The first episode of a new series—Shifted Space—featuring Dr. Moriba Jah was recently released. Dr. Jah is an Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at UT Austin and the Lead of the Strauss Center’s Space Security, Safety, and Sustainability Program. In this new series, produced by the Texas Immersive Institute at UT Austin’s Moody College of Communications, Dr. Jah travels the world to explore solutions to the growing problem of orbital debris. This first episode took place in Molokai, Hawaii. Dr. Jah, who has spent time studying in Hawaii, began the episode by noting that sustainable lifestyles have been practiced in Hawaii by famers of the land and sea. Dr. Jah therefore aims to connect these cultural ideas on environmentalism on land to space.

This episode features Dr. Jah speaking with middle school students in Molokai as he describes the challenge of orbital debris and solicits their input on the problem. One student explained how their lifestyle in Molokai connects them to space because the ancient Polynesians in Hawaii used stars to navigate. The students also shared the Hawaiian concept of kuleana, which explains how humans have an innate responsibility to steward the natural world. Dr. Jah concluded by noting that this type of cultural wisdom reminds us that it is our duty to protect the environment, including the space environment. Watch the full episode here.