On October 3, 7-8pm at MIT Museum, Professor Danielle Wood, head of the Space Enabled group, will present the performance "Terraforming Blues" as part of MIT Future Fest 2026.

The event description: 

Danielle Wood is Associate Professor at the MIT Media Lab and founding director of the Space Enabled Research Group, where she explores how space technology can advance justice and sustainability on Earth and beyond. Wood is an aerospace engineer, leads African and African Diaspora Studies at MIT, and received the 2026 Massachusetts State of the Art Prize from Creative Capital for her practice of social engaged theatre productions.

In this autobiographical performance, Wood asks what it means to call Earth home in the era that is witnessing humans expanding our reach into space. The knowledge we gain from satellite observation of the Earth reveals how rapidly humanity is changing or Terraforming our home planet. Meanwhile, we are still discovering what it means when humans begin to establish new relationships with the Moon and other distant places in our solar system. Drawing on the African American art form of the choreopoem, Terraforming Blues weaves together poetry, music, movement and visual art to share a story inspired by Prof Wood’s personal and professional journey. The collaborative piece features contributions from guest artists Kenyon Adams, Chandrika Metivier, and Paul Lieber. Join us to ask the questions of our generation. What do we see when we view our planet from space? What are our collective responsibilities toward the Moon? How can the blues help us design our future?