Mission Statement

FirstLightCon will boldly go where no fandom event has gone before — a multiday, immersive, and inclusive experience. It will emulate successful fandom experiences that inspire attendees to remain engaged from morning till night across multiple days and throughout the year.

Fandom Experience

FirstLightCon will merge the excitement of Comic Con (™) with the tantalizing insights of a scientific conference. Our programming will span a wide range of captivating topics, including astrophysics and the search for new worlds, astrobiology, groundbreaking biology and medical breakthroughs, the latest in earth science, and the future of human cognition and AI. We will also showcase the great achievements of engineering and the grand challenges of innovation, providing a space where curiosity is not just welcome, but celebrated.

  • Science Celebrity Guests: Plenary speakers and panelists will include active researchers, science spokespeople, authors, humorists, educators, pop-culture celebrities, and early career visionaries.
  • Citizen Science Workshops: From variable star observers to ecosystem monitors, citizen scientists are essential to discovery. Representatives will help attendees go from science enthusiasts to contributing researchers.
  • Topical Sessions: First Light Con will invite attendees to submit abstracts so they can present their ideas and share across a variety of areas of discovery and innovation. The abstract review committees will intentionally select exciting, interesting topics and presenters, encouraging attendees of all levels of science literacy to become part of the program.
  • Meet the Pros Party: An autograph party will allow guests and science communicators to interact with attendees, encouraging others to share the wonders of science.
  • Cosplay Opportunities: We will encourage cosplay, a core aspect of fandom across genres that builds on-site engagement and removes barriers between celebrities and attendees.
  • ‘After Hours’ Socials and Community-Building Events: Pop culture events are renowned for their ability to organically inspire social interactions among attendees and presenters.

“First Light” is the moment when a new telescope or astrophysics instrument captures its first photons. This exemplifies engineering innovation enabling scientific discovery.