spacefestWith Elon Musk’s announcement that he plans to colonize Mars within a century, space has been on a lot of folks’ minds this past month. And this weekend’s SpaceFest at the Museum of Flight in Seattle is the perfect place to keep diving into the big black.

The event celebrates all things space, focusing on the people who have pushed humanity to understand and explore the great beyond with visionary research and leadership. The three-day event is packed with a slate of activities, lectures, panels, and of course plenty of spacecraft.

This year’s theme is Ladies Who Launch, and will highlight the work of female astronauts, researchers, and many others working in the space sciences.GW calendar logo

The event’s keynote will be given by Nathalia Holt, author of Rise of the Rocket Girls, which details the journey of the largely women cohort that laid the groundwork for the US’s trip to Mars and later became NASA’s JPL laboratory.

Other activities include VR space experiences with Valve, an exhibit of miniature space models, and more. Space Fest kicks off the evening of Thursday, Nov. 3 with a night of free admission and continues throughout the day on November 4 and 5. Tickets for Nov. 4 and 5 and more information about the event are available here.

That’s one of the selections from the GeekWire Calendar, our curated list of the Pacific Northwest’s top science and tech events. Keep reading for more selections, including summaries from event organizers, and visit the full calendar for more.

daa-symposium-bannerSeattle DAA Symposium

What: “With an incredible line-up of speakers, the 2016 DAA Seattle Symposium is not to be missed. Thought leaders from influential companies will come together to connect, explore and identify strategies to overcome the challenges shaping the analytics industry. With a ‘Wheels Up’ theme, join us for a program chock-full of education and networking opportunities that will help your analytics practice at all stages – from just getting off the ground, to reaching its cruising altitude, and soaring to its greatest potential!”

When: November 3, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Where: Museum of Flight, Seattle.

Register: Tickets and more information available here.

Jet City Comic Showjetcitycomicshow

What: “Jet City Comic Show is a traditional / throwback style comic book convention that focuses on comic books and creators. 50,000 Square feet of 200+ booths filled with Comic Books, Collectibles, Gaming, Original Art, Crafts and even more great things to discover.”

When: November 5 – 6

Where: Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center, Tacoma, Wash.

Register: Tickets and more information available here.

IEEE 5G Summit Seattleieee_5g_summit

What: “This one-day event connects industry leaders, innovators and researchers from industry and academia helping to drive standards development and rapid deployment.

IEEE 5G Summit Seattle features:
• Highly focused expert-led presentations in key areas of 5G
• Next steps towards framing the world’s 5G technology future
• Trends aimed at discovering hot topics from different perspectives
• Network opportunities with those at the forefront of this emerging technology
• Exhibits showcasing the latest in 5G technology”

When: November 5, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm

Where: Seattle University — Pigott Building, Seattle.

Register: Tickets and more information available here.

SciTech Northwest ’16scitech northwest

What: “SciTech Northwest ’16 is the region’s first science and technology expo that highlights the latest innovations in cyber/data analyticsclean energy, and biotechnology from three premier Washington research institutions. In partnership with theTechnology Alliance, inventors and commercialization experts from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, University of Washington, and Washington State University will showcase more than 15 exciting new technologies with hands-on demonstrations. Attendees from businesses, industry, and universities will learn about opportunities for collaboration and technology licensing. This event includes featured speaker Matt McIlwain, Managing Director of Madrona Venture Group, with refreshments courtesy of intellectual property law firm Klarquist.”

When: November 9, 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Where: The Edgewater Hotel, Seattle.

Register: Event is free for research and technology professionals. Registration and more information available here.

podcast-fred-hutchGeekWire Radio Live: Exploring cures for cancer in nature at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

What: “Join us along with GeekWire founders Todd Bishop and John Cook, as they interview Fred Hutch’s Dr. Jim Olson, whose lab pioneered Tumor Paint — a molecule derived from Scorpion venom that attaches to and lights up cancer cells so surgeons can more easily see and remove them.

Discover how the cures for many cancers and other related diseases may actually lie in nature. Free event with limited seating, RSVP is required.”

When: November 10, 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm

Where: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center — Pelton Auditorium, Seattle.

Register: Registration and more information available here.

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