This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages) This article contains content that is written like an advertisement. Please help improve it by removing promotional content and inappropriate external links, and by adding encyclopedic content written from a neutral point of view. (November 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) This article possibly contains original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed. (November 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: "Space Generation Advisory Council" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (January 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
Space Generation Advisory Council
Company typeNon-governmental organisation
IndustrySpace
FoundedVienna, Austria (July 1999 (1999-07))
HeadquartersVienna, Austria
Members25,000+ members from 165 countries
Websitewww.spacegeneration.org

The Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), in support of the United Nations Programme on Space Applications, is a non-governmental organization and professional network whose goal is to convey the perspectives of students and young space professionals to the United Nations (UN), space industry, space agencies, and academia.

The SGAC is a large network of students, young professionals, and alumni in the space industry and currently represents over 27,000 members across 165 countries. SGAC operates in the six official languages of the United Nations, though the official working language is English.

SGAC's core purpose is to be the voice of the "Young Space Generation" to the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and other international organizations through its Observer Status with the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS). Since 2018, SGAC has also been an official Partner of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF). In these roles, the SGAC ensures the involvement and engagement of its membership in developing a progressive space policy that supports advancing humanity through the peaceful uses of space. The SGAC maintains that "the voice of students and young professionals should be heard in creating international space policy. As those who will be becoming the key policymakers, providers, and users of space, it is imperative that their opinion is taken into account." To ensure inclusivity, membership with SGAC is free of charge. The SGAC promises member benefits, including:

As a non-profit organization, SGAC relies on the sponsorship and support of governmental, non-governmental, and industry organizations and support via donations from individuals. SGAC is continuously looking for general sponsors and project-based partners, striving to ensure that they reflect the diversity displayed by the SGAC organization.

History

In December 1997, the UN Office of Outer Space Affairs Secretariat invited the International Space University (ISU) to organize a young adult forum as part of the UNISPACE III Conference in July 1999 in Vienna. The result was the Space Generation Forum (SGF), wherein 160 young people from 60 different countries discussed topics relating to the progress of space exploration, which included: science, engineering, technology, law, ethics, art, literature, anthropology, and architecture. More than 100 visions and ideas were generated during the conference, written as recommendations.

The ten most impactful ideas were integrated into the "Declaration of the Space Generation, " approved by the UNISPACE III Plenary as the SGF's Technical Report (refer UN-Document A/Conf.184/L.14). [Reference: click here] Five of these ten recommendations were adopted into the Vienna Declaration on Space and Human Development. One of the recommendations was "to create a council to support the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space by raising awareness and exchanging fresh ideas among young adults. The vision is to employ the creativity and vigor of younger generations in advancing humanity through the peaceful uses of space." From this, the Space Generation Advisory Council in Support of the United Nations Programme on Space Applications was established.

Since its establishment, SGAC has multiplied. In 2001 SGAC earned Permanent Observer status in UN COPUOS, and in 2003, SGAC earned consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. The organization officially opened its headquarters at the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI) in 2005 in Vienna and hired its first paid employee in 2006. Today, the organization's professional network comprises over 27,000 members from 165+ countries (updated: 2023) in 6 different geographic regions.

Vision and Goal

The guiding vision of SGAC is “to employ the creativity and vigor of young generations in advancing humanity through the peaceful uses of outer space.” Furthermore, the organization states that “[we] believe that the voice of students and young professionals should be heard in the creation of international space policy. As those who will be becoming the key policymakers, providers and users of space, we believe that it is imperative that their opinion is taken into account.”

The primary goal of SGAC is “to provide access to our members to inject their thoughts, views, and opinions on the direction of international space policy.” Other goals include:

Organization

SGAC is led by the SGAC Executive Council, which consists of two elected co-chairs as well as 12 elected regional coordinators (two per UN region). The Executive Council is supported by an appointed Executive Committee, which is made up of a treasurer, executive secretaries, event managers, and other executive team members. The rest of the organization is made up of the National Points of Contact, up to two per participating nation, and the 27,000+ members who support the Space Generation Network.

A General Assembly is held annually and brings together the National Points of Contact and the Executive Council to approve or reject propositions introduced by the Executive Council and to change the statutes of the organization.

SGAC works with many external space-related organizations from all around the world. The list of SGAC partners includes organizations from industry, government, academia, and other non-profits. A complete list of the sponsors and supporters is available on the SGAC website.

The organization receives advice from its advisory and honorary boards.

Advisory Board

SGAC's Advisory Board is designed to give strategic direction and advice to SGAC in order to help guide the organization in the fulfillment of its goals and objectives. It provides feedback on the work of the organization and suggests ways in which to improve its functions and its engagement. The board is composed of twelve board members, each of whom serves for a two-year term. The advisory board members are influential members of the international space community and are strong supporters of the SGAC’s goals and vision.

Honorary Board

SGAC’s Honorary Board is composed of distinguished individuals who have served the organization in the past and whom SGAC wishes to "recognize for their furtherance of goals similar to those of SGAC."

Executive Director

SGAC’s executive director is in charge of:

See the list of past Executive Directors here.

Operations Officer

SGAC’s Operations Officer is accountable for supporting the management of SGAC operations. This includes project planning, scheduling and managing, capacity and utilization management, delegating work to meet deliverables, and tracking the status of outstanding work from the different SGAC teams.

Chairs

SGAC’s Co-Chairs are elected for a two-year mandate by the SGAC Executive Committee and are responsible for leading the Executive Committee and supervising the activities of the SGAC staff, contractual obligations, and financial activities. See the list of past Chairs here.

Regional Coordinators

SGAC’s Regional Coordinators are members of the SGAC Executive Committee. They coordinate activities in their region, oversee the work of the National Points of Contact, have voting rights on SGAC issues at the Executive Committee, and elect the Co-Chairs of the organization.

Activities

SGAC involvement with the UN

The Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) has a good presence globally, with a diverse member base and engaging across various sectors within the space industry. Outputs from SGAC's events and project groups significantly contribute to shaping space policy at various levels.

These contributions have been acknowledged and cited by numerous delegations within the context of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS).

Events

Regional, Local, and Online Events can be organized by any SGAC members by submitting a proposal on the SGAC Events Platform.

Project Groups

SGAC is divided into several topical focus-groups, called Project Groups (PGs). Each PG is dedicated to a distinct space-related topic (see below) and serves as a platform within which the young space community can share their opinions, discuss, and debate current issues. This structure is designed to consolidate the expertise that exists within the SGAC network and draw in the targeted knowledge, skills and capabilities of young space leaders to bear on relevant topics for the peaceful advancement of space. This structure also ensures - and improves - coordination among the various segments of the organization.

As of 2020, the organization has a number of active projects:

Scholarships

In SGAC's quest to increase youth input and engagement on international space issues, the organization works to provide financial resources for its members. The SGAC awards numerous scholarships throughout the year to university students and young professionals. These scholarships allow a greater number of members to take part in the international space policy creation process from attendance and presentations at UN COPUOS to participating in SGAC's annual congress, the International Astronautical Congress (IAC), or issue-specific seminars around the world. The Scholarship page of SGAC regularly publishes the available scholarship opportunities to attend the Space Generation Congress (SGC), International Astronautical Congress (IAC), Space Generation Fusion Forum (SGFF), Space Symposium (SS), Space Generation Workshops (SGWs) and other space events.

Professional Development

With the exception of one paid staff - the SGAC Executive Director and SGAC Operations Manager -all leadership positions and members of SGAC serve the organization on a voluntary basis. SGAC posts vacancies every month which can be consulted on the SGAC vacancies page. Volunteering with SGAC allows members to be recognized internationally as part of the organization’s leadership on the SGAC Team webpage and offers opportunities to develop as leaders in the space sector.

Alumni and Mentoring Programme

The SGAC Alumni Programme was launched at the Space Generation Forum 2.0 in 2018 (after a series of successful alumni activities from 2015-2018) to help reconnect with SGAC Alumni and use the potential of the SGAC alumni network to support other SGAC activities. SGAC Alumni are SGAC members (with a registered account on our website) who care about the SGAC mission and vision but are over the age limit of SGAC (past their 36th birthday). SGAC organizes a series of activities to help connect its current members with the SGAC alumni and helps facilitate the sharing of knowledge and experiences in this context. These activities include SGAC Alumni Gatherings, SGAC: Through the Generations Event, Alumni Spotlight, and mentoring SGAC members as advisors to different projects.

At the Space Generation Forum 2.0 in June 2018 in Vienna, one of the key recommendations presented in recognition of the UNISPACE+50 is to foster development and support in the space sector through mentoring. In response, SGAC has created a Mentoring Program for its members. The aim of this program is to connect SGAC members with experts in the space field, especially through our vast network of SGAC Alumni. Through the Mentoring Program, SGAC hopes its members will be able to receive support and guidance as they continue to advance in their careers.

References

External links

Categories