Doarn, Director of UC’s Space Research Institute for Discover and Exploration, participated in an academic panel during the virtual Ohio Space Forum 2021 event. The forum, organized by the Dayton Development Coalition and JobsOhio,  served as a platform for reviewing industry, academia and government’s efforts and opportunities for promoting Ohio’s role in the growing aerospace industry and how our multidisciplinary students fit into this. The Institute is part of UC’s vision of Research 2030 and Digital Futures. The event included remarks from Governor DeWine, both Ohio’s sitting senators, US and state representatives, the USAF, and NASA. Other panelist included professors from The Ohio State University, the University of Toledo, Cleveland State University, and The Eisenhower School – National Defense University. Public and environmental health are key components of space exploration, especially in the closed environment and remote healthcare. UC was a key sponsor, using the Institute’s tagline – “Preparing the next generation of leaders in space exploration through disciplinary collaboration and education.”