Celebrating the next generation of female space tech pioneers

Over 50 students from the GDST’s landmark Space Technology Diploma Programme celebrated International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) last month with a special Viva Voce Day at the London headquarters of global communications and satellite solutions company, Viasat.

Unique to the GDST, the Space Technology Diploma is designed to support and inspire students who are considering a career in STEM. Comparable to a university undergraduate module, the 20-week course supplements current computer science and physics A-Level syllabuses by teaching practical programming and STEM skills applied to real-world space science.

The Diploma culminates with a one-day Viva Voce event where students put their learnings into practice in front of a panel of industry experts, which this year included leading figures from Viasat.

Connecting the next generation to the space industry

Supported by Space Store, which specialises in bringing space experiences to schools, this year’s Viva Voce event included:

• Keynote speeches delivered by female leaders and engineers at Viasat, sharing insights on their journeys and the future of space technology.
• A virtual reality experience where students built their own satellite, merging creativity and cutting-edge technology.
• Coding activity, providing hands-on experience in solving real-world technical challenges within satellite systems.
• Networking activity offering students the opportunity to practice interviewing and socialising with professionals, building invaluable real-world skills.
• An exclusive tour of the Viasat control centre, granting behind-the-scenes access to mission-critical operations.

The event concluded with students receiving awards for delivering the best Viva Voce presentation and developing the cleverest algorithm for congestion management.

Rachel Evans, Director of Digital Strategy at the GDST, commented:

“Space agencies around the world have recognised that attracting more women into STEM is essential. Now in its fifth year, the GDST’s Space Technology Diploma is specifically designed to upskill girls across our schools so that they are well placed to consider careers in this increasingly important industry. In fact, many students who have taken the Diploma have gone on to take STEM degrees.

“We’re grateful to our partners for their collaboration and expertise in supporting our students to develop invaluable skills and quite literally reach for the stars! The creativity, problem-solving and determination shown by this year’s cohort of GDST students has been nothing short of impressive and we’re excited to see what the future holds for them.”