Epigenetic Evolution in Cancer and a 500-Year Plan for Synthetic Biology

The future of humankind on Earth is uncertain. Whether by climate disaster, cataclysmic war, or the death of the sun in a few billion years, we face the prospect that at some time, life on Earth may end.  As a resourceful species aware that life is at risk of extinction, we have a responsibility to protect life—not only our own, but for all species on Earth and for those still to come (by accidental or designed evolution, or even AI). That means preparing to sustain life, even one day beyond the boundaries of our planet and our solar system. The same capacity for ingenuity that has enabled us to build rockets and land on other planets can be applied to redesigning biology, preparing ourselves to tolerate the extreme environments of outer space, so that we can undertake long-term, sustainable space travel.

In this talk, Dr. Christopher Mason will share fascinating details on how the human body and the microbes within us react to spaceflight, whether it’s for a short trip or a long journey. He will draw on findings from several NASA, SpaceX, and Axiom missions and provide key lessons for future missions to the Moon and Mars. Dr. Mason will highlight recent advances in biotechnology, multi-omics, data modelling, and cross-species genome engineering, which have revealed new ways extremophiles adapt to space and how human cells can be made more resistant to radiation. Ultimately, Dr. Mason will explain how these discoveries and technologies could help us achieve an ambitious, ethical goal: a 500-year plan to reengineer biology so that life can be possible on other planets. He will also reveal the best candidate planets for life in other solar systems.

When:  Monday, October 6, 2025

4:00 – 4:30 PM Registration
4:30 – 6:00 PM Keynote Address and Q&A
6:00 – 7:00 PM Reception

Where: Vancouver Convention Centre West Building

 Admission is free, however registration is required.