Next Generation

In accordance with its mission to prepare the workforce of tomorrow, the IAF actively supports and has a growing number of activities targeted at students and young professionals.

This programme enables up to 30 students and young professionals to participate in the International Astronautical Congress (IAC)

The IAF Young Space Leaders (YSL) Recognition Programme is awarded to exceptional students and young professionals, who contribute to astronautics in their academic or early careers, reach out to other young people and their communities to share knowledge and experiences, have been engaged with the international space community and contribute to IAF activities.

The IAF’s International Project/Programme Management Committee (IPMC) established this workshop to gather inputs from young professionals in the international space community on how to bridge the generational gap in the workplace and on how to better develop and empower the next-generation workforce.

The Workshop is designed for both native English and non-native English speakers and provides Emerging Space Leader grantees and IAC Next Generation plenary speakers with the opportunity to rehearse and review their presentations.

Three dedicated networking sessions during the IAC allow young professionals to meet with some of the most experienced space professionals and to connect with their peers.

This programme facilitate the participation of Young Professionals at the IAC, allowing them to share information on a global scale with presenters and audience both at the IAC venue and online from their home, work or university location.

The International Space Education Board (ISEB) Student Programme at the IAC offers a unique learning agenda with a large variety of dedicated activities designed to provide students with opportunities to engage, speak with and learn from space programme senior management, globally recognised subject matter experts, young professionals and peers.

The IAC Educator Professional Development Programme was launched officially in 2010 at the International Astronautical Congress in Prague. The workshop is designed for primary and secondary educators to teach about a variety of science-rich space contexts that they could bring into their classrooms to enhance learning in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

This workshop, organised by the IAF Space Universities Administrative Committee (SUAC) and partner universities, brings together students and experts to exchange about latest developments and to present their hardware.