Founders & Funders Monthly Event: History of AI & Future of AI in Space
Join us on Tuesday, the 7th of July 2026, for innovation and entrepreneurship-themed talks, followed by an informal networking social. Please note that spaces are limited. Approval is required for the talks, while the pub social is open to all.
📅 When:
Tuesday, 7th of July, 2026
🕓 Schedule:
16:00–17:00 – Meet & Greet with the Speakers
17:00–18:00 – Talks, Panel, and Q&A
18:00–20:00 – Drinks, Nibbles & Networking
🎤 Speakers:
Speaker Name (Robert Iliffe, Professor of the History of Science)
Rob Iliffe is Professor of History of Science at Oxford, a General Editor of the Newton Project, and director of the Koch History Centre. He has published widely on topics in the history of early modern and Enlightenment science, and particularly on historical interactions between science and religion, scientific voyages of discovery, the life and work of Isaac Newton, the development of ideas about scientific genius and scientific creativity, and the role of scientific instruments in scientific innovation.
James Parr (Director at Frontier Development Lab and Founder/CEO at Trillium Technologies)
James is the founder and CEO of Trillium Technologies - a technology contractor that specialises in the application of AI and systems thinking to grand challenges, such as climate change, violent extremism, cancer and obesity, deforestation, disaster response, space weather, human spaceflight and planetary defence.
He is founder of the Frontier Development Lab, an AI research lab partnership with ESA in Europe (ESLab.ai), the LSA and NASA in the USA. FDL has achieved over 50 applied AI firsts over 10 years.
Trillium’s NIO.space platform (with Oxford) achieved the first ML trained in orbit and the first demonstration of ML for methane retrievals from orbit. FDL and NIO.space were recognised for excellence in AI and space at the 2023 Cog X awards.
📍 Where:
Speakers Meet & Greet: Oxford Edge, 37 St Giles’, Oxford OX1 3LD
Talks & Panel: Oxford Edge, 37 St Giles’, Oxford OX1 3LD
Networking Social: Lamb & Flag, 12 St Giles’, Oxford OX1 3JS
This series is a unique opportunity to connect with staff, students, and alumni from across the University with interests in tech, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Our July 7th edition is powered by the Founders & Funders Foundation, with the support of our strategic partners: Novabook, Mishcon de Reya, OVH Cloud, HSBC Innovation Banking, and Oxford North.
🔗 Sign up now to secure your place – spaces are limited!
⚠️ Please note: The session will be recorded and shared online. If you do not wish to be recorded, kindly inform a member of the F&F staff on the day.
📩 For any questions, contact us at: [email protected]