NEREUS organised on the 17th May 11.00-12.30 (Brussels time) the 6th infosession on education/training in the space sector focused on the need for skills on space policy and strategy in Europe. Given the new space policy developments and the EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence, a skilled workforce in policy drawing from political/social sciences (international relations, political geographers, sociologists, economists) is needed to path the way for an independent and autonomous Europe in space. Ms Margarita Chrysaki, NEREUS Communication and Project Officer moderated the webinar and invited participants to join the NEREUS community.
Ms Simonetta Di Pippo, Director SEELab (Space Economy Evolution Lab) Professor of Practice of Space Economy highlighted the indispensable role of policy skills in the space sector, especially now with the launch of many EU/other policies related to space. Then she elaborated on key areas in which the development of policy skills is vital: Commercial markets as a push for policy development
Overview of the Space Economy; Present and Future Policy Challenges Space Data Commercialization in Europe Space Debris and Orbital Sustainability; International Relations for the Peaceful Uses of Space; Defense and Security in and from Space; New Technologies and Security Challenges: The Need for new Skills; Perspectives and Direction for the Future. Finally, she presented the activities of The Space Economy Evolution Lab – SDA Bocconi School of Management.
Dr. Bleddyn Bowen, Associate Professor, Astropolitics and Space Warfare School of History, Politics, and International Relations University of Leicester outlined the fundamental role of policy skills given the global implications and the defence and security strategy recently launched by the EU. On this occasion, he presented the Space Research and Education at the University of Leicester and the Space Centre of the university.
During the Q&A, they responded to many questions from the audience commenting on the growing role of EU regions and the use of space in shaping good practices for a skilled workforce. More than 100 participants registered to the webinar.
Watch the full discussion here:
Simonetta Di Pippo is Professor of Practice of Space Economy and Director of the Space Economy Evolution Lab (SEE Lab), SDA Bocconi. From 2014 to 2022 she was Director of UNOOSA (United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs). Astrophysicist by training (Università “La Sapienza”), she was awarded with two honoris causa degrees, in Environmental Studies and a PhD in International Affairs. Author of ‘Space Economy – the new frontier for development’ – Bocconi University Press. She served as Director of Human Spaceflight at ESA, Director of the Observation of the Universo at the Italian Space Agency and led the ‘European Space Policy Observatory at ASI-Brussels.
She is an Academician of IAA (International Academy of Astronautics) and member of the World Economic Forum Global Future Council on spazio since 2016. In 2009, she founded Women in Aerospace Europe and in 2017 she became UN International Gender Champion.
In 2008, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) named asteroid 21887 “dipippo” in recognition of her contributions to space exploration. First woman to receive the Hubert Curien award. In 2006, the President of Italian Repubblic Carlo Azeglio Ciampi awarded her with the title of Cavaliere Ufficiale, and in 2022 President Mattarella with the title of Commendatore. In 2022, she has been included in the Hall of Fame of the International Astronautical Federation, the President of Austria awarded her with the Grand Decoration of Honour with Gold, and the Japanese Government with the Order of the Rising Sun.
Dr Bleddyn Bowen is Associate Professor of International Relations at the University of Leicester, specialising in space policy and warfare, the military uses of outer space, and strategic thought. He is the internationally recognised author of Original Sin: Power, Technology and War in Outer Space (2022), as well as War in Space: Strategy, Spacepower, Geopolitics (2020). He has advised on space policy and strategy for institutions including the UK Parliament and Government, the European Space Agency, the Pentagon, and US Government. He is the founder and co-convenor of the Astropolitics Working Group at the British International Studies Association, an Associate Fellow of the Royal United Services Institute, and Co-Convenor of the CSSAH Space Studies Working Group at the University of Leicester. At Leicester he teaches undergraduate and postgraduate modules on astropolitics, supervises doctoral research in astropolitics, and convenes a Continuing Professional Development course on The Politics of Space Security and Space Law. Prior to the University of Leicester, Dr Bowen was a Lecturer in Defence Studies at King’s College London, and prior to that, he was a Teaching Fellow in Strategic and Intelligence Studies at Aberystwyth University, where he also studied for his PhD on spacepower theory.
The webinar aims at:
- introducing new education players who recently joined the platform and other key stakeholders in the area of education/training;
- enhancing collaboration amongst the universities/research centres present on the platform, but also reaching out to new players outside the network;
- identifying strengths/areas of cooperation;
- presenting major university related-projects and partnerships: a) the erasmus+ EU education/training initiative, eo4geo, promoting the eo4geo tools and the eo4geo alliance; b) the erasmus+ EU education/training initiative, universeh, an alliance of five young and mature universities from five European countries; (in case you wish to present an initiative of your region or organisation to the network community, please contact the secretariat.)
- presenting and discussing new funding opportunities/programs
Target group: Universities/research centres that are NEREUS-Associate members, universities based in NEREUS-member regions, other Universities interested in education/training, cooperation partners, NEREUS-regions that hosted the EO4GEO workshops in the past, and all NEREUS-members interested in the education/training regarding the use of space technologies;
Background:
The role of the education/training sector is crucial for the development of the regional economy and growth. New skills and interdisciplinary knowledge are needed given the numerous challenges such as unemployment, digitalisation, and green transition. The growing role of the space sector can provide solutions to a wide range of regional domains including agriculture, maritime activities, urban planning, air quality, climate adaptation, and sustainable development.
This info session will introduce key education players in the area of space and explore potential partnerships within but also outside the Network. In addition, it will present new education/training trends on the uptake and integration of space/geospatial data and services.
Education/training is also considered a key topic for regional strategies and future needs in space products, as experts are needed for the public and private sector at local and regional level. NEREUS is a European network of regions, currently composed of 24 Member regions and 33 Associate members (including universities) and its role is also to update members and participate in the development of an appropriate educational framework that will support regional growth and development.
