ESA Education at IAC 2025: sponsored students attend the ISEB Student Programme

ESA Education supports students at IAC 2025 through the ISEB Student Programme

ESA Education sponsored 10 university students from ESA Member States, Associate States and Canada to take part in the ISEB Student Programme at IAC 2025. This initiative offered participants a unique chance to engage with the global space community, present their research, and build professional networks.

The ISEB Student Programme is a collaborative initiative of the International Space Education Board (ISEB), a partnership between the European Space Agency (ESA), the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES), the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), and the Victorian Space Science Education Centre (VSSEC). Through this partnership, the agencies work to promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education and develop a skilled future workforce to support global space exploration.

Each year, the ISEB Student Programme supplements the IAC with immersive activities such as cross-cultural events, presentations, and opportunities for direct interaction with space leaders. In 2025, ESA served as Chair of ISEB, coordinating activities and representing the partnership externally.

The ESA-sponsored students joined a group of 38 international peers supported by CSA, JAXA and KARI. This international cohort fostered a rich environment of cultural exchange and collaborative learning. Together, the students participated in a week-long programme that included research presentations, intercultural team-building and direct engagement with space agency leaders. One student remarked:
 “Participating in the ISEB Student Program has offered me an unparalleled opportunity to gain insight into the collaborative and multidisciplinary nature of space research. Without this programme, it would not have been possible for me to make my research accessible to such a global audience, and to make such valuable connections which bridge nations.”

A Week of Skill-Building Events

Just before the official start of IAC 2025, the ISEB Student Programme began with an Orientation Day. The full-day event offered students the opportunity to meet one another and connect with high level representatives from participating ISEB agencies through a series of engaging workshops and icebreaker activities. It set the tone for the week ahead by encouraging collaboration, cultural exchange, and a strong sense of community. As one student reflected: “The ISEB Program profoundly influenced me by significantly enhancing my intercultural communication skills. Working closely with students from diverse backgrounds taught me how to bridge communication gaps and collaborate effectively toward a common goal. This experience gave me the practical skills and confidence needed to thrive in a global environment.”

Throughout the week, students engaged in the ISEB Team Challenge, a gamified mission focused on space sustainability. The challenge invited participants to collaborate across agencies. Mixed teams tackled creative tasks that promoted teamwork and innovation.
“Participating in the challenge allowed me to connect and meet people I wouldn't have met otherwise. I know I will keep many of these connections during my career, and I think that participating in this event will be very helpful in the future,” shared one participant.

Another highlight of the week was the ISEB Head of Agency (HoA) interactive session on Wednesday. This unique event brought together the leaders of the participating space agencies — the President of CSA, the Director General of ESA, the President of JAXA, and the Chief Executive Officer of CNES — for a dynamic exchange with the ISEB students. Students posed live questions and participated in polls, on topics ranging from international collaboration to the future of space exploration. The session, which was open to all students and young professionals attending IAC, was highly successful and offered valuable insights into leadership perspectives and empowered students to voice their ideas and concerns on a global stage. “The sessions with the head of agencies and ESA's director of strategy were really inspiring. Thanks to this, my motivation is now renewed, and I cannot wait to be the one taking part in shaping the future of the space industry, ” remarked a student.

On Thursday, the ESA booth hosted two standout events that gave ESA-sponsored students direct access to agency leadership and astronaut experience: a Q&A session with ESA Director of Strategy, Legal and External Matters, who offered insights into the agency’s long-term vision and strategic priorities, and an open session with ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen, who shared personal reflections on his missions and answered questions about life in space.

The programme concluded with the ISEB Closing Event on Thursday evening, followed by a guided cultural tour of Sydney on Friday. The Closing Event offered a celebratory moment to reflect on the week’s achievements, reinforce the connections students had formed, and recognise the winning team of the ISEB Team Challenge.

Through the ESA Academy Conference Student Sponsorship opportunity and its active role in the ISEB Student Programme, ESA continues to demonstrate its commitment to invest in the next generation of space professionals. By providing students with unique opportunities to engage with the global space community through hands-on experiences, direct interactions with agency leaders, and participating to the largest annual space event of the year, ESA empowers them to grow as future contributors to the space sector.
 “Participating as an ISEB student was one of the most beautiful gifts of my career,” shared one student. Another added:
 “The ISEB Programme is an exceptional platform for growth, connection and inspiration in the global space community.”

Strengthening STEM teaching: Educator Professional Development Workshop

Alongside the student programme, ESA Education contributed to an Educator Professional Development Workshop on Saturday, 27 September, hosted by VSSEC and attended by 26 educators and teachers. The event brought together experts from several ISEB partners and academic institutions, including the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), and the University of Technology Sydney. Throughout the day, participants engaged with keynote presentations and interactive classroom activities covering topics such as radio astronomy and pulsars, Kepler’s Laws and satellite dynamics, astronaut communication techniques, and quantum computing.

ESA Education’s session centred on exoplanet detection, guiding educators through the construction of a transit-method model using BBC micro:bits to show how an exoplanet blocks a star’s light as it passes in front of it. This hands-on activity not only equipped teachers with practical, ready-to-use classroom tools but also reinforced how complex scientific concepts can be taught through simple, engaging demonstrations. Many educators left the session feeling inspired, having gained new ideas to spark curiosity in their students and strengthen STEM learning in their classrooms.