“I believe if you want to discover a new thing about the universe, you have to look at the universe in a new way”
— Erika Hamden

Dr. Erika Hamden is an inspiring and charismatic keynote speaker, graduation speaker, and presenter. She is available to speak about how to rebound from failure, confidence as a practice, a wide range of scientific topics, popular STEM subjects, and diversity and inclusion in STEM. Dr. Hamden always tailors her talks and workshops to the specific audience she speaks with, to provide an exciting, fun, and powerful perspective on science and life that will inspire your team. Dr. Hamden’s fun and relatable approach to science and communication is currently featured on her own AZ PBS show, New Frontiers.

For bookings, please contact Dr. Hamden via her email for more information on pricing and availability.

View Dr. Hamden’s speaking one pager here

Recent Speaking and Media Engagements
for a general audience

  • GRC Conference 2023

  • A guide to inventing the future, SXSW 2023

  • 3M, Inc 2022

  • ComicCon San Diego 2022

  • Zebra Inc Sales Convention 2022

  • MITRE Corporation 2021

  • ComicCon San Diego 2021

  • Oracle 2020

  • TEDWomen 2020 Discovery Session

  • TED 2019

  • Goldibloxx Fast Forward Girls 

  • Amazon Video, The Expanse Science Spot

  • Dove+TED Radio Spot

  • John Hancock Insurance: TED Conversation 2019

  • TEDx Tucson 2019

  • The Bird and The Balloon Telescope

  • And others

    Recent Technical Seminars and Colloquia
    for a scientific audience

  • Center for Computational Astrophysics

  • University of Mississippi

  • Colby College

  • California Institute of Technology

  • NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

  • Columbia University

  • Princeton University

  • University of Chicago

  • See CV for others here

A sample of talk topics by Dr. Hamden

Using Professor Hamden’s work in astronomy and building telescopes to provide a guide to overcoming obstacles, building resistance and working through failures to achieve
a goal, your audience will leave inspired, and learn how to self-motivate through challenging, long-term projects and develop resiliency through redefining failure.

What Does it Take? Persistence After a Setback

How to Build a Telescope

Professor Hamden shares her work within the context of centuries of technology development and telescope building in astronomy. The only way to discover a new thing about the universe is to look at the universe in a new way.

The Unexpected World of Scientific Ballooning

Professor Hamden shares an insider’s view of experiments conducted via balloon platform, an especially maverick niche of scientific inquiry.

The faint universe in the ultraviolet

A technical talk intended for graduate level audiences. This talk focuses on Prof. Hamden’s work on instruments and technology to make observations of diffuse hydrogen around distant galaxies. She has given versions of this talk at Caltech, Arizona, Toronto, Chicago, and other universities and it is continuously updated as her work develops.

Money and power in astronomy

This talk is intended for audiences in early career stages who are interested in learning about the proposal and budget process, including how budgets get decided at a federal level for eventual use in basic research. The talk also discusses the university budget structure, and has a central thesis that astronomy is no different from any other business: money is power.

Testimonials

“As a speaker, Erika’s passion was clear and she was entirely in her element discussing topics like black holes, next generation telescopes, and the past and future of space travel.”
— Susan Hitchcock
“Really enjoyed your story and the great pics! Best of luck in September this year! I’ll be rooting for you and your team!”
— Zebra Sales Team Member