UF professor speaks to Flagler Tiger Bay Club about squids, microbes, UFOs and Mars Frank Fernandez, Daytona Beach News-Journal Mon, October 20, 2025 at 6:53 PM UTC 4 min read Add Yahoo on Google THE HAMMOCK — Squids, UFOs, the International Space Station and colonizing both the moon and Mars were among the topics presented during a recent luncheon at the Flagler Tiger Bay Club. Jamie S. Foster , assistant director of the Astraeus Space Institute at the University of Florida in Gainesville, spoke during the Oct. 16 event at the Hammock Dunes Club near Palm Coast. The Flagler Tiger Bay Club is a nonpartisan organization that holds monthly luncheons with speakers of interest. Former U.S. Attorney for the Middle District Roger Handberg , who is now with GrayRobinson in Orlando , spoke at the September luncheon about avoiding falling victim to scams. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Foster, who is also a professor in the Department of Microbiology and Cell Science at UF, said that science-fiction writer Jules Verne wrote “From the Earth to the Moon,” published in 1865, in which he correctly predicted Florida would be a gateway to space. She cited the state’s history, including the space shuttle program and the Apollo missions to the moon. She said if anyone doubted that astronauts were on the moon, they should just get a “really good telescope” and they could see for themselves the tracks the Apollo astronauts left on the moon. Jamie S. Foster, assistant director of the Astraeus Space Institute at the University of Florida, was the luncheon speaker, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, at the Flagler Tiger Bay Club at the Hammock Dunes Club near Palm Coast. She also talked about the “global space economy” which she said is at about $783 billion and is expected to exceed $1 trillion by the end of the decade. There are about 80 global space programs and 92 countries have various satellites in orbit. Foster said it was critical that the United States not lose its leadership in the “low earth orbit economy." Squids in space Foster talked about her research using tiny squids, which are only 3 millimeters in size, so about the size of George Washington’s nose on a quarter, she said. Some tiny squids have been flown into space as part of her research into beneficial microbes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said that the University of Florida is preparing the next generation for careers by creating new majors and certificate programs related to space. Foster also took questions from the Tiger Bay members, as is the custom for all speakers at the end of all luncheon. International Space Station nearing its end She said that the International Space Station (ISS) would only be orbiting the Earth for probably three or four more years before its decommissioned and is sent to the Pacific Ocean, so there may be a gap in access to space. “We’ve had amazing science come out of it, but it’s at the end of its life,” Foster said. She said SpaceX will probably get a contract to build a spacecraft to safely deorbit the International Space Station. Attorney Marc Dwyer, of the Flagler Tiger Bay Club, with Jamie S. Foster, assistant director of the Astraeus Space Institute at the University of Florida, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, during the Flagler Tiger Bay luncheon at the Hammock Dunes Club. Foster believes there's life beyond Earth In response to a question about UFOs, Foster said she “firmly” believes there is life throughout the universe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said the universe was only 13.7 billion years old and it took 6 billion years for intelligent life on Earth. “But there has not been enough time for intelligent life to build a spacecraft and get here,” she said. She said that due to the time it takes radio signals to travel, if someone on another planet was watching the Earth they would be looking at “I Love Lucy” reruns. “I don’t think anyone is really observing us, I think we are too far from anything,” she said. She believes that when people think they spot UFOs, they are likely seeing military operations. Foster said humans face greater challenges when leaving the Earth, such as cosmic and solar radiation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also believes the United States is 40 years away from sending humans to Mars and surviving. But, she said, the moon is only three days away and she believes the U.S. can have habitation on the moon in 20 years if it spends the money. But she thinks China will probably do it in 10 years, since they are technologically ahead in this regard. Want a career in space? Get into STEM She advised young people who want to pursue a career in space to get involved in STEM: science, technology, engineering and mathematics. She said the Astraeus Space Institute student organization exists on campus and students may be able to participate in seminars or workshops, many of which are free so it would only cost the tank of gas to get to Gainesville. In response to a question about space tourism, she said it would not be "economically viable" until hundreds of people are traveling to space. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, people are already preparing for that. She said the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida has developed a curriculum on space tourism, including chefs working on the "perfect meal" for space tourists. 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