Space and Satellites

The University is spearheading much of the City Deal's current work with Satellites and Space Technology.

Why get involved in Space and Satellites

This is an incredibly exciting time to be involved in this sector in Scotland. 130 SMEs in Space and Satellites currently exist here and the Scottish Government is aiming to capture a portion of the Sector worth £4 billion by 2030. Graduates are in greater demand than ever both in research and industry.

By involving yourself in this sector, you also have the opportunity to contribute to an understanding of real-world issues such as climate change and deforestation and participate in some of the most cutting-edge science available.

 Professor Murray Collins is Chancellor's fellow for Space and Satellites within DDI.

Space and Satellites at the University

The University has a Space and Satellites Centre at Bayes. This aims to do the following:

• Support student education in this area throughout various Schools
• Aid the setup of a new student group linking students to careers in Space and Satellites
• Improve the University's credentials in this area and foster links with industry

Their website provides further information about their work as well as resources including space related podcasts. There is the option to sign up to their mailing list to stay up-to-date with space related activities at the University of Edinburgh:

Space and Satellites – Bayes Centre

They also have a great section on student engagement which provides advice on how to get involved in space and satellites:

Space and Satellites - Student Engagement

Career Opportunities 

Companies 

Edinburgh is home to a growing list of small medium enterprises (SMEs) in this sector. These companies include:

• Skyrora - work primarly in launching small satellites
• Space Intelligence - an SME using satellite data to map peat deposits in central Africa
• Carbomap - a consultancy aiming to make space and satellite data more open-source and accesible

A little research will identify others. These organisations will often accept enthusiastic students making strong applications, likely to be speculative, for work experience and internships. Don't be afraid to be proactive and knock on doors yourself.

For further opportunities in Space and Satellites, search MyCareerHub.

For additional guidance, you can contact Professor Murray Collins at mcollin3@ed.ac.uk.

What skills do I need?

Among the skills that will give you an advantage when applying to this sector are:

• Quantitative skills - such as a background in Mathematics, Physics etc
• The ability to code in at least one, preferably two languages

But don't let this fool you into thinking that only STEM students have a place in this field. Students from social science backgrounds often have the advantage of sound commercial awareness and an ability to communicate ideas to the consumer. Although a good balance of all of these skills is desirable, there is a place for people from all backgrounds and of a range of strengths.

Kristina Tamane-Laing talks about the joy of working within the space sector, coming from a non-STEM background: