ISU‘s Southern Hemisphere Summer Space Program opens in Adelaide

Adelaide, Australia / Strasbourg, France (Jan. 5, 2012) – The International Space University (ISU), Strasbourg, France with the University of South Australia has joined forces again to bring world class space education to the southern hemisphere with a five-week intensive program set to launch on Monday 9 January 2012.

The Opening Ceremony for the program will be held in the Hawke Building on the UniSA City West Campus in Adelaide at 3:30 PM, on Monday. January 9. A total of 34 students from 12 countries (Australia, New Zealand, Italy, India, China, Brazil, South Africa, Nepal, Nigeria, Russia, Spain and the USA) will be on hand, along with representatives of UniSA and the International Space University. About half of the students are from Australia, representing space-related government agencies, the Department of Defence, the Defence Science and Technology Organisation, universities throughout Australia, and the private sector.

Speakers will include UniSA Pro Vice Chancellor Andrew Parfitt and ISU Program Director Scott Madry. In attendance will be distinguished guests from the Australian space, defence and academic communities, UniSA and ISU faculty, guest lecturers, and program supporters and sponsors.

A reception will follow the opening ceremony, which will include an aboriginal music and dance performance.

The annual live-in education program – the Southern Hemisphere Summer Space Program (SHSSP) – targets space professionals, graduates and senior undergraduates and in its first three years, will be taught in Adelaide by academics from both institutions at UniSA’s Mawson Lakes campus. The inaugural program was in 2011.

Over 40 international staff, faculty, astronauts and visiting space experts will contribute to the program including 27 Australians. Overseas faculty and staff will come from Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Italy, New Zealand South Africa, South Korea, Spain and the US.

“After the success of the first SH-SSP, ISU and UniSA continue to work closely together to bring a high value space education program to Australia. We believe this partnership will enhance creativity, quality and student focus that both of our institutions demand for their academic offerings and help to increase expertise in space and space technologies and business.” says Prof. Walter Peeters, ISU President.

Program Director Professor Scott Madry, a world renowned expert in satellite remote sensing and navigations systems comments on this 2nd edition of the program:

“It is a great pleasure to return to Adelaide and begin our second program in partnership with UniSA. We were off to an excellent start with our first program last year, and look forward to an excellent second session”.

The program is open to government and industry professionals, graduate researchers and senior undergraduates of all nations. “It is focusing on space applications, space policy and space services,” says Adelaide lawyer and Program Co-Director Michael Davis, a Masters graduate of ISU. “The program also provides a well-rounded overview of the principles and concepts involved in space science, systems engineering and technology, the commercial aspects and opportunities of space, and of course the legal and regulatory issues associated with exploration and use of space.”

The five week live-in program from 9 January to 11 February 2012 will include 46 lectures, together with hands-on workshops and industry visits, an exam and a group research project. Program graduates will become part of the elite alumni of 3,200 ISU students, lecturers and faculty members from throughout the world.

Financial support for the ISU program has been provided by the Australian Government as part of the Australian Space Research Program.

For more information about the program: http://www.unisa.edu.au/itee/spaceprogram/default.asp

The ceremony will be streamed live for those not able to attend in person. Further information will be available on http://www.unisa.edu.au/itee/spaceprogram/default.asp

International Space University (www.isunet.edu)
The International Space University, founded in 1987 and headquartered in Strasbourg, France, is the world’s leading international space education institution. It is supported by the world’s space leading agencies and aerospace organisations. Until now all of its programs have been taught at graduate level and are dedicated to promoting international, interdisciplinary and intercultural cooperation in space activities. Its flagship offerings are the Master of Science in Space Studies and Master of Science in Space Management programs. For the past 23 years it has also conducted the highly popular 9 week Space Studies Program in different host cities throughout the world. ISU programs are taught by over 100 full time and part time faculty together with invited industry experts from throughout the world. Over 60 Australian professionals are included in the 3,000 alumni from 100 countries who have benefited from ISU’s space education programs and Australians are regular contributors to its teaching and research activities.

University of South Australia (www.unisa.edu.au)
Founded in 1991, the University of South Australia is an innovative, outward-looking university built on more than a century’s experience as a leader in educating professionals and applied research. UniSA is part of the influential Australian Technology Network (ATN), an alliance of five prominent universities from each mainland state, with the goal of enhancing Australia’s social and economic wealth by creating, disseminating and applying new knowledge.
UniSA values world-class scholarship that meets the needs of the global community.
It has built close engagement with industry and the professions in developing its teaching and research to ensure all students gain professional experience and are job ready upon graduation.
UniSA has a longstanding association with the Australian space and telecommunications industries through its Institute for Telecommunications Research and in 2002 was actively involved in the development, launch and tracking of Australia’s 21st century satellite, Fedsat.

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Contact :
Caroline Schwob
External Relations Manager
International Space University
[email protected]
+33 (0)3 88 65 54 55

Michèle Nardelli
University of South Australia
Media Contact
Tel:+61 83020966
[email protected]