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IAS Speculative Lunch, 20 July 2011: Space at Warwick

SPACE AT WARWICK
The space sector is a thriving sector in the UK that provides employment for people with a wide range of skills including experts in the electrical and mechanical engineering field, physicists, mathematicians, machinists, technicians, IT and software systems experts. The 20-year aim of the UK Space Agency is to increase the industry to £40 billion and 100,000 jobs, and to represent 10% of worldwide space products and services (increasing from the current 6%). This plan arises from the "Space Innovation and Growth Strategy" (Space-IGS).

At the University of Warwick, space research and development activities exist in several groups, within the Physics Department (Centre for Fusion, Space and Astrophysics - Astronomy & Astrophysics) and the School of Engeneering (3 groups all together). One aim of the speculative lunch is to explore ways to promote this research theme at Warwick, and to support relevant space activities in the Department of Physics and School of Engineering.

In particular, there is a growing interest in CubeSats and associated education opportunities. People in the Physics groups have participated in the scientific preparations of payload proposals, but without creating educational opportunities. In this speculative lunch, we will learn from the inspirational story of a fourth year MEng project, run by the School of Engeneering, together with ESA's Education Office and managed by Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL). The team aims to develop the Electrical Power Systems (EPS) for the European Student Moon Orbiter (ESMO) project: a lunar satellite, set to be launched in 2014. We will try to have latest summaries on science applications and the educational/training potential of CubeSats that will be discussed in the inaugural UK Space Conference 2011 (Warwick University, 4 and 5 July 2011). At the very least we will start to share and learn about each others research and interests, and perhaps more ideas follow.


The lunch will take place on Wednesday 20th July, from 12-2 pm, in the IAS Seminar Room, Millburn House.

Those interested in attending should contact claire dot foullon at warwick dot ac dot uk, specifying any dietary requirements. Please book early (the numbers are limited to concentrate discussions) and no later than 15 July.


Date:

Wed. 20/7/2011

Time:

12 to 2pm

Location:

IAS Seminar Room, Millburn House, University of Warwick

Organiser:

Dr Claire Foullon, Centre for Fusion, Space and Astrophysics, Department of Physics (claire.foullon@warwick.ac.uk).

Provider:

IAS Speculative Lunches

Participants:

List

Outcomes:

Network