Call for Nominations for the 2024 IAF Young Space Leaders Recognition Programme is now OPEN!

The International Astronautical Federation (IAF) is pleased to announce its

2024 IAF Young Space Leaders (YSL) Recognition Programme

that will provide opportunities to recognize students and young professionals who are demonstrating exceptional leadership in their academics or early careers. The IAF is soliciting nominations for the 2024 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 2024 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 IAF Global Conferences such as GLEC, GLEX, GLOC 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 organization, an IAF Technical Committee or an IAF Administrative Committee summarizing the nominee’s qualifications and specifying how the nominee meets the criteria (please download the template on Nomination Letter Template)
• Two letters of recommendation addressing the contributions and engagement of the nominee.

The 2024 IAF Young Space Leaders (YSL) will be selected by the Federation’s Young Space Leaders Selection Subcommittee in consultation with the IAF President during March 2024. The Federation will notify the nominating organizations of those selected and subsequently the selectees themselves no later than 1 May 2024.

The IAF Young Space Leaders will be inducted at the Closing Ceremony of the 75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2024), 14 – 18 October 2024 in Milan, Italy. 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 selected.

IAF Young Space Leaders will help increase knowledge 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 (ESL) who receive IAF grants to attend the IAC in Milan.

Please send the nomination materials before 12 January 202415:00 CET (Paris time) to the IAF Secretariat by email at award@iafastro.org (Subject line: NOMINEE’S LAST NAME Nominee’s First Name-2024 YSL).

We look forward to receiving your nominations!

Kind regards,
IAF Team