Notice

Space Exploration Advisory Committee Call for Membership Nominations 2023

Published 20 June 2023

Space Exploration Advisory Committee

Call for Membership Nominations September 2023

Closing: 4pm on Monday 31 July 2023

The UK Space Agency seeks nominations for membership of its Space Exploration Advisory Committee (SEAC). The SEAC is responsible for advising the Agency on matters relating to robotic and human space exploration programmes.

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 Committee’s remit includes advising on UK participation in European exploration programmes (including Mars exploration, microgravity environments including those undertaken on the International Space Station, and Lunar exploration) and national level activities in support of these programmes. The SEAC consists of representative members of the academic and industrial communities from across the breadth of relevant subject areas, including biomedicine, fundamental physics, robotics and autonomy, and space science.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for people who can represent their specialist area through the lens 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 five new members (3x academic specialisms, 2x early-career researchers) to support the Exploration programme from September 2023 and complement the Committee’s already wide level of expertise.

Three positions are tied to academic specialisms:

• Lunar science and exploration
• Mars science and exploration
• Microgravity science and experimentation (especially in the Life Sciences)

In addition, we are looking for two early-career researchers to join the Advisory Committee, to bring their unique perspective and to build their skills. These do not need to be of a specific specialism, as long as their research area is related to Space Exploration.

Membership is undertaken as a two-year term with meetings held quarterly. The next SEAC meeting will be held on Wednesday 13 September 2023 in London (virtual attendance possible) and we encourage new members to ensure their availability around this date.

How to apply

Suitable candidates are expected to be based in the UK and demonstrate scientific expertise in a space-related discipline.

Nominations should be made by email, no later than Monday 31st July 2023 at 16:00 to the email address below with the subject line: SEAC Nomination September 2023, and include the following information:

• Name
• Organisation
• Research/science interests
• Brief summary of relevant experience (100-200 words)
• Brief relevant CV of no more than 2 pages

The three specialist roles are also expected to:

• 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;

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.)

To submit a nomination or for more information about the SEAC and what membership entails, please contact the Space Exploration mailbox: Spaceexploration@ukspaceagency.gov.uk