Anyone who works in the aerospace field or is very passionate about space policy will be interested in the annual Space Generation Congress event in Toronto in conjunction with the International Astronautical Congress (IAC). Andrea Jaime, the Executive Director of Space Generation Advisory Council (the organization in support of the United Nations on space applications) shared the details with us.
Altynay Demeubayeva: What is the aim of the SGC?
Andrea Jaime: The Space Generation Congress (SGC) is SGAC’s annual conference that brings together top young minds from around world to focus on key space topics. The Congress takes place in conjunction with the International Astronautical Congress, and this year will be held from 25 to 27 September in Toronto, Canada.
The aim of the SGC is threefold: First, to strengthen the international network of the Space Generation Advisory Council. From the perspective of the individual delegate, many of whom come from developing countries, it a chance to interact and engage with the incoming generation of space policy professionals from all over the world. From the perspective of the Space Generation Advisory Council, it allows us to consolidate our international links in order to best represent and facilitate the voice of the next space generation.
Second, to examine and consider key questions that are facing the space and international community at large and to provide input to international thinking from the next generation of space professionals.
Third, to allow tomorrow’s space sector leaders to grow their network within their generation and to also have the opportunity to interact with today’s space leaders by way of our high-level speakers.
AD: What are the main highlights of the event?
AJ: The Space Generation Congress is a three day event, during which you will find high-level speakers, interesting presentations, working group time for discussions, networking opportunities during coffee breaks and lunch breaks, and social events. Among all the social events, I would highlight especially the International Night, where all the delegates share with the others a part of their culture, and the SGC Gala Dinner, that gathers more than 200 people in the space sector, and it is open to everybody in the community.
Actually the main highlight of the SGC is the recommendations and conclusions of the discussions done during the working groups’ time by the delegates that are presented at the United Nations at the Committee for Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS).
AD: Who are the members of the Space Generation?
AJ: The Space Generation Advisory Council membership is composed of young professionals and students in the space sector, between 18 and 35 years old that come from more than 100 countries worldwide. However, we do also have senior professionals and current space leaders that act as mentors and guide or share their expertise with the younger members.
AD: What’s in your opinion the most disruptive technology?
AJ: I personally would not be able to say just one, not because I do not think there are, but on the contrary, technology developments in the last decades are happening really fast and quality and disruption is even bigger and bigger!
I will not give here my personal opinion, however, I want to point out that this is going to be one of the topics that our delegates will discuss during this year’s Space Generation Congress, so I would invite all the readers to have a look at the final report on this that will be published by the end of the year in our website. www.spacegeneration.org.
AD: Where will be the next SGC?
AJ: The Space Generation Congress is an associate event of the International Astronautical Congress, so we always follow it. Next year, the SGC will be held in Jerusalem, Israel, and hopefully in two years we will go to Guadalajara, Mexico. People keep coming year after year to SGC, because every year is different and brings new and exciting content, and people meet colleagues and professional co-workers that help bring up new businesses and ideas.
