Who has access to Space?
Space, Society and the Future of Space Exploration
Despite their different aspirations, backgrounds, and origins, Ilyasse and Pauline, two scientists in their early twenties, share one common dream: escaping to the Moon to address Earth's problems. Each dedicates all their resources and efforts to achieving this goal. But what if space was political? And what if dreaming was, too?
In the documentary To the Moon and Back (2026), filmmaker Elisa Gómez Alvarez follows the two young scientists in the Philippines and Morocco as they work toward their dream. Their journeys bring them to Switzerland, where they take part in an analog space mission and encounter an international community of young researchers and space enthusiasts.
The screening will be followed by a panel discussion bringing together perspectives from filmmaking, science, and lived experience:
- Elisa Gómez Alvarez
Director of the documentary
- Ilyasse Taame
Protagonist of the documentary
- Prof. Audrey Vorburger
Astrophysicist at the University of Bern
Together, they will discuss who gets access to space and science today, the societal questions surrounding space exploration, and the role younger generations can play in shaping our shared future — in space and on Earth. The panel discussion is moderated by Robin Bonny, PhD Candidate at the University of Bern, and will be held in English.
This event is organized by the Center for Space and Habitability (CSH) at the University of Bern in collaboration with the filmmaker and the Cinématte Bern as part of Let's Doc! – Swiss Documentary Month.
