ISU Southern Hemisphere Summer Space Program Kicks-Off again in Adelaide

The 2012 ISU/UniSA Southern Hemisphere Summer Space Program kicked off in Adelaide on the 9th of January. The Program runs until the 11th of February, and features a host of top space lectures from around the world. The program covers a broad spectrum of space topics, and was developed by the University of South Australia and the International Space University with support from Australian Space Research Program funding.

This year's program will feature 35 students from Russia, Australia, India, South Africa, Nepal, USA, Poland, Brazil, China, Spain, Nigeria and New Zealand. The program also sees the students develop an extensive white paper on a contemporary and important space issue. The 2011 paper is an interesting read - head over here if you want to have a look.

In conjunction with the SH-SSP, several public events are being held in Adelaide over the coming weeks, and I encourage you to get down if you can, as there is a good line up of speakers on offer. The events include:

Tuesday 17 January 2012 - International Astronaut Panel

Time: 6.00 - 7.30 pm, followed by refreshments

Venue: Allan Scott Auditorium, City West Campus, UniSA

The Astronaut Panel is a long-standing highlight of ISU programs and its objective is to give the program participants and the general public a direct opportunity to ask a broad range of questions to a number of astronauts. This year's panel will comprise astronauts Jean-Jacques Favier of France, Soyeon Yi of South Korea and Ken Ham and Scott Kelly from the United States. The panel will be moderated by Professor Scott Madry of the International Space University.

Wednesday 25 January 2012 - Public Panel: Australia's Future in Space

Time: 6.00 - 7.30 pm, followed by refreshments

Venue: MC1-02, The Mawson Centre, Mawson Lakes

This distinguished panel of key officials and space policy experts will discuss the recent history, current status, and future direction of the Australian space program. The panel will be led by Professor Andrew Parfitt, Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of South Australia and will include Australian experts Dr Rosalind Dubs of the Space Innovation Advisory Council, Brett Biddington, Chair of the Space Industry Association of Australia, David Hudson of Geoscience Australia and John Teager of Defence SA. Sponsored by Geoscience Australia

If you are interested in attending any of these events or want further information, email iteeevents@unisa.edu.au 

For those who are interested in further information on the SH-SSP, head over to the University of South Australia's webpage here, or for up to date information head over to the SH-SSP facebook page here.

Good luck to all of those students on this year's program - I look forward to hearing about your progress and reading your White Paper when it is available.