Call for applications: ESA/ELGRA Gravity Related Research Summer School 2018
Following the success of the first two editions of the ESA/ELGRA Gravity Related Research Summer School, ESA Education Office and the European Low Gravity Research Association (ELGRA) have decided to repeat this fruitful collaboration and organise a third edition. Applications are now open!
Dates: Monday 25 to Friday 29 June 2018.
Location: ESA Academy – Training and Learning Centre, European space Security and Education Centre (ESEC), Belgium.
Application deadline: 7 May 2018.
This exciting Summer School explains the interest and benefits of performing research at different g levels, and offers an overview of the current research under microgravity and hypergravity conditions in Life and Physical sciences.
Over four and an half packed days university students attend stimulating lectures, and work within small groups to devise ideas for prospective experiments. Gravity-related research is introduced to these future scientists and engineers by showing the possibilities of studies and research careers in the European space sector.
The trainers are ELGRA and ESA experts from across Europe, freely sharing their experience and know-how with the students, including their day-to-day work and research experience in biology, human physiology, and physics.
The Summer School preliminary schedule is as follows:
Sunday
SELGRA welcome reception
Monday
Introduction to ESA, ESA programmes and opportunities
Introduction to ELGRA and SELGRA
Overview of gravity-related research
ESA Education Office and hands-on programmes
Space physiology
Growth of plants in space
Introduction to team project
Tuesday
Developing a gravity-related experiment
Blood flow and microgravity
Project management
Visit of ESA’s European space Security and Education Centre (ESEC)
Team project time
Former students’ projects
Wednesday
Brain and behaviour in microgravity
Gravity machines and animal models
Heat and mass transfer in microgravity
Team project time
Artificial Gravity as astronaut countermeasures
Foams and granular materials
Visit of the Euro Space Centre (ESC)
Thursday
Mechanobiology in microgravity
Life cycle of an experiment
Human research overview
Team project time
Friday
Team project presentations
Who can apply?
The ESA/ELGRA Gravity Related Research Summer School 2018 is open to bachelor and master students in science or engineering disciplines from ESA Member and Associate States not yet involved in the space sector. Students enrolled in university who fulfil the following criteria at the time of the application may be eligible:
- Aged between 18 and 32;
- Citizen of an ESA Member or Associate States;
- Enrolled as a full-time BSc or MSc student in a university studying an engineering or scientific subject(not graduating before the summer school);
- Have never taken part in any gravity-related activity and never been sponsored by ESA's Education Office or ELGRA.
The selected students will be sponsored by ESA. The sponsorship will cover accommodation and meals as well as up to 200 Euros for travelling to Redu, Belgium.
How to apply?
- Complete the application form;
- Upload a motivation letter (PDF, maximum 1 page, no images);
- Upload a CV (PDF, maximum 2 pages);
- Upload a formal recommendation letter (PDF, maximum 1 page including signature, no images) from a university professor or an academic supervisor;
- Upload an official copy of academic records (PDF, preferably with the university stamp).
The deadline for applications is 7 May 2018.
Several ESA Academy training session opportunities are opened, for more information please check our current opportunities webpage.
For more information, please contact esa.academy @ esa.int
