CSA - Student participation in the COSPAR Scientific Assembly 2008

(standing) Dr. Dave Kendall, CSA's Director General of Space Science and Marilyn Steinberg, Program Manager, CSA Space Awareness and Learning, greet participants in the International Student Zone during the COSPAR scientific assembly. (photo: CSA)




Students attend a get together party hosted by JAXA (Japanese space agency) research students. (photo: CSA)

In July 2008, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) collaborated with its International Space Education Board partners CNES, ESA, JAXA and NASA to develop a full complement of student programming for the first time ever during a COSPAR scientific assembly.

The 50 university level students from around the globe that attended the assembly held July 13-20 in Montreal were able to take full advantage of the leaning opportunities presented to them over the course of the week by participating in technical sessions, presenting their own research and hearing from and speaking with some of the world's foremost leaders from a wide variety of space science disciplines.

During additional lunch time sessions that took place at the International Student Zone—a central meeting place for students developed by the International Space Education Board—students were treated to special presentations from Dr. Woodrow Whitlow, Director of the NASA Glenn Research Center, from Professor Issei Yamamura from the Infrared Astrophysics Group of the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, from CSA's Director General of Space Science Dr. Dave Kendall and from Dr. David Southwood, Director of ESA's Science Programme.

Prior to the presentation from Professor Yamamura, the Japanese student delegation provided an opportunity for cultural exchange treating their peers with a sampling of authentic Japanese delicacies from desserts to teas.

On the following morning, the Canadian students had the opportunity to have breakfast with a veritable who's who from the Canadian space science community, providing them with rare access to these great minds all assembled in one room. "The Student Breakfast was an excellent opportunity to interact with not only researchers from my field but also researchers from other fields of space research. It provided a venue to discuss space research beyond my knowledge base and identify possible locations for tenure as a PhD. Student and Post Doc," said one of the Canadian students of the breakfast.

In terms of the overall value of attending the conference from the students' own perspective, one of the Canadian students had the following comments. "The experience of attending COSPAR 2008 provided me with the opportunity to grow academically and professionally. The experience has provided me with knowledge and skills that I have put directly into practice upon my return from the conference and has opened up future opportunities for learning and personal development."

The next COSPAR scientific assembly will take place in Bremen, Germany in 2010.