Free event will help launch post-doctoral careers in space
Space South Central and satellite company SSTL are hosting a free event in Southampton to introduce post-doctoral researchers to career opportunities and connect with employers in the thriving UK space sector.
The Post-Doctoral Industry Summit - Space (PICS-Space) is open to post-docs from any discipline and takes place on Friday 19 May at the Axis Conference Centre at the University of Southampton Science Park, Chilworth, from 09.30 until 16.00.
The UK space industry is worth £17.5 billion – up £1 billion in the past year alone – but needs to attract and nurture new talent to continue this growth.
PICS-Space delegates can meet employers and hear from speakers from organisations like Airbus, BAE Systems, In-Space Missions, Theyr and the Satellite Applications Catapult, with panel discussions, a CV clinic and an employer exhibition.
The event will open with a keynote speech from Professor Sir Martin Sweeting from the University of Surrey, who’s also Chair of Surrey Space Centre and Executive Chairman at SSTL.
PICS-Space’s organisers are uniquely placed to give insight into what’s possible when academia and industry join forces.
The universities of Southampton, Portsmouth and Surrey are founder members of Space South Central, the UK’s largest space cluster, representing the space sector across Hampshire, Surrey and the Isle of Wight, including more than 130 space-related businesses.
SSTL began as a University of Surrey spin-out 40 years ago, pioneering small satellite design, build, test and operation. Now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Airbus, SSTL is a world leader in its field.
Mick Stanisforth, a post doc now working at SSTL, and one of the people behind the event, said: “PICS-Space represents a fantastic opportunity for SSTL to engage with the wide and largely untapped talent pool of postdoctoral researchers.
“The skills that postdocs possess are invaluable to the space industry, and not just STEM postdocs but anyone with experience in leading projects as an independent thinker and motivated worker.
“PICS-Space is a win-win for us at SSTL: opening new pathways for postdocs to advance their careers in exciting directions, while giving us access to the diverse range of people, skills, and experiences which are vital to driving innovation and success in our sector.”
Dr Louise Butt, Director of the Space South Central Enterprise Network, said: “Helping to tackle the skills gap and reduce its impact on the region’s space industry is a key objective for Space South Central.
“Hampshire, Surrey and the Isle of Wight are home to a huge range of space-related businesses, many of which are seeing rapid growth. We hope that PICS-Space inspires post-docs from all kinds of disciplines to see how their skills could lead to an exciting career that they may not have considered.”
To book your free place at PICS-Space, visit bit.ly/PICS-Space. There’s free parking at the venue, and lunch is provided.
Space South Central runs and promotes space industry events throughout the year, from its monthly Orbit South Central networking sessions to education and skills summits like PICS-Space. To see what events are coming up, visit spacesouthcentral.com/events.
