The Andy Thomas Space Foundations Australian Space Forum team pictured during the 13th Forum in March 2022
AUSTRALIA IN SPACE
Australia’s national space charity Courtesy of The Andy Thomas Space Foundation
14 | Australia in Space Magazine
The Andy Thomas Space Foundation (ATSF), is Australia’s national space charity, dedicated to supporting the education and outreach goals of the Australian Space Agency. Named in honour of Australian born and educated NASA astronaut, Dr Andrew Thomas, we aim to design and implement practical programs to enhance space industry awareness among the Australian community and drive national progress in education, research and innovation. Our aim is to make space truly accessible for all. Since the Foundation’s commencement in July 2020, the ATSF has been focused on facilitating and increasing access to the space sector for students of all academic levels across Australia, ranging from primary school children to post-graduate and early career researchers. Our mission is driven by the economic and social importance of contributing to and supporting the Australian Space Agency’s strategy of tripling the space sector’s contribution to GDP and creating an additional 20,000 direct jobs in Australia by 2030. Underlying this growth strategy is an awareness that an increasing number of skilled graduates and technicians will be the key to our future success. According to the Foundation’s chairperson, Michael Davis AO, “the Foundation believes that inspiring and encouraging students from the start of their schooling will ignite a passion for space science and technologies and will drive an ambition among the next generation of Australians to become deeply involved in our space future, both nationally and internationally.” Great attention has been focused on increasing awareness of cross and multidisciplinary involvement within the industry, utilisation of unique and emerging
technologies for improved education strategies as well as the importance of engaging and inspiring students, teachers and their parents, early in the academic cycle. After an incredibly successful inaugural Education Fund program in 2021, in which we offered seven programs to a value of $230,000, our program this year will see an increase and expansion of the academic offerings available. With over $300,000 worth of scholarships, prizes and awards in 2022 across nine programs, the Foundation will, over two years, have provided more than half a million dollars’ worth of funding for educational outreach and opportunities in Australia, enabling study and research in universities, schools and private organisations across the nation. The ATSF Education Fund programs are dedicated to supporting students at all levels of education, as well as helping to promote advanced space-related research. One of our programs is designed to advance the skills of primary school teachers in STEM learning and design thinking. Another supports space-related science research projects at secondary school level. Other programs include providing internship opportunities for tertiary students, with some of Australia’s leading space technology companies and giving financial awards to some of Australia’s leading PhD researchers for their work in advanced space science topics. In this framework the following programs are being implemented in 2022: • Mercury Program: The Andy Thomas Space Foundation’s 3D Innovation Challenge • Mars Program: The Andy Thomas Space Foundation School Challenge • Venus Program: The Andy Thomas Space Foundation
