how space research and science fiction have influenced, reflected and overlapped each other. As the world’s space programmes have enjoyed successes and setbacks, so the visions presented in science fiction have echoed optimism and pessimism.
 
At this time of conflicting ideas about whether to push the boundaries of space exploration further or constrain our cosmic ambitions, is science fiction presenting us with new representations of the future or trading on glossy remakes and nostalgia?
 
Speakers include scientists Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock and Jon Chase, science teacher and 2009 Famelab runner-up Dr Simon Foster and science fiction writer Paul Cornell who has penned for comics and TV, including Doctor Who.