Based upon an ESA initiative, representatives of the major players of the European space sector signed on 21 November 2022 in Paris a ‘Statement for a responsible space sector’. The vision, values and principles of this statement can be found here.
Whereas the agencies and the space industry, which signed the agreement, are the prime actors on this, the International Space University (ISU) was invited to co-sign this statement due to its paramount role in developing the next generation of specialists for this sector with full sustainability awareness.
Indeed, next to informing the ISU students on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and principles, increasing emphasis is given in the curriculum of ISU on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles. This is not only formally covered by lectures, but students are also encouraged to implement these principles in their Individual and Team Projects. In addition to this, in the ISU-organized hackathons such as the recent Cassini hackathon, business proposals were explicitly evaluated on the basis of their ESG merits.
This way, ISU is playing a proactive role in this field of awareness, also by educating students on those topics to contribute, in their professional space careers, to a more sustainable space sector in the future.
Read also: ESA – European space sector commits
