Second and third-level students joined academic staff and figures from the space industry at the South East Technological University (SETU) Carlow campus, formerly IT Carlow, this week for the inaugural Relevance conference, showcasing opportunities in the Irish space sector.
Students attended talks from a host of key figures with broad perspectives on activities within the space domain ranging from searching for life in the universe to Ireland's rocketry society and how space impacts from personal and a societal perspective.
Dr Pete Worden, former NASA Ames Research Centre director, discussed the aims of Breakthrough Star Shot and how we can still learn from the ideas of Kepler and Galileo when it comes to interstellar travel.
The conference also showcased some of Ireland's leading technological companies working within the space sector, such as Realtra Space and Shibumi Consulting, which both produce state-of-the-art products and services for and within the space sector.
SEE Space Network with support from Engineering the Southeast, discussed how the south-east continues to develop, construct and build its own space sector.
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Attendees were also given an insight in to some of the space developments happening at SETU campuses, where undergraduate and postgraduate students are actively engaging with and becoming more in the field.
Dr Mark White, vice president of research, innovation and graduate studies at SETU, said: "The south-east and south-west are now well established as Ireland’s ‘Space Region’ and ‘Space Coast’ after SETU and Munster Technological University launched the SEE-Space network in late 2020.
"Both universities continue to foster collaborations with industry by providing academic support for research and development in the areas of earth observation, cybersecurity, aerospace engineering, applied materials science and engineering, THz communication and quantum communication.
"Today’s event encapsulates both the energy and the capability we have as a region to compete and lead in key areas of the space industry for Ireland in Europe and have real impact for society, economy and the environment’.
Photo: (l-r) SETU postgrad aerospace engineering students, Rushikesh Kore, Alameen Disu, Nishita Ravuri, Farwa Ahmed, Samira Nazari, Dillon O Reilly, Md Shamsuzzaman, Dylan Edirisingh.
