1 September 2016 – SPIN undergraduates aiming for careers in the space sector will showcase their summer placements in space-related industries as part of the high profile Reinventing Space Conference.
SPIN (Space Placements in Industry) is an industry initiative to match enthusiastic and highly qualified undergraduates with space sector companies to work on specific projects for at least eight weeks during their summer vacation.
Through SPIN, the sector is ensuring that the brightest and best students are encouraged to focus their attention on space for their careers. The SPIN showcase is an excellent opportunity for businesses and organisations to find out how placements work for the hosts and the undergraduates, what funding is available, which projects are suitable and the benefits to the hosts.
Reinventing Space runs from 24-27 October at the Royal Society, London, and the SPIN Showcase takes place on Wednesday 26 October. It is free for everyone attending the conference that day, with undergraduates’ presentations taking place from 9am. The full SPIN Showcase programme is here.
Each undergraduate (SPINtern) will deliver a two-minute summary of their placement project and the skills they are learning. They will also be available throughout the morning to discuss their Project Posters which will be on display.
In the afternoon there will be a career event supported by the Space Generation Advisory Council and UKSEDS – the UK student space society – with an Employer Panel Discussion Q&A and a Speed Mentoring Session delivered by a range of employers. The keynote speech will be given by Rick Tumlinson of the New Worlds Institute.
SPIN is an industry initiative supported by the Institute for Environmental Analytics (IEA), University of Reading, UK Space Agency and Satellite Applications Catapult. The programme is managed by Kathie Bowden, UK National Space Skills and Career Development Manager who is based within the IEA.
Bowden said: “Each undergraduate will deliver a two-minute elevator pitch describing the placement and the skills they have developed this summer, and will then present a poster they have produced with the support of their host. Whilst the pitches are to the SPIN community, the Poster Sessions are open to all attendees at the conference and present a fantastic opportunity for all SPINterns to sell their abilities and achievements to a broad employer community. The posters will be on display through all the breaks and lunchtime.”
Reinventing Space (RISpace) is a conference and exhibition focusing on low cost access to space, bringing together industry, agency, government and financiers. For more information, visit http://rispace.org
Subject to certain criteria, SPIN placements can be subsidised for host companies. Find out more in time to host a summer 2017 SPIN placement, by emailing spin@reading.ac.uk.
For more on SPIN, including FAQs, visit https://sa.catapult.org.u
SPIN Showcase Programme, October 26, 2016:
08:45 – 09:15 Registration
09:15 – 09:30 Welcome
09:30 – 10:55 Pitches
11:00 – 17:00 Posters displayed, with SPINterns present from 11.15am
13:05 – 14:00 Lunch
14:00 – 15:00 Employers panel
15:10 – 15:55 Keynote Address Rick Tumlinson, New Worlds Institute
15:55 – 16:20 Afternoon Break
16:20 – 17:20 Speed mentoring
17:30 – 20:30 Networking Reception