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Alan Stern

Dr. Alan Stern’s experience as a flown astronaut and principal investigator for New Horizons makes him the ideal speaker to elevate your event with space exploration breakthroughs.

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We asked Alan to speak at Target as part of our annual Design Month conference, a program which celebrates design, creativity and innovation across the entire company. Alan spoke during at time of significant transformation for Target and his story of perseverance, often in the face of seemingly impossible circumstances, resonated with our audience in a way that felt deeply personal and authentic. He was savvy storyteller, able to captivate and hold the attention of the room and demonstrated a passion for his work that made his delivery feel fresh and uniquely tailored to our audience. His remarkable story of the New Horizon's mission to reach Pluto has a universal appeal – I would recommend him as a speaker for organizations of any size.

David Hartman

Director, Brand Design Lab Target

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Why you should book Alan Stern for your next event

Book Dr. Alan Stern to infuse your event with cutting-edge space exploration insights. His leadership in NASA’s New Horizons mission offers your audience transformative ideas on pushing boundaries and achieving extraordinary goals.
Engage with Dr. Stern’s profound scientific knowledge from his work on over 30 space missions. His insights will elevate your event, offering a unique perspective on the intersection of science, technology, and business.
Benefit from Dr. Stern’s expertise in overseeing NASA’s $6B science program. His keynote will offer valuable lessons on managing large-scale, high-impact projects and driving scientific progress.

Elevate your event with Dr. Alan Stern, a visionary aerospace executive and suborbital astronaut. As the leader of NASA’s $1B New Horizons mission and former director of NASA’s $6B science program, Dr. Stern brings unmatched expertise in space exploration and innovation. His groundbreaking work in space and extensive leadership roles promise to inspire and captivate your audience with unparalleled insights and future-focused perspectives.

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Keynotes

Keynote by speaker Alan Stern: Flying to Space on Virgin Galactic

In November, 2023, I flew to space for the first time, on a research mission. The project was 12 years in the making, and involved 9 separate mission objectives, all of which were accomplished. I’ve now been selected by NASA to fly a second space mission conducting astronomical research. I will present this story, with background context on the rocket companies offering space tourism, why the research market is so attractive to this industry, how my flights came about, how I trained for it, and what the flight looked and felt like from aboard. I close with some thoughts on how my long road to fly in space is a life lesson for all those with dreams.

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Keynote by speaker Alan Stern: Diving to Explore the Titanic: Risk and reward

In July, 2022, I was a member of a deep submersible dive team to the wreck of the RMS Titanic, 13,000 feet below the North Atlantic. This was the last successful dive to the Titanic in history. I will describe our voyage, the training for it, the research and other duties aboard that I performed, and comment on the tragic 2023 loss of friends and colleagues aboard the very same submersible. I will show images of the wreckage of the Titanic, images of the debris field around the Titanic, images from aboard the submersible, and images of some of the sea life on the deep ocean floor near Titanic, all of which I captured. I close with thoughts about why I took the risk to do this, and why intelligent risk taking is important in life, in business, and even in love.

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Keynote by speaker Alan Stern: The 26-Year Long Quest to Explore Pluto: How Persistence Pays

2015 at the far frontier of our solar system, it had been over 26 years for mission leader Dr. Alan Stern first approached NASA to fly a mission to planet Pluto. In this engaging and oftentimes funny presentation, Dr. Stern describes the long and difficult road from idea to launch, fraught with setbacks, and the equally long and sometimes heart-stopping journey across the solar system. This epic tale of persistence and personal perseverance by Dr. Stern and his team will motivate public audiences, business groups, professional societies, corporate teams, and schools to higher achievement in their own lives.

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Customer Reviews

David Hartman Director, Brand Design Lab Target

Alan’s experience and passion makes our new age of space exploration and discovery compelling to everyone. His deep knowledge from many successful missions, capped by the incredible fly by of Pluto, make him the finest public speaker on science alive today.

Art Dula Professor of Space Law Director, US National Space Society; Academician, International Academy of Astronautics

Alan gave out Joseph Henry Lecture to a full house at the Cosmos Club in Washington, D.C. this year. His presentation on New Horizons and Pluto was exceptional and inspiring. Alan has a rare ability to communicate not only his personal experiences in bringing New Horizons to life, but also the technical challenges and scientific rewards of the program. He held the attention of a very diverse audience - from high school students to seasoned NASA scientists - throughout his very well illustrated lecture, and he was incredibly generous with his time afterwards, answering questions and joining the audience for further discussion afterwards. We all came away with a deeper appreciation for New Horizon and a greater understanding of Pluto and the Kuiper Belt. We could not have asked for a more interesting talk or a more personable speaker.

Larry Millstein PhD, JD PSW President and Program Chair

Alan Stern is in the top league of professional speakers in the field of planetary science. His captivating talks not only engage the audience but invite them on a journey through research and discovery. Dr. Stern’s lecture skills are brilliant and personable- he connects with everyone. Without a doubt, one of the best speakers available.

Ed Siemenn Exec. Producer, Northeast Astronomy Forum (NEAF)

Alan Stern matches a remarkable record of leadership and scientific research with an authentic passion for sharing the excitement of space exploration. In his riveting keynote presentation at the Flagstaff Festival of Science, he took the audience on a behind-the-scenes tour of our solar system, culminating with the historic flyby of Pluto by New Horizons, a project which he led. He wove together a tale fraught with challenges and intrigue and showed how people can achieve their dreams given healthy doses of grit, hard work, and conviction. This inspirational program left the audience energized and wanting more, and demonstrated why Time Magazine recognizes Stern as one of the world’s 100 most influential people.

Kevin Schindler Former Board Member of the Flagstaff Festival of Science

Alan Stern

Transformative Insights from Space Exploration

Dr. Alan Stern is a distinguished keynote speaker celebrated for his groundbreaking contributions to space exploration and scientific leadership. Known for spearheading NASA’s $1 billion New Horizons mission, Dr. Stern led the first spacecraft to explore Pluto and the Kuiper Belt, achieving the farthest exploration of worlds in history. His role in this historic mission exemplifies his capacity to push the boundaries of scientific knowledge and innovation.

Alan Stern’s impact extends beyond this landmark achievement. As a former director of NASA’s $6 billion science program, he brings unparalleled expertise in managing large-scale, high-impact projects and driving groundbreaking research initiatives. His extensive experience includes leading over 30 space missions, serving as a suborbital astronaut, and holding executive roles at renowned institutions like the Southwest Research Institute and World View.

As a motivational speaker, Alan Stern inspires organizations with his unique blend of scientific achievement and visionary leadership. His keynotes provide valuable lessons in strategic thinking, innovation, and leadership, drawn from his experience in navigating complex projects and pioneering new frontiers.

By booking Alan Stern for your event, you offer your audience the chance to engage with a leading expert whose achievements highlight the cutting edge of space exploration and scientific discovery. His talks will not only captivate and motivate but also provide actionable insights to drive your organization’s success. Alan Stern booking is an investment in a transformative and inspiring event experience that promises to leave a lasting impact.