Mary-Jane Rubenstein

Mary Jane Rubenstein, Dean of Social Sciences and Professor of Religion and Science and Technology Studies at Wesleyan University, dives into the ethics and governance of a potential lunar economy. She explores the Outer Space Treaty and the challenges of ownership claims on the moon. The conversation highlights the risks of unregulated mining, the influence of first movers, and cultural objections from Indigenous groups. Rubenstein also warns about the implications of secrecy in governance, especially in the context of rivalry with China.

In a riveting discussion, Mary-Jane Rubenstein, a Professor of religion and science, and Frederick Sharman, an architect and researcher, unravel the legacy of Gerard O'Neill's vision of space colonies. They explore how O'Neill's ideas could potentially address Earth's environmental crises through space-based solar power, while also critiquing the colonial and religious underpinnings in modern space rhetoric. Rubenstein highlights the troubling connections between capitalism and space expansion, urging for alternative narratives to guide our futures beyond expansionist myths.

Mary-Jane Rubenstein, Dean of Social Sciences at Wesleyan University and expert on the interplay between science and religion, joins the discussion on the multiverse. She explores how cosmological questions often reflect monotheistic assumptions and contrasts Western linear narratives with cyclical views from Indian and Tibetan traditions. The conversation delves into the implications of the multiverse as an alternative to God, critiques of fine-tuning, and the role of awe in scientific practice, as well as her insights from her book, Astrotopia.