Call for Membership Nominations 2022: Space Exploration Advisory Committee
Published 6 October 2022
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The UK Space Agency seeks nominations for membership of its Space Exploration Advisory Committee (SEAC).
Space exploration has an exciting few years ahead. There is strong UK interest, both academic and industrial, in programmes such as Lunar Gateway and Mars Sample Return. The term of the SEAC members will cover a pivotal period as UK ambitions for the next phase of exploration are defined. SEAC has an important role to advise the UK on its strategy and priorities for space exploration.
The SEAC is responsible for advising the Agency on matters relating to robotic and human space exploration programmes. The Committee’s remit includes advising on UK participation in European exploration programmes (including Mars exploration and the International Space Station) and national level activities in support of these programmes. Membership of the SEAC consists of representatives of the academic and industrial communities from across the breadth of relevant subject areas, including biomedicine, fundamental physics, robotics and autonomy, and space science.
We are looking for people who can represent their specialist area through the lens of an understanding of human and robotic exploration, the UK’s activities in this field, both nationally and through ESA, and the wider National Space Strategy and the government’s science and technology ambitions.
We require a broad range of specialisms and seek three new members to support the Exploration programme from January 2023. The specialisms required are:
- Lunar science and exploration
- Mars science and exploration
- Microgravity science and experimentation (especially in the Life Sciences)
This will complement the Committee’s already wide level of expertise. There is one position available per specialism.
Nominations should be made by email, no later than 4pm on Monday 14 November 2022 to the email address below and include:
- name
- organisation
- research/science interests
- brief summary (100-200 words) of relevant experience
- brief relevant CV of no more than 2 pages
Suitable candidates are expected to:
- be based in the UK
- have experience of working with international space programmes (e.g. with ESA, NASA);
- have a broad knowledge of the UK R+D landscape;
- be knowledgeable about the political and strategic challenges of work in this area, at both a national and international level;
- demonstrate scientific expertise in a space-related discipline
It is also preferred (but not essential) that candidates have:
- experience of working in similar advisory positions for government or other public bodies (e.g. government agencies, Research Councils, other funding bodies).
Membership is on a two-year term, and meetings are usually held quarterly. The next SEAC meeting will be held in the week of 6 February 2023 so please make sure that you are available around this date. We will confirm the dates for 2023/24 as soon as possible.
To submit a nomination (either for yourself or for a colleague) or for more information about the SEAC and what membership entails, please contact Joanna Bird (Exploration Science Community Officer): Spaceexploration@ukspaceagency.gov.uk