( CNN ) -- When a disaster of a mega-proportion hits a city - from a terror attack to a hurricane - there are procedures in place to deal with the aftermath . Suggest that the source of a serious humanitarian crisis could lie in outer space , however , and many will assume you are talking science fiction . But one woman is on a mission to convince the world -- and especially governments and the United Nations -- to take threats such as potential asteroid strikes more seriously . Meet Nelly Ben Hayoun , Designer of Experiences at the SETI ( Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence ) Institute in California , creator of the International Space Orchestra -an orchestra composed of space scientists- and trainee astronaut . `` This is n't a Bruce Willis film , this is real life '' , says the 29-year-old , from Provence , France . Speaking from SETI , Ben Hayoun rattles off statistics about space , dissects doomsday scenarios , contemplates the possibility of aliens and brings names such as Carl Sagan to Jean Baudrillard into the conversation . She has been called the 'Willy Wonka of design and science ' and her latest project , Disaster Playground , is a documentary film , about scientists preparing for disasters from space that could threaten Planet Earth . Ben Hayoun speaks to illustrious space scientists from SETI , NASA 's Near Earth Objects ( NEO ) project and Disaster and Rescue Assistance ( DART ) including : extra-terrestrial intelligence specialist Dr. Jill Tarter ( the inspiration for Jodie Foster 's character in the film Contact ) , and meteor shower expert Dr. Peter Jenniskens . So what do you do in the case of hazardous asteroids or a small NEO ( Near Earth Object ) ? ANSWER from Disaster Playground : There are different mitigation techniques in place : kinetic impactor , blast defection , combination methods , gravity tractor ( a spacecraft to deflect an asteroid using only its gravitational field to transmit impulse ) . Alternative methods : moving asteroids with lasers , focusing sun energy , changing thermal properties , electro-static pushing and reflecting white paint . Ben Hayoun investigates such real-life procedures in place to deal with the threat of an asteroid collision and how critical information would flow up the chain of command . `` Who are the people who would make the decision and what would be the basis of their decision-making ? '' she asks . There are 20 people before the President is alerted and before 'the red button is pushed ' . There might be something to be gained from revealing problems to the public in order to help secure funding which is a `` big difficulty '' she explains . `` Humans are more willing to support a cause if you understand the difficulties involved . '' As well as the film , to be released on March 2015 , she 's also relying on an app , exhibitions and `` immersive experiences '' such as the one at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London as part of the Digital Design Weekend . She is determined to promote the role of women in the male-dominated space industry . Ben Hayoun recalls how she was once one of two women in a room of 1,500 people at the International Astronautical Congress . `` This is my massive fight , '' she says with gusto . `` How are these space agencies making choices on what we need ? It occurred to me that the people making these decisions are men -- space science is a field which is 90 % men , men men ! We need women - let 's face it we would come up with way smarter solutions ! '' But in all seriousness , Ben Hayoun warns that efforts to find and fund ways of dealing with the asteroid threat must continue . `` It 's not like I can say 'yes , we have a solution ' , '' she said . `` It 's only going to the UN now . They are aware of their responsibility but at the moment they are just putting in place the committees . '' `` Nobody knows exactly what the UN response would be and that 's a real problem , '' said Ben Hayoun . WATCH : Space chat with astronaut Karen Nyberg . READ MORE : Star Trek legend who became NASA 's 'secret weapon ' WATCH : Space archaeologist unlocks secrets of ancient civilizations .
Disaster Playground follows scientists planning for space catastrophes . ' Failure is not an option ' mantra associated with space exploration . Women need to be promoted in space industry . Comment: