Featuing Astronaut Chris Sembroski and Educator Erin Duncan-Sembroski
 

This FREE webinar features Inspiration4 astronaut Chris Sembroski and educator Erin Duncan-Sembroski, along with your hosts, planetary scientist Dr. Kirby Runyon and space educator Dr. Mark Wagner. The high-energy one-hour session is focused on providing an overview of the three-day Earth and Space Experience coming up on November 7-9, 2025. Register now to learn about the geology at specific locations in Southern New Mexico, and how these sites are analogs for the Moon, Mars, and elsewhere in the solar system. Time is also allocated for a Q&A opportunity with all four speakers... come ready with questions! Participation in this webinar also includes access to free space education resources that you can take back to share with your students or others in your community.

Note: This webinar is appropriate for educators, industry professionals, and space enthusiasts from all walks of life. Space education is for everyone!

Chris "Hanks" Sembroski is a commercial astronaut, U.S. Air Force veteran, and passionate advocate for space exploration and STEM education. Best known for his role as Mission Specialist on the historic Inspiration4 mission in 2021, Sembroski spent three days in space, completing 47 orbits as part of the first all-civilian crew. With degrees in aeronautics and a career dedicated to advancing aerospace innovation, he has contributed to groundbreaking projects like Blue Origin’s New Glenn program and teaches as an adjunct faculty member at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Chris’s journey reflects a lifelong passion for human spaceflight, from launching model rockets in college, leading teams through simulated missions at U.S. Space Camp, to advocating for space policy in Washington, D.C. He continues to inspire the next generation through his work as a speaker, educator, and industry leader, embodying the spirit of generosity and exploration.

Erin Duncan-Sembroski was born and raised in Montana. She grew up with a love for all things outdoors including hiking, camping, and floating the river with her brother and sister. She attended Montana State University graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. Erin's first teaching position was in Great Falls, MT, where she met Chris while he was stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base. After three years, they decided to move to the Pacific Northwest (PNW) for the water, outdoor activities, and Seattle lifestyle. Erin went on to attend the University of Washington and graduated with a Master's in Teaching. She has taught in the Puget Sound area for over ten years now and loves her smart, sarcastic, and big-hearted middle school students. Her proudest accomplishment, however, is being Mom to two brave, strong, and brilliant girls and two playful dachshunds, Frodo and Pippin. Erin and Chris have been married for 15 years, and enjoy raising their family in Gig Harbor, WA.

Dr. Kirby Runyon is a planetary geologist with the NASA-funded Planetary Science Institute and is also an entrepreneur with his company, Planex.space. Dr. Runyon is also a zero gravity coach contracting with the Zero Gravity Corporation and has trained ticket-holding Virgin Galactic private astronauts in the geology they will see from space over New Mexico. Planex entertains, educates, and inspires tourists and the space-curious with astrogeology training and planetary-themed Zero Gravity flights. Reach him at kirby@planex.space.

Dr. Mark Wagner is a former classroom teacher, career education technologist, and published space educator. Dr. Wagner is CEO and co-founder of ARES Learning, President of the Space Prize Foundation, and co-host of the Space Education Summit. He holds graduate certificates in space education and space philosophy, and is the author of both Space Education: Preparing Students for Humanity's Multi-Planet Future (2022) and More Now: A Message From The Future for The Educators of Today (2018). He can be reached at mark@areslearning.com.