A new project featuring collaboration between universities and business is helping to address skills shortages in Australia’s space industry.
The Pathways to Space: Empowering the Internet Generation program will bring together expertise from the University of New South Wales, the University of Sydney, the Powerhouse Museum, and Cisco Systems Australia to deliver an interactive educational program aimed at Year 10-12 students.
Hosted at the Powerhouse Museum, the hands-on program will allow students to plan space exploration projects using a living laboratory to simulate realistic scenarios and gain an understanding of space engineering challenges. Participants will also engage in the robotics research being carried out by the University of Sydney at the Powerhouse museum. The interactive nature of the program, which includes the ability for students to interact with scientists and engineers via telepresence, is aimed at encouraging students to consider a career in space-related science and engineering – an area that is often overlooked by students considering their future study options.
As Australia seeks to develop its space-related capabilities and international reputation, educational programs such as this will prove vital in strengthening the space sector in the future. The Australian Space Research Program (ASRP) aims to support collaborations that build on research strengths and assist in skill development. For more information, please visit the Australian Centre for Astrobiology website.
