Space explorers to descend on Melbourne this month

Engineers Australia will host two retired NASA astronauts and the only Australian on Earth currently working in the International Space Station Flight Control team at Convention 2014.

Canadian astronaut Colonel Chris Hadfield and Australian born astronaut Dr Andrew (Andy) Thomas will share the stage with International Space Station (ISS) operator and engineer Andrea Boyd at the engineering event Convention 2014.

Engineers are great at what they do but they are not good at communicating their success, Boyd said. “Convention 2014 changes that through bringing every type of engineer under the one roof to share ideas, talk about our collective achievements and sell the benefits of becoming an engineer.”

Adelaide-born Andrew Thomas, who retired earlier this year, took part in four space missions for NASA. He logged more than 177 days in space, including 130 days in a single stay aboard the Russian space station Mir in 1998.

Thomas, who also studied at University of Adelaide, believes Australia’s role in space is mixed. He contrasted the handful of Australian individuals and facilities contributing to global efforts with the lack of government policy.

“There is no real strategic thinking in Australia about space as a national interest,” he said.

“There is no real central space office that international agencies can contact ... For a 21st century community the lack of national policy is hard to understand.” He said the lack of policy is unlikely to motivate today’s children to pursue careers in the space sector.

“We must never underestimate the importance of providing real motivation for youth to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math. Every metric suggests current policies are failing in that.”

Engineers Australia CEO Stephen Durkin said the keynote on space exploration and space engineering would be a highlight for all delegates attending Convention 2014.

“Every engineer dreams big and it doesn’t get much bigger than space travel. Delegates will have the opportunity to hear from two legends of space exploration and an emerging leader within space engineering,” Durkin said.

Expected to draw thousands of delegates for over five days, Convention 2014 is made up of six conferences covering defence, applied mechanics, climate change, complex projects, telecommunications and leadership.

The From Zero (gravity) to Hero keynote session will be held on Wednesday, 26 November from 9 until 10 am. Convention 2014 will take place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, 24-28 November.