IAF Young Space Leaders (YSL) Recognition Programme

Nominate a candidate for the 2023 IAF Young Space Leaders (YSL) Recognition Programme !

DEADLINE EXTENSION: 16 JANUARY 2023

The International Astronautical Federation (IAF) is pleased to announce its 2023 IAF Young Space Leaders Recognition Programme that will provide opportunities to recognise students and young professionals who are demonstrating exceptional leadership in their academics or early careers. The IAF is soliciting nominations for the 2023 IAF Young Space Leaders Recognition Programme from IAF Members, Regional groups and Technical and Administrative Committees on students and young professionals between the ages of 21 to 35 years on 1 January 2023 who are:

• Contributing to astronautics through their academic and/or professional activities,
• Reaching out to other young people and to their community to share knowledge and experience,
• Engaging colleagues in the international space community,
• Contributing to the work of IAF committees and/or volunteering in support of other Federation activities such as physical or virtual participation in selection activities related to IAF grants, Next Generation Plenary and awards; participation in organization of IAC technical sessions and other activities; and participation on local organizing committees for GLEC, GLAC, GLEX and other IAF meetings. (Note: Attendance at International Astronautical Congress does not in itself qualify).

Nominations should contain:

• A nomination letter from an IAF member organisation, an IAF Technical Committee or an IAF Administrative Committee summarising the nominee’s qualifications and specifying how the nominee meets the criteria. Please download the template here below:

• Two letters of recommendation addressing the contributions and engagement of the nominee.

The 2023 IAF Young Space Leaders will be selected by the Federation’s Young Space Leaders Selection Subcommittee in consultation with the IAF President during March 2023. The Federation will notify the nominating organizations of those selected and subsequently the selectees themselves no later than 1 May 2023.

Th IAF Young Space Leaders will be inducted at the 74th International Astronautical Congress (IAC), 2 – 6 October 2023 in Baku, Azerbaijan at the Closing Ceremony. They will attend the IAC Gala Dinner as guests of the IAF President. Although travel expenses to attend the IAC will not be provided by the IAF, the IAC registration fee will be waived. Nominators are encouraged to help identify sources of funding for their nominee if he/she is selected.

IAF Young Space Leaders will help increase knowledge among and broaden the involvement of students and young professionals worldwide in astronautics activities and the IAF.

In the year following their induction, IAF Young Space Leaders will: - Be featured in an IAF newsletter and on the IAF website, contributing a short summary of their experience and achievements and their perspectives on space and international cooperation, including the role of the IAF. - Mentor the Emerging Space Leaders who receive IAF grants to attend the IAC in Baku.

Please send the nomination materials before 16 January 2023 15:00 CET (Paris time) to the IAF Secretariat, preferably by email at award@iafastro.org (Subject line: NOMINEE’S LAST NAME Nominee’s First Name-2023 YSL).

If email is not available, the reference can be sent by postal mail to:

IAF Secretariat Attention: 2023 IAF Young Space Leaders Recognition Programme 100 Avenue de Suffren 75015 Paris France

2023 Winners

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2022 Winners

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