Dr Pass, CEO of the Astrosociology Research Institute, is a devited member of the National Space Society as well as the Planetary Society. He established astrosociology as a multidisciplinary social science committed to the study of astrosocial phenomena.
Where did you grow up, and how much did your
upbringing have an impact on your pursuit of sociology and space exploration?
I grew up in southern California. My parents were always supportive of the pursuit of my interests. They bought me a book about the solar system when I was 7 years old or so that had a strong impact on my interest in space (even though many of the “facts” were incorrect). I followed the space program and watched Neil Armstrong set foot on the Moon. That had a strong impact on me as well. In college, I actually pursued criminal justice, criminology, and then sociology in graduate school at the University of Southern California (USC). Space was always an interest although it became of secondary importance to me over time until I read an article by Allen Tough who suggested that an academic field such as “socio-astronomy” or “astrosociology” was needed due to the relative absence of the social sciences in the study of SETI (the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence). Once I read that, I began my founding of the field. (See more details below).
Astrosociology is the social, cultural, and behavioral patterns related to outer space, can you explain this field to a middle schooler?
Astrosociology is the study of how outer space-related activities affect societies and their people. Some examples are easy to recognize, such as satellites for GPS and weather prediction as well as perhaps less obvious examples such as technology transfers and spinoffs that include MRI machines and improved firefighter protection garments among hundreds of others. The space programs provide science and technology improvements that affect everyone’s social life. Recognizing the relationship between social life and how space impacts upon it is what I call possessing the astrosociological imagination.
What led you to establish a completely new branch of Sociology?
Astrosociology is actually a multidisciplinary field, like astrobiology, that includes the social and behavioral sciences, humanities, and arts. For younger people, astrosociology is the study of how outer space affects humans wherever the live, on Earth and beyond. It therefore belongs in the social studies part of the curriculum. Actually, I did view astrosociology as a new subfield of sociology although that did not last long as I started receiving email messages from psychologists, anthropologists, and other social scientists. That was back in 2004-2005 when astrosociology was first being proposed.
Tell us more about Allen Tough’s web article entitled “Positive Consequences of SETI Before Detection”, what were your initial thoughts? How do you perceive it now? Was Astrosociology something you had in mind before reading the article?
Allen Tough, along with others of his time, were right on target. The social sciences and humanities were hardly involved in the study of space issues compared to the physical and natural sciences. Looking back, they were right on target. While things have improved, partly due to the Astrosociology Research Institute (ARI) and the efforts of academicians and the growing number of advocacy organizations such as the Planetary Society, National Space Society, and scientific organizations such as the Blue Marble Institute. I did not have anything in mind such as astrosociology until I read this article. It struck me like lightning and made me pursue it right on the spot. I guess it was always in the back of my mind. (I met Allen once during a conference before he died and he told me to “keep up the good work,” which was extremely heartening).
What significance does astrosociology hold in our space industry?
I feel that astrosociology and ARI, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational and research organization with the mission to develop this field and assist others to do so, are extremely significant, as are donations to continue our work. They help to bring the social sciences into the space age, and now, the NewSpace age. Space activities (astrosocial phenomena) are increasingly affecting the future of humankind and therefore require investigation and providing education to students and others. The space industry cannot continue to base the future of space exploration and especially settlement solely on the STEM fields and disciplines (i.e., the natural and physical sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Both branches of science need to work together. Collaboration with the traditional space community is vital!
How does human activity in space impact social groups both on Earth and space?
Astrosociology focuses on how astrosocial phenomena affect humans and their social groups wherever they reside. Everyone is affected by space activities, and as humans migrate into space farther from Earth and especially permanently, so space environments and their newly created ecosystems will provide new impacts on them and challenges for them. On Earth, societies will increasingly become more spacefaring in their policies and impacts, so the effects will become even more apparent than they are today.
What are the sociological and psychological issues we need to consider while planning long term space flights?
The thing that worries me is the continued overly strong emphasis on rocket science and hardware and too little (if any) recognition in the important of the social interactions that occur inside the spacecraft or settlement. Without social-scientific participation, sociocultural and psychological problems will be inevitably much worse. Moreover, without social scientists to study and provide scientifically-based policy recommendations to mitigate social problems, chaos and survival rates could go out of control. Preplanning involving all types of scientists and technologists – before the launch occurs – is extremely important. Ignoring it is not a smart way to proceed.
How does astrosociology benefit space exploration?
Astrosociology benefits space exploration through providing research and education about the social-scientific aspects of the effects of space exploration that are still sorely missing compared to the influences of the natural and physical social sciences. Collaboration is essential! Two good examples are the subfield of medical astrosociology (that adds social, cultural, and psychological issues to space medicine) and exo-astrosociology (that adds social, cultural, and psychological issues to astrobiology and SETI). The human dimension has already existed related to space exploration although understanding it has remained too uncommon. I founded astrosociology in order to change that traditional reality.
What qualifications must one have to become an astrosociologist?
There are no formal qualifications required to become an astrosociology although it is wise to take both social science (e.g., sociology, anthropology, psychology, and space history) and space courses (e.g., astronomy, astrobiology, physics, and planetary science). One of ARI’s Advisors, Dr. Gerhard Sonnert who is a professor at Harvard University, teaches an Introduction to Astrosociology course. Taking that course is a good idea if possible. Reading our publications and papers at the Virtual Library at astrosociology.org is a good idea, too. Individuals can participate by submitting articles for our Astrosociological Insightsnewsletter and the Journal of Astrosociology when call for articles are announced via the social media.
What is your vision for the future of space science and astrosociology?
My vision involves an increasing collaboration between the two branches of science. Of great importance is to expand the “Astrosociology in the Classroom” program so that more individuals are exposed to the social-scientific perspective regarding space issues. I predict that astrosociology will become increasingly recognized as an important part of humankind’s understanding of how space affects societies, cultures, subcultures, social institutions, social groups, and individuals – along with the interactions among nations/societies wherever they exist – in a much more holistic manner.
"I feel that NASA and other space agencies need to more strongly recognize the importance of astrosociology and institute it into its formal structure. Our publications (the newsletter and journal) and the Virtual Library currently serve as our main points of emphasis. Making others aware of astrosociology via the social media is also a key strategy."
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