Season 4, Episode 1 - Nation-Building in the Sky: How UM is Shaping Space Stewardship with Philip Ferguson

Episode Summary
No longer just a frontier for governments and billionaires, space is a shared environment that needs protection. As companies like SpaceX and Amazon launch mega-constellations of satellites, the risk to our atmosphere and orbital space grows. How can we ensure that the future of space is sustainable, inclusive, and serving communities on Earth? In this episode, Philip Fergusson, an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, President of the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute, and Director of the University of Manitoba’s STARlab, joins President Benarroch to discuss his big idea. From co-developing satellites with Arctic communities to designing drone airships for northern connectivity, we explore how responsible innovation, reconciliation, and a focus on local needs can shape a better future for space exploration.

About Philip Fergusson
• Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the Price Faculty of Engineering at the University of Manitoba.
• Magellan Aerospace Industrial Research Chair in Satellite Technology.
• President of the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute.
• Director of the University of Manitoba’s STARlab.
• Studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where his PhD focused on astronaut movement during long-duration spaceflight missions.
• His work at STARlab includes building satellites launched from the International Space Station to study asteroids.
• Committed to reconciliation through innovation, advancing space technologies to serve northern, Indigenous, and remote communities, his work directly addresses digital inequity and supports self-determination.
• As a university-based researcher, he is positioned to lead a critical, evidence-informed conversation about sustainable materials and better international regulation for space.

About What’s the Big Idea?
What’s the Big Idea? is an award-winning podcast hosted by University of Manitoba President Michael Benarroch. Each episode features conversations with big thinkers from the UM community who are contributing to the cultural, social, and economic well-being of people everywhere. It is produced by the University of Manitoba in partnership with Everything Podcasts.

Links and Resources
University of Manitoba’s Starlab.
University of Manitoba: Discover programs and opportunities.
Alumni Relations: Stay connected with UM.
UM News: Read more about UM events and research.

Music
Adrenaline Rush by Will Bonness, Associate Professor, Desautels Faculty of Music.

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What’s the Big Idea? is a University of Manitoba production, created in partnership with Everything Podcasts.