Space Generation Congress 2013

The Space Generation Congress (SGC) is SGAC's annual conference that brings together top young minds from around the world to focus on key space topics. The Congress takes place in conjunction with the International Astronautical Congress. This year, Secure World Foundation is partnering with SGAC to organize a session entitled "Near Earth Objects, Impact in Society”.

Participants:

Attendance for SGC is competitive and limited to 130 or fewer. SGAC aims to select a diverse group of dedicated university students and young professionals in the space sector. SGC 2012 had 130 attendees from 44 different countries, with delegates representing organisations.

Aims:

The aim of the SGC is threefold:

• First, to strengthen the international network of the Space Generation Advisory Council. From the perspective of the individual delegate, many of whom come from developing countries, it is a chance to interact and engage with the incoming generation of space policy professionals from all over the world. From the perspective of the Space Generation Advisory Council, it allows us to consolidate our international links in order to best represent and facilitate the voice of the next space generation.
• Second, to examine and consider key questions that are facing the space and international community at large and to provide input to international thinking from the next generation of space professionals.
• Third, to allow tomorrow's space sector leaders to grow their network within their generation and to also have the opportunity to interact with today's space leaders by way of our high-level speakers.

Secure World Foundation (SWF) is supporting SGAC this year, the Working Group Topic on Society, titled "Near Earth Objects: Impact in Society".

During this 12th edition of the Space Generation Congress, that will be held 19-21 September, 2013 at the Beihang University in Beijing, China, the delegates will discuss five key space topics that will cover Industry, Agency, Exploration, Earth Observation and Society.

Delegates will have the opportunity to hear current space leaders talking about this five topics. During the three days of the congress, the delegates will split into smaller international and multidisciplinary working groups to discuss these topics and come up with recommendations that will be presented at the United Nations Committee for Peaceful Uses on Outer Space (UNCOPUOS).

Secure World Foundation has long experience on the topic of Planetary Defense, having an important role on the Action Team 14 of the UN, where SGAC also contributes through its NEO Project Group, and has published many articles on this topic, and organised and contributed to some events. Read all about it here.

Description of the Working Group:

Society – Near Earth Objects - Impact in Society

The "Society Working Group" will discuss mainly the ways that states can efficiently inform their population in case of threat of a NEO, and how current media can help (or not) for this purposes. The working group will base its discussion following the paper submitted by Secure World Foundation titles "Crafting an effective communications plan for an international response to a threatening Near Earth Object". The paper asks and answers three questions that address this topic:

• What are effective tools to empower audiences with a tangible outreach and education plan, one that fosters accurate and timely information about the possible effects of a potentially hazardous NEO and what actionable steps can the IAWN take to assure its effectiveness?
• How best to inform the public regarding NEOs and any Earth-threatening object in a way to avoid misinformation?
• What steps can be taken to develop an outreach and education plan, one that offers accurate and timely information about the possible effects of a potentially hazardous NEO?

The Society Working Group would make recommendations to answer the "Call to Action" posted in the referenced paper to help the IAWN on its mission on:

• How an Effective NEO Communication Plan looks like.
• How a coordinated program of education targeting general public, policymakers, students and media should be implemented.
• How to identify skilled communicators supported by risk analysts, planners, scientists, psychologists, emergency management experts and other functional experts.
• How to access to research data and real-time NEO information SGAC would like to thank tremendously Secure World Foundation for their continuous support and trust throughout the years.

The report from the Congress can be read here. To see video highlights of the Congress, please click here.

For more information click here.