Activities

The role of the National Committee on Space Engineering is to promote space engineering to the engineering profession and to the broader community.

To achieve this, the Committee sees its' goals, and the specific activities to implement these within four key areas.

1. Policy

 The National Committee on Space Engineering's chief aim is to raise awareness of the economic, industrial and intellectual value of developing and retaining Australian expertise in space technology.

 The Committee aims to be an active participant in related policy debates by:

1.1 Participating in the current government policy development as opportunities arise

1.2 Continuing to develop and publicise Engineers Australia's policy position on Space Engineering

Engineers Australia regards the space science and industry sector as very important to Australia in a number of ways and consequently suggests that government should take a more active interest; both to facilitate the country taking advantage of opportunities and to mitigate potential risks to the national wellbeing.

The National Committee on Space Engineering made a Submission to the Senate Economics Committee Inquiry on Australia's Space Science and Industry Sector in May 2008.

Other submissions to this Inquiry may be found by clicking here.

The submission covered three aspects of the space science and industry sector that

Engineers Australia considers to be of significant import to the nation:

  • The need for government-led risk management of certain space-derived information services;
  • The need for a mechanism to act as a focal point for Australian involvement in international space activities; and
  • The significant benefits to the national skill base of involvement in space-related activities.

Mr Shaun Wilson, the Chair of the National Committee on Space Engineering also testified at public hearing of the Senate Standing Committee on Economics' Inquiry into "The Current State of Australia's Space Science & Industry Sector" - held in Canberra on Tuesday 29 July 2008. The Official Committee Hansard may be accessed here (page E93).

2. Technical Skills Development

The National Committee on Space Engineering aims to encourage development of the national technical skills base as related to space engineering (which is multi-disciplinary by nature). The Committee is working towards this goal by:

2.1 Continuing to conduct the annual Space Engineering Undergraduate Thesis Prize

The Space Engineering Undergraduate Thesis Prize recognises individual excellence in an undergraduate space-engineering project. The prize aims to:

  • encourage student interest in Space Engineering at the undergraduate level;
  • enhance student knowledge and application of Space Engineering disciplines; and
  • encourage academic participation in Space Engineering as part of undergraduate education.

2.2 Facilitating resumption of a Space Engineering related conference series 

The Committee is currently considering joining with one or more other space-related conferences (Australian Space Development Conference, Australian Space Science Conference, ASRI Annual Conference, etc) to ensure this important goal is achieved.

2.3 Promote engineering as a viable career choice for school leavers

Via support for Victorian Space Science Education Centre (VSSEC) activities on a case-by-case basis the Committee is working towards promoting engineering as a viable career choice for school leavers and developing the enabling skills required during primary and secondary education.

3. Promotion to the Engineering Profession

The Committee aims to promote space engineering within the broader engineering profession by:

3.1 Working with our parent body within Engineers Australia

The National Committee on Space Engineering will be working with the Electrical College Board on a case-by-case basis

3.2 Using Engineers Australia and broader media to publish articles relating to Space Engineering

"The need for an Australian Space Industry Policy Australia's Space Science and Industry Sector" - Submission to the Senate Economics Committee Inquiry - See Section 1.2

"The Importance of Australian Space Science and Engineering to Environmental Management" - Coming Soon!

4. Promotion to other Professions

The National Committee on Space Engineering is working on promoting space engineering to other professions and organisations in the space sector by:

4.1 Investigating holding a joint conference with one or more other organisations

Please see section 2.2 above.

4.2 Improving their understanding of what other organisations are doing

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