Space Up! Launches on International Women’s Day 2023
SPACE CLUB FOR HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS LAUNCHES IN NEW ZEALAND ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2023
Girls at high school in Aotearoa New Zealand now have a platform designed especially for them to learn more about space and get inspired to pursue a career in space! The club for high school students, called Space Up!, is launching on International Women’s Day Wednesday 8 March, and will provide students the opportunity to engage with female mentors working in the space sector. Space Up! is facilitated by Women in Space Aotearoa New Zealand (WISANZ), a not-for-profit professional network for women and gender minorities working in New Zealand’s space sector, and those who want to join the sector.
Space Up! is aimed at girls in Years 9 to 13, although any high school student in Aotearoa New Zealand is welcome. Space Up! is free to join and provides students access to an online community forum, kindly supported by the University of Canterbury, where students interested in space can access a range of space resources, support each other and engage directly with women mentors working across various space roles in New Zealand. Space Up! members will also be able to attend in-person events and activities organised by WISANZ later in the school year.
Launching on International Women’s Day 2023, Space Up! is an initiative designed by women working and studying in New Zealand’s space sector that aims to engage and inspire more girls to study towards space careers, particularly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.
According to the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs, women make up less than 20% of the global space workforce across all roles, and significantly less of technical space roles. This representation has been unchanged in the space sector for over 30 years. Women account for less than 29% of STEM researchers globally, including in space sciences like astronomy and astrophysics. Although there is no data on the gender breakdown of New Zealand’s space sector, the experience of WISANZ members is that representation of women across space roles in Aotearoa is on par with global figures.
The space sector in New Zealand is growing and it is important that women are encouraged to enter the sector across all fields, while also ensuring women are supported with equal opportunities in the sector. Numerous research studies report that improving the diversity of workforces improves innovation. The New Zealand space sector needs an innovative workforce to be successful in a competitive global space sector where technology advancements are not only rapid but can also provide space-enabled tools to help protect and support our communities and natural environment. Space sector roles are generally well paid and offer fulfilling career pathways, but currently very few women have access to the financial benefits of a space career. WISANZ is dedicated to expanding opportunities for women and other gender minorities, and pursuing gender equity in the space sector in New Zealand.
“The representation of women in the space sector globally and in Aotearoa New Zealand is woefully low, especially in STEM career fields like engineering,” says Kate Breach, President of Women in Space Aotearoa New Zealand, space sector consultant and aerospace engineer. “As a start towards real change, we must change the enduring stereotype of who can work in space roles, so that young girls see no obstacle to having a successful space career. Space Up! is a constructive step towards that change for Aotearoa’s space sector. WISANZ hopes that engaging with real women space mentors through the club will inspire more young girls to follow their space career dreams.”
Libby Cammell, Software Engineer at Rocket Lab and WISANZ member, says "Many of us working in the space sector struggled to find the path to achieving our dreams or even know what opportunities are out there! We know there are other young people out there trying to start their own space journey and we want to be there to help and encourage them along the way. Creating this safe place for high school students to foster their passion for space has been a huge honour for the WISANZ team and we are so excited to launch the next generation into space careers."
Students who join Space Up! during March can enter a competition to design a logo for the club. The winning student will have their design displayed on the Space Up! website and merchandise for the club, as well as receiving a t-shirt with their logo. Students can join Space Up! from 7am Wednesday 8 March 2023 through the WISANZ website www.womeninspace.co.nz/space-up.
