Manchester plays host to ‘largest ever’ National Student Space Conference

The University of Manchester has played host to the largest ever National Student Space Conference (NSSC), with over 600 attendees hearing from more than 40 invited speakers across two days. 

Held on 4 and 5 March 2023, the event is nationally hosted by UK Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (UKSEDS), and locally supported by six student societies in Manchester’s Faculty of Science and Engineering: MANSEDS, Astrobiology Society, Manchester Satellite Development Group, AeroSoc, PhysSoc and NPPS. 

The NSSC is the premier event for students interested in space and aims to unite them with academics and professionals to network, share knowledge and discuss challenges facing the sector. 

Among the speakers were the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the UK Space Agency and the UK Space Strategy Lead at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology; and sponsors included Airbus, Thales Alenia Space, Skyrora, the UK Space Agency and the North West Space Cluster. 

Dr Nicholas Crisp from the School of Engineering welcomed delegates on Sunday, and Dr Ciara McGrath gave an invited talk on the work being done at Manchester to make space more sustainable and to support life on Earth. 

Student societies hosted exhibition stalls – open to the public – on both days, and a Manchester stand supported by student volunteers focused on teaching and research activity in space engineering. 

There were networking opportunities throughout the two days, and on the Saturday evening students had the chance to meet with industry representatives. A careers event for 15 to 18-year-old students was also hosted on the Friday evening.