Future Space Leaders Grant Enables Presentation at 66th IAC Conference

Space Foundation Government Affairs Associate Jillianne Pierce has been selected as one of six recipients of the 2015 Future Space Leaders Grant Program, which provides opportunities for U.S. graduate students and young professionals pursuing space- and satellite-related careers to participate in the 66th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Jerusalem, Israel, Oct. 12-16, 2015. Pierce will give two presentations at the IAC, focusing on how commercial imaging satellites can provide evidence of human rights abuses, and how such image-gathering influences the evolution of the “Responsibility to Protect” doctrine.

Pierce has been part of the Space Foundation’s Washington, D.C., team since 2014. She regularly interfaces with the Administration, Congress and various federal and international departments and agencies to educate key decision-makers on issues of importance in the space policy arena. She also writes Report from Washington updates for Space Watch.

The Future Space Leaders Foundation (“FSLF”) is a tax exempt 501 c 3 non-profit organization dedicated to the career development of young space and satellite industry professionals. It organizes events and raises funds for grants to deserving graduate students and young professionals. FSLF works in cooperation with other non-profits, companies and government agencies on space-related educational events. FSLF is also actively promoting the professional development of young Americans targeting careers in the academic fields of science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM).

Through its annual Future Space event, FSLF advances learning and fosters interaction among current space and satellite industry leaders with graduate students and young professionals. The Foundation made eight grant awards in 2013-2014 to outstanding American graduate students and young professionals enabling them to attend and present papers at major space-related symposia and conferences including the IAF International Astronautical Congress, SGAC Space Congress, AAS Goddard Memorial Symposium, NSC Goddard Dinner, Satellite 2014, SSPI Gala, AIAA Spotlight Awards and ISPCS.

This article is part of Space Watch: August 2015 (Volume: 14, Issue: 8).