CNES President Jean-Yves Le Gall took part in the plenary session of the 15th European Interparliamentary Space Conference (EISC) at the Belgian Senate in Brussels, Monday 14 October, where discussions focused on finding ways to better match teaching of science to the growing needs of Europe’s space industry.
Senator Dominique Tilmans, chair of the Space group in the Belgian Senate, chaired this conference that was also attended by Philippe Courard, Belgium’s Minister in charge of Science Policy, Vittorio Prodi, chair of the Sky and Space intergroup in the European Parliament, and key stakeholders in Europe’s space programme including Jean-Jacques Dordain, Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA) and Alain Ratier, Director General of EUMETSAT.
Recruitment of young scientists qualified to work in space was the subject of two roundtable discussions, one on how to stimulate interest of upcoming talents for space science studies and another, in which Jean-Yves Le Gall took part, on prospects and projects for young professionals and students. France will be chairing the 16th EISC next year.
At the end of the day’s proceedings, Jean-Yves Le Gall stated: “CNES’s participation at this 15th EISC gave us the opportunity to meet the main institutional space players in Europe. I am delighted that together we were able to conduct fruitful discussions on educating those who will be leading tomorrow’s space projects. Getting youngsters interested in space is one of CNES’s missions to which I personally attach a great deal of importance. It is vital for CNES to support their projects, inspire them to take up careers in space and help to establish tailored training programmes, so that they can be involved in the pursuit of Europe’s future space efforts.”
Source / Author: CNES