New Scientist Live partners with AstroAgency to boost space sector opportunities
Above: Daria Filichkina at New Scientist Live.
Courtesy AstroAgency
The collaboration marks an exciting milestone in both organisations’ ongoing efforts to inspire future generations to consider a career in space, whilst educating new audiences about the role that satellites play in our everyday lives and dispelling common myths surrounding space travel and discovery.
The partnership is expected to further strengthen the space-related themes and topics covered at the flagship event, building upon last year’s New Scientist Live, where UK headquartered AstroAgency worked with the UK Space Agency’s space sustainability team to organise a promotional presence that highlighted the challenge of space debris and investment in debris removal mission studies led by ClearSpace and Astroscale. A showcase area at the event was visited by children and adults alike, eager to learn more about the dangers posed by small and large pieces of space debris, as well as defunct satellites. The topic was also discussed on stage, reaching New Scientist Live’s huge audience of science and space enthusiasts.
The UK Space Agency’s Head of Sustainability, Ray Fielding, said: "At last year’s New Scientist Live, we enjoyed discussing the UK’s space sustainability activities and space career opportunities with such an energetic and engaged audience. We are delighted to be exhibiting again this year, and I am particularly looking forward to speaking on the Engage Stage.”
Jacqui McCarron, Sales Director at New Scientist Live, added: “We’re thrilled to collaborate with AstroAgency and their clients to work together to bring the wonders of space to a broad audience. Our collaboration will enhance our ability to enlighten our visitors about the sector’s significance, not only for the economy but also for our daily lives.
The Universe Stage at New Scientist Live consistently draws the most interest, as our audience shares a fascination for space exploration. Our goal is to inspire the next generation, encouraging them to explore careers in this field, especially through family visits on the weekend and our dedicated schools’ day. The public days also provide a fantastic opportunity to highlight the employment opportunities the sector has to offer to those already working with transferrable skills and university students considering their future careers.”
As well as promoting the importance of UK space sustainability activities, AstroAgency’s Chief Operating Officer and Sir Arthur Clarke Award winner Daria Filichkina held a presentation on stage as part of New Scientist Live’s Schools’ Day. Speaking to, and answering questions from young people, Daria discussed career opportunities in space, aiming to inform young people of the plethora of job opportunities offered by the sector, from technical engineering roles through to sales, marketing, legal, HR and other non-technical positions.
Additionally, as part of this year’s collaboration, AstroAgency hopes to address common misconceptions surrounding space travel, such as environmental impact and resource allocation concerns, enriching the education and discussions at New Scientist Live.
AstroAgency founder and serial space entrepreneur Daniel Smith stated: “Our collaboration with the New Scientist Live team will leverage AstroAgency’s unique position within the space ecosystem, bringing established and new representation from across the value-chain. Our daily engagement with leading satellite and launch companies, right through to space data firms delivering insights across multiple sectors, as well as the government and academic institutions underpinning the industry’s growth, ensures our team can deliver ideas, talks and interactive displays that add value to the event, which has a long heritage of engaging the wider public and acting as an all-important ambassador for UK space.”
By supporting New Scientist Live and highlighting how space companies can contribute to the event through exhibitions, sponsorships and cross-industry collaborations, AstroAgency seeks to enrich the event with the most relevant and up-to-date information from a diverse range of industry players who will bring innovative case studies and real-life stories to the show.
Initial ideas being explored include highlighting advancements in agriculture through space downstream technologies and delivering an on-stage version of AstroAgency’s networking webinar series, ‘SpaceBar’, which has been hosted by New Scientist Live regulars Dallas Campbell and Professor Suzie Imber since the onset of pandemic lockdowns.
AstroAgency is a space-focused, strategic marketing and communications provider. The company combines digital marketing expertise and ‘hands on’ space sector experience with knowledge from their technical department to deliver support to more than 65 global space organisations and government agencies. AstroAgency are based in Edinburgh and Harwell, with a team of 24.
New Scientist Live is an annual event hosted at ExCeL, London that brings the energy, intelligence and humour of New Scientist to life. More than 50 of the UKs best-loved scientists, researchers and television presenters will cover all the wonders of science, from the mysteries of the cosmos on the Universe Stage to how to eat for better brain health on the Mind and Body Stage.
