Episode 6 - Green Infrastructure Among the Stars
This episode, Sustainable Futures is joined by Dr. Mike Dixon, PhD to discuss his futuristic work in developing a biological life support system based on plants for the International Space program through the Space and Advanced Life Support Agriculture (SALSA) program at the University of Guelph. Join us for a conversation on his vision for the future of sustainability, long term interstellar habitation, and opportunities for his work to improve the lives of people on Earth.
Guest
Dr. Michael Dixon, Ph.D.
Professor and Director of the Controlled Environment Systems Research Facility, University of Guelph
Dr. Mike Dixon is a Professor in the School of Environmental Sciences, and Director of the Controlled Environment Systems Research Facility and program,, University of Guelph. Dr. Dixon joined the University in 1985 as a NSERC fellow after earning his PhD from Edinburgh University in Scotland completing a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Toronto.
As project leader for the Canadian research team investigating the contributions of plants to life support in space, Dr. Dixon formed the Space and Advanced Life Support Agriculture (SALSA) program at the University of Guelph. This program currently represents Canada’s prime contribution to the International Space program objectives in biological life support based on plants.
Host
Steven Peck, GRP, HASLA
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities
Steven spearheaded the first green roof demonstration project on Toronto City Hall 20 years ago and the mandatory green roof policy in Toronto a decade ago. This innovative policy has resulted in more than 6 million additional square feet of green space across the city. Due to Steven’s work, GRHC has helped to win green roof policy victories in San Francisco, Washington, DC; Portland, Oregon; and Denver, Colorado. Steven also founded Green Infrastructure Ontario coalition to bring together organizations that share an interest in the protection and development of green infrastructure in Ontario. In 2007 he co-founded the World Green Infrastructure Network, an international organization that promotes the use of green infrastructure around the world.
