“We are the only known species that understands species go extinct... So it is extremely important we do whatever we can to avoid extinction. We have a moral obligation to prevent extinction, and we have a responsibility to act as life-form shepherds—not just for our species, but for all species on which we rely, as well as those yet to come.”
~ Dr. Christopher E. Mason
Join Dr. Christopher Mason for the Don Rix Distinguished Keynote Address
How will the human body, and the microbes that live within us, adapt to the extreme conditions of space?
Renowned expert in space biology, Dr. Christopher Mason, will dive into groundbreaking discoveries from NASA, SpaceX, and Axiom missions, revealing how our biology reacts to spaceflight and what it means for the future of space travel.
Discover how advances in biotechnology, multi-omics, and genome engineering could pave the way for long-term space exploration and make life on other planets possible. Dr. Mason will share lessons learned from space research, the latest in radiation resistance technologies, and introduce us to the planets that could one day support human life.
Don’t miss this opportunity to explore humanity’s ambitious, 500 year plan to reengineer life for space and what it means for the future of our species.
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
Why you should attend
Dr. Christopher Mason’s talk offers a rare opportunity to explore the intersection of space exploration, genomics and synthetic biology. Gain cutting-edge insights into how space travel influences human biology, the potential role of epigenetics in cancer and how these discoveries could shape humanity’s long-term survival in space.
Who should attend
This event is ideal for students, researchers, healthcare professionals and anyone interested in the future of space exploration, biotechnology and the ethical challenges of synthetic biology. Whether you’re passionate about space, genomics, or the future of human evolution, this talk will inspire and inform.
YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS SPECIAL EVENT
GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!
Admission is free, however registration is required.
Accessibility
Genome BC is committed to providing universal access to all our events. Advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs. Please contact us at events@genomebc.ca to let us know of any accessibility needs you may have to attend this event.
Health and Safety: Prioritizing Your Well-Being
We are committed to ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for all our guests. While no specific COVID-19 measures are currently mandated, we will continue to follow advice from the BCCDC and government health authorities. If any new health or safety requirements arise, we will notify you in advance of the event and ask that you follow the latest guidance.
By registering for this event, you agree to comply with any health and safety measures in place at the time. Please check this website for any updates, as guidelines may change.
Who was Don Rix?
Dr. Donald B. Rix, the innovator and a philanthropist for whom this event is named after had a broad palette of interests: medicine and science, education and the arts. He was a recipient of the Order of Canada, the Order of BC and one of the co-founders of Genome BC.
Don believed that technology and innovation were the fundamentals upon which to build the future of British Columbia. In a speech to the Vancouver Board of Trade, he explained that technological innovation transcends all boundaries. He said:
"Not only does it create new industry sectors and new jobs, which in turn, boost economic output, it also provides traditional industries with advances that allow them to be more productive and competitive. Most importantly, technology improves every aspect of life by coming up with new ways to address important social issues."
Don was a visionary and a pioneer. Throughout his life he looked for gaps and created opportunities to fill them. As a physician Don saw the need for better diagnostics and helped to co-found a system of clinical labs across Canada — better known today as LifeLabs.
Don had a keen interest in biotechnology and as the Chair of our Board through our formative years. his influence on the development of Genome BC is still felt today. We should never lose sight of his vision or his spirit of collaboration — this has guided trajectory over the last 20 years.
When we lost Don in 2009, we decided to recognize his legacy by establishing this Annual Keynote Address — to continue to inspire our community. Don would approve of the keynote speakers we have invited over the years and the speaker at this year’s event is no exception.
Click the images below to learn more about previous Don Rix Distinguished Keynote speakers and their increcible contributions to science.
