UKSEDS Annual Conference

 “Everything starts as someone’s daydream” (Larry Niven)

The UKSEDS (UK Students for Exploration and Development of Space) conference took place on Sat 31^st March and Sun 1^st April at the University of Kent, bringing together space students and enthusiasts from universities across the UK, to enjoy two days of talks, discussions and exhibitions. 

 

Professor Mark Burchell

After a welcome from Nancy Hine, the UKSEDS outgoing chair, Jeremy Curtis from the UK Space Agency brought us up to date with the latest statistics.  The UK space sector employs 24,900 people directly in an industry worth £7.5bn, which is currently growing at over 9% a year, contrary to the rest of the economy. By 2020 this is projected to account for £14bn with 115,000 jobs. With 57% of workers currently having a degree, this is one of the most highly skilled industries which will continue its growing need for strong science and engineering graduates.

Gyroscope at the Cité de l'Espace

They persuaded me to try the gyroscope...

ATV Tweetup in Toulouse

The space tweeps with astronaut Paolo Nespoli (photo credit ESA)

Witnessed the docking of the ATV-3 to the International Space Station, 
live in Toulouse, after this tour of the control room.

Highlights video (credit ESA)

APEX lecture at UCL

Dr Nick Achilleos - The Warping of Saturn's Plasma Sheet

APEX lecture at UCL

Camilla Danielski, Marcell Tessenyi and Morgan Hollis - Atmospheric Characterization of Exoplanets, The EChO Space Mission and A Bayesian Catalogue of Exoplanets

RAS lecture

Dr Ian Crawford - The Far Future of the Sun, Earth and Life in the Solar System

APEX lecture at UCL

Dr Lewis Dartnell - Breakdown of Organic Biosignatures on the Martian Surface