Opening Ceremony Held On Monday, January 9
The International Space University (ISU), Strasbourg, France
with the University of South Australia has joined forces again to
bring world class space education to the southern hemisphere with a
five-week intensive program set to launch on Monday January 9th. A
total of 34 students from 12 countries (Australia, New Zealand,
Italy, India, China, Brazil, South Africa, Nepal, Nigeria, Russia,
Spain and the USA) will be on hand, along with representatives of
UniSA and the International Space University. About half of the
students are from Australia, representing space-related government
agencies, the Department of Defence, the Defence Science and
Technology Organisation, universities throughout Australia, and the
private sector.

Speakers will include UniSA Pro Vice Chancellor Andrew Parfitt
and ISU Program Director Scott Madry. In attendance will be
distinguished guests from the Australian space, defence and
academic communities, UniSA and ISU faculty, guest lecturers, and
program supporters and sponsors.
A reception will follow the opening ceremony, which will include
an aboriginal music and dance performance. The annual live-in
education program – the Southern Hemisphere Summer Space
Program (SHSSP) - targets space professionals, graduates and senior
undergraduates and in its first three years, will be taught in
Adelaide by academics from both institutions at UniSA’s
Mawson Lakes campus. The inaugural program was in 2011.
Over 40 international staff, faculty, astronauts and visiting
space experts will contribute to the program including 27
Australians. Overseas faculty and staff will come from Belgium,
Brazil, Canada, France, Italy, New Zealand South Africa, South
Korea, Spain and the US.
“After the success of the first SH-SSP, ISU and UniSA
continue to work closely together to bring a high value space
education program to Australia. We believe this partnership will
enhance creativity, quality and student focus that both of our
institutions demand for their academic offerings and help to
increase expertise in space and space technologies and
business.” says Prof. Walter Peeters, ISU President.
The program is open to government and industry professionals,
graduate researchers and senior undergraduates of all nations.
“It is focusing on space applications, space policy and space
services,” says Adelaide lawyer and Program Co-Director
Michael Davis, a Masters graduate of ISU. “The program also
provides a well-rounded overview of the principles and concepts
involved in space science, systems engineering and technology, the
commercial aspects and opportunities of space, and of course the
legal and regulatory issues associated with exploration and use of
space.”
The five week live-in program from 9 January to 11 February 2012
will include 46 lectures, together with hands-on workshops and
industry visits, an exam and a group research project. Program
graduates will become part of the elite alumni of 3,200 ISU
students, lecturers and faculty members from throughout the
world.
Financial support for the ISU program has been provided by the
Australian Government as part of the Australian Space Research
Program.