The Gaps Between the Stars: Dr David McKeown at TEDxUCD

Dr David McKeown is a University College Dublin (UCD) research engineer in the UCD School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, whose TEDxUCD 2014 talk is entitled 'The Gaps Between the Stars'.

In his TEDxUCD talk David explains why if you have any wonder at all, the really interesting things in space are in the gaps between the stars, in the 3-dimensional blackness.

In his entertaining TEDxUCD talk David talks about building telescopes and the challenges of getting them to space and operating them in space, using stories and everyday analogies to help us understand the complexity of physics and space science.

David's work with various groups, including the European Space Agency, has led to his insights and he shares discoveries that are found in The Gaps Between the Stars.

Dr David McKeown is a research engineer in the UCD School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering where he lectures on kinematics. He also lectures on vibrations as part of the Space Science and Technology masters in the UCD School of Physics.
David graduated from University College Dublin with a BE and a PhD in mechanical engineering and was the recipient of the IMechE Frederic Barnes Waldron Prize.

His main area of research is in the design of control systems for flexible mechanical systems. His current work is on the vibration control of launch vehicles as part of European Space Agency's (ESA) Future Launcher Preparatory Program. He has previously worked on the DELIAN Arm, a light flexible robot arm being designed for future ESA Mars rover missions and the control of large space based X-ray observatories.

In his spare time likes to make and create new things and is a very active science communicator.

He is a co-founder of Dublin Maker, Science Hack Day Dublin and Artek Circle.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)