BACKGROUND NOTE
Objectives
Programme Qualification
Dates&Location
Application ScheduleBackground
On the occasion of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III), the United Nations has agreed that an international youth forum for university students, graduate students and young professionals should be organized. The Office for Outer Space Affairs, as the executive secretariat for UNISPACE III has requested the alumni of the International Space University, which has observer status within the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, to organize this Forum. The event, to be called the Space Generation Forum (SGF), will be held as part of the UNISPACE III Conference in Vienna, Austria, from 19-30 July 1999.
UNISPACE III will be convened under the theme "Space Benefits for Humanity in the 21st Century" as a special session of the Committee of the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) open to all Member States. Space agencies, the specialized organizations of the United Nations, scientific organizations and space industry will also participate in UNISPACE III. Its primary objectives are to promote effective means of using space technology to assist in the solution of problems of regional and global significance and in strengthening the capabilities of Member States to use space applications for economic, social and cultural development. The Plenary of the Conference will adopt the Vienna Declaration on Space and Human Development, an international policy framework and blueprint to guide governments and industries in the first half of the 21st century. The most recent information on activities related to UNISPACE III will be available at http://www.un.or.at/OOSA.
Objectives
The SGF delegates - as participants in the Space Generation Forum will be called - will represent the voice of the world's youth at UNISPACE III. The discussions at UNISPACE III will redefine the international space agenda and will lay new ground for international co-operation in space-related activities. The Space Generation Forum will therefore present young space professionals with an unprecedented opportunity to bring their vision and perspective on what should be the focus of space activities in the next century, to the current leaders and decision makers in the space arena, as well as contribute to shaping humankind’s future in outer space.
The recommendations of the Space Generation Forum will complement the governmental discussions in the UNISPACE III Committees by generating fresh ideas, alternative scenarios and new insights from the viewpoint of highly qualified young space professionals. The outcome of the Space Generation Forum will be brought to the attention of the UNISPACE III Plenary and will be reflected in the official report endorsed by the Conference.
Discussions in the Space Generation Forum may also become the starting point for further follow-on initiatives. It is intended that a separate document containing a full summary of the discussions and the recommendations will be issued.
SGF delegates will be given the opportunity to participate in all other events related to the UNISPACE III conference and to interact with leading thinkers, decision makers, and industry representatives. In addition, the Space Generation Forum will provide an excellent setting for meeting young space professionals from all over the world and for establishing and extending professional working-relationships.
Programme
The first week of the Space Generation Forum will be devoted to the discussion and to the formulation of recommendations to be considered by the Plenary Session of UNISPACE III. During the second week, SGF delegates will have the opportunity to discuss follow-on initiatives, to participate in the technical forum activities and to observe the discussions in the UNISPACE III Committees and in the Plenary. A field trip to Graz, the centre of Austrian space research, and other social and professional activities are planned.
The emphasis of the Space Generation Forum will be the creation of new ideas and perspectives in small discussion groups. 14 discussion topics will be treated in three days of intensive discussions, each day having its focus on one of the following themes:
- INDIVIDUAL - Space Benefits to Human Lives
- SOCIETY - Global Strategies for Space Applications
- COSMOS - Space Science and Exploration
The 14 theme blocks are:
- Public Awareness and Outreach
- Education
- International Cooperation
- Devlopment of Society & Meeting Basic Needs
- Commercialisation
- Arts and Humanities
- Religion/Spirituality/Ethics/Morality
- Transmission of Knowledge
- Science and Technology
- Access to Space
- Environment
- International Security and Peace Keeping
- Military
- Miscellanious
Due to its multidisciplinary character, discussions at the Space Generation Forum will encompass the whole field of space activities, including space applications, space research, space education and human space exploration.
The organizing committee, supported by an international Advisory Board of renowned space experts, space scientists, space policy and decision makers will propose a number of framing questions to provide a general direction for the discussions.
The Space Generation Forum will be coordinated with other components of the UNISPACE III Conference, including workshops, seminars, and round table discussions organized by various international space organizations and space agencies. A large space exhibition, organized by the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) will be held in parallel with the UNISPACE III Conference.
A detailed information and programme package will be mailed to all SGF delegates.
Qualifications for Participation
The SGF organizing committee strives to attract the most diverse, enthusiastic, and highly motivated and qualified group of individuals possible.
Participation in the Space Generation Forum is open to individuals nominated by Member States of the United Nations and to individual students and young professionals with a strong interest and with a background or demonstrated knowledge in a space-related field (including space-related aspects of engineering, research, policy, law, social sciences, public relations). There is no strict age limit, although it is expected that the average age of SGF delegates will be in the range of 20 to 35.
Selection of SGF delegates will be based on the information provided in the application form. Applicants are strongly encouraged to demonstrate their strong interest and enthusiasm for space activities by attaching presentations, papers or other information to their application (see Section 4 of the application form). Papers submitted by SGF delegates may be selected for presentation at the Space Generation Forum or for display in the space exhibit.
Language at the Forum
Although deliberations in the UNISPACE III Committees and Plenary and in some of the workshops of the Technical Forum will be translated into the official UN languages, English will be the only language of the Space Generation Forum.
Applicants must therefore have a good working knowledge of English. They will be required to actively participate in the discussions and in the preparation of draft reports, recommendations, and presentations.
Dates and Location
The Space Generation Forum and UNISPACE III will be held at the United Nations Office Vienna, Wagramerstrasse 5, A-1400 Vienna (http://www.un.or.at) and the Austria Centre Vienna, Am Hubertusdamm 6, A-1220 Vienna, Austria (http://www.acv.at).
SGF delegates should arrive in Vienna by Sunday, 18 July 1999 and are expected to stay until Friday, 30 July 1999. The organizing committee has made arrangements for accommodations in youth hostels close to the Vienna city centre. The conference site can be reached within a few minutes. Selected participants will receive detailed information on board and lodging and other local arrangements.
Financial Arrangements
Applicants are responsible for securing sponsorship to travel to Vienna and to participate in the Space Generation Forum. The cost of accommodation in the hostels reserved by the organizing committee in Vienna and food for the duration of the event (18-30 July) is approximately 1000,- EURO (about US$ 1060,-). There will be no registration fees.
In a note verbale being sent to State Members of the United Nations, governments are invited to establish procedures for nominating and sponsoring SGF delegates. Please check the SGF Website at http://www.un.or.at/OOSA/SGF for latest information.
The SGF organizing committee through the co-sponsors of the Space Generation Forum will provide a limited amount of funding to subsidize the participation of a limited number of highly qualified SGF delegates particularly from the developing countries.
Applicants who meet the criteria as set out in this information note and who have failed to secure funding are strongly encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible.
Life and Health Insurance
The United Nations, the SGF organizing committee and the co-sponsors of the Space Generation Forum will not assume any responsibility for life and major health insurance, nor for expenses related to medical treatment or accidental events.
Application Procedure
Applications can be submitted through an electronic form accessible on the World Wide Web from or in hardcopy.
Applicants should either directly or through their sponsoring government or institution submit the completed application form to the SGF organizing committee by 15 May 1999.
Applicants will be notified about the result of their application by 15 June 1999.