Call for Nominations: Chairperson of the Space Exploration Advisory Committee (SEAC)
Published 20 May 2022
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The UK Space Agency seeks nominations for the Chair 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 next SEAC Chair 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, especially ahead of the ESA Council of Ministers in 2022. We are looking for a person with an understanding of human and robotic exploration, the UK’s activities in this field, both nationally and through ESA, and these fit within the wider National Space Strategy and the government’s science and technology ambitions.
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 ESA’s Exploration programmes, other bilateral collaborations and national activities in support of these programmes. The programmes include enabling missions that explore the Moon and Mars, as well as research on the International Space Station.
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.
The Chair of the group plays an important role in guiding discussions, tasking members with specific activities and reporting to the Agency’s senior leadership.
0.1 Further details and how to apply
Nominations should be submitted by email no later than 4 July 2022 at 16:00, to the following address: spaceexploration@ukspaceagency.gov.uk
Please include the following information:
- Name
- Organisation
- Brief summary (200-300 words) of relevant experience
- A recent copy of your CV (no more than 3 pages)
Suitable candidates are expected to have:
- experience of working with international space programmes (e.g. with ESA, NASA)
- broad knowledge of the UK R&D landscape
- knowledge of the political and strategic challenges of work in this area, at both a national and international level
- experience of working in similar advisory positions for government or other public bodies (e.g. government agencies, Research Councils, other funding bodies.)
The Chair will be for a two-year term, commencing September 2022. Meetings are usually held quarterly and the next SEAC meetings will be held on 15th September 2022 and 2nd November 2022 so please make sure that you are available on these dates.