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Media Release

Tuesday June 29, 2004

Sustainable space – is Australia taking up the challenge?

Most of us will have heard about greenhouse gasses and have an opinion on just what position Australia should take on the issue as part of the world community, but not many of us will know anything about Australia’s policy on space and what part we play, along with other nations, in developing policies about our global interaction with space.

In the first of several public presentations as part of the International Space University’s (ISU) summer session program 2004, four leading space policy commentators will be looking at just how we treat the space environment and what policies are in place around the world to guide our interaction with space.

The free public event will be held at 7.30 pm, Tuesday June 29 at UniSA’s Brookman Building City East campus (crn Frome Rd and North Tce).

Leading Australian commentator and Head of UniSA’s Institute for Telecommunications Research, Professor Andrew Parfitt says Australia’s approach to space to date has relied more on market driven decision making than a policy approach that seeks to be cooperative or directed to regional or global “good”.

“There are many areas where space research and investigation can have an enormous impact on regional and global environmental monitoring and management,” Prof Parfitt says.

“Satellite systems can measure changes in the ocean temperature, analyse drought development, offer vital weather forecasting and ensure telecommunications across borders.

“This style of research can have benefits that transcend short term commercial interests, so it is appropriate that Australia invest something in managing that research and interaction.

“To date most of that management in this country has occurred ad hoc through relationships developed by individual research centres, so in essence Australia’s space policy, such as it exists, is part of our science policy.

“I think is we are serious about our role in the Asia-Pacific region and our place in the world we need to look at establishing a more structured approach to the role we play in space research and in supporting the global benefits of that research. We need to look at how we share information across nations and how we can support the health of the planet in a cooperative way.”

Professor Parfit will be joined by Thailand’s, Executive Director Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), Dr Suvit Vibulsresth; Japan’s Special Assistant to the President, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Yukio Haruyama; and from Australia, Peter Sesterka, the manager of space policy with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources.
This evening’s public forum is part of the ISU’s summer space program being held for the first time in Australia this year and hosted by South Australia's three universities – UniSA, Adelaide and Flinders. More than 160 space experts and 114 graduate students from around the world will take part in the program.

With its headquarters in France the ISU is the world’s most prestigious education provider in all aspects of space.

More information: Professor Parfitt will be available for interview this afternoon on (08) 8302 3310 or 0408 164 432

NEWS EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:
The Moon Rocks brought to Adelaide for the Summer Space Program will be on display for the first time this evening as part of the public forum.

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