Space Science – UK invests for the future

The Aurora Fellowship scheme is a new Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC) fellowship dedicated to enhancing the UK’s long term capabilities and cross disciplinary approach to planetology and astrobiology, in order to better position the UK to exploit both the European Space Agency’s Aurora Programme and continuing Science Programme.

The primary objective of Aurora is a European long-term plan for robotic and human exploration of the Solar System, with Mars, the Moon and the asteroids as the most likely targets. The second objective is to search for life beyond Earth.

Professor Keith Mason, CEO of PPARC said, “This new award scheme aims to help develop the careers of promising young researchers and represents a continued commitment to investing in the long term future of planetary science research – setting the UK in a strong position for future plans for the European exploration of the Solar System.”

This year’s Aurora Fellowships have been awarded to:-

•Dr Axel Hagermann from the Open University. Dr Hagermann’s fellowship will investigate the interaction of energy, gases and granular surfaces on planetary surfaces.

•Dr Manish Patel from the Open University whose fellowship will concentrate on research into habitats for life in the solar system.

•Dr Giovanna Tinetti from University College London. Dr Tinetti’s research involves the detection of atmospheric signatures and biosignatures for planets in our Solar System and beyond.

The three year Fellowships start on 1st October 2007 and provide funds to cover the Fellow’s salary, and costs of personal travel associated with the Fellowship.

Advance Notice – Future Photo Opportunity
At the end of May there will be a photo opportunity involving Science and Innovation Minister Malcolm Wicks, the 3 Aurora Fellows and EADS Astrium’s EXOMARS rover, Bridget. More details available in due course.

All latest news from the category: Physics and Astronomy

This area deals with the fundamental laws and building blocks of nature and how they interact, the properties and the behavior of matter, and research into space and time and their structures.

innovations-report provides in-depth reports and articles on subjects such as astrophysics, laser technologies, nuclear, quantum, particle and solid-state physics, nanotechnologies, planetary research and findings (Mars, Venus) and developments related to the Hubble Telescope.

Back to home

Comments (0)

Write a comment

Newest articles

Lighting up the future

New multidisciplinary research from the University of St Andrews could lead to more efficient televisions, computer screens and lighting. Researchers at the Organic Semiconductor Centre in the School of Physics and…

Researchers crack sugarcane’s complex genetic code

Sweet success: Scientists created a highly accurate reference genome for one of the most important modern crops and found a rare example of how genes confer disease resistance in plants….

Evolution of the most powerful ocean current on Earth

The Antarctic Circumpolar Current plays an important part in global overturning circulation, the exchange of heat and CO2 between the ocean and atmosphere, and the stability of Antarctica’s ice sheets….

Partners & Sponsors