Chris WELCH

International Space University (ISU)Professor of Space Engineering

Chris Welch is Professor of Space Engineering at the International Space University in Strasbourg, France, where he is also Director of Masters Programs. He started his professional career working as a space scientist at the University of Kent on the Giotto and Ulysses missions but later redirected his focus to the technical side of space activities in particular non-chemical space propulsion and its applications. Prior to joining ISU in 2011, Prof Welch worked at Kingston University, London where he was responsible for Astronautics and Space Technology activities. During this period, he was also a specialist advisor on two government enquiries into UK space policy.

Within the IAF, Professor Welch has participated in more than 20 IACs and is twice former chair of the federation’s Space and Education and Outreach Committee. He also sits on the IPC Steering Group as the Category E Co-ordinator and is a member of the Space Universities Administrative Committee and the Committee for the Cultural Utilisation of Space. In 2015 he was the recipient of the IAF Distinguished Service Award.

Outside of the IAF, Professor Welch is a Vice-President, Council Member and Fellow of the British Interplanetary Society, a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a member of the Institute of Engineering and Technology and the Institute of Physics

A longstanding supporter of space education and outreach activities Prof Welch sits on the boards of the World Space Week Association and the Spacelink Learning Foundationand the Advisory Board of the Space Generation Advisory Council. In 2009 he was awarded the Sir Arthur Clarke Award for Space Education. Other board memberships include the Arts Catalystand the Initiative for Interstellar Studies.

Prof Welch has BSc (Hons) in Physics from Cardiff University, an MSc in Space Physics from the University of Leicester and PhD in Spacecraft Engineering from Cranfield University.

Events

The Global Space Exploration Conference 2021

14-18 June 2021

St. Petersburg, Russia

Participation:

The Global Conference on Space and the Information Society 2016

6-7 June 2016

Geneva, Switzerland

Participation: