According to Study UK, there are more than 160 universities in the United Kingdom for students to choose from. Because of that, each of the various different education establishments needs to look to offer something a little different from the other ones around if they are to be able to win over the desire of students to study there.
The University of Surrey is no different, which might help to explain why a new Space Institute has been launched, helping to put the uni at the forefront of the space industry in the country. The aim is to be part of the process of seeing the UK launch full space missions in the future.
About the University of Surrey
It would not be outrageous for you to assume that the University of Surrey is an old institution, given the manner in which so many such educational establishments around the country so often are. In actual fact, it was only established in 1966, although it does have links to the Battersea Polytechnic Institute, which came about in 1891. Part of the reasoning behind it was to offer further education access to people from London and the ‘poorer inhabitants’. It was designated as a ‘College of Advanced Technology’ in 1956, but a decision to move to Guildford came at the beginning of the 1960s.
The site for the new university was acquired from Guildford Cathedral, as well as Guildford Borough Council and the Onslow Village Trust. It took around nine months to build the venue, which was initially designed to have around 3,500 students studying there on a full-time basis. It was established by royal charter, later becoming a trustee of the building of the Guildford Institute. In the April of 2010, £36 million was spent on the Surrey Sports Park, a new sports centre, as the university looked to broaden its appeal in much the same way as the decision to launch a Space Institute is looking to do.
Working with the Satellite Production Sector
What a lot of people might not realise is that Surrey University actually has a long-standing relationship with the space industry. The Surrey Space Centre is known as being the location where Professor Sir Martin Sweeting was the pioneer behind the manufacture of small satellites. It has grown to become a world-leader in space engineering, boasting a mission to disseminate knowledge that underpins progress in the industry. The move to create small satellites began in 1979, since which the Centre has worked to push the boundaries of what small satellites can be used for.
Unsurprisingly, therefore, the new Space Institute will look to build on the work done by the satellite production sector as students arrive to learn more about the universe outside of our own planet. Sir Martin founded Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd as a spin-out from the University of Surrey, earning £1 billion in satellite exports for the United Kingdom. The first satellite was launched in 1981, requiring help from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The hope is that the English space industry can be developed in the years to come, starting in Surrey.
Links to the UK Space Agency
Students with an interest in space who are considering whether or not to study at Surrey University might find the appointment of the Institute’s first Director to be something that tips the balance for them. It has been confirmed that the role will be fulfilled by Professor Adam Amara, who will also continue his role as the Chief Scientist of the UK Space Industry alongside his new position. That means that there will be a direct link between the two institutes, which will aim to do what can be done in order to help to tackle the ‘shortages’ that are found in the British space economy.
That is an economy that is worth £19 billion, so it isn’t really a surprise that the University of Surrey would like to gain a piece of the pie. Speaking on the matter, Amara said, “By uniting Surrey’s 45-year leadership in small satellites with cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence and cyber-resilience, the Surrey Space Institute will give the UK the decisive capability it needs to stay ahead in the global space race and to solve complex problems at home and around the world.” That will include trying to position the United Kingdom to be able to run full space missions in the future.
Running Full Space Missions
If the presence of the Chief Scientist of the UK Space Agency isn’t enough to win over prospective students, the fact that the desire of those behind the creation of the Institute is to ensure that Britain can run its own full space missions in the future surely will be. The Institute will look to combine hardware and software with policy and operations, which will allow researchers to tackle numerous different problems that are facing the country. From climate resilience through to space sustainability via water security, there are plenty of issues for students to be getting their teeth into.
Managing water and climate on Earth will be one of three key areas that the Institute will look to turn its focus to. Another will be strengthening space systems, like satellite communications and cybersecurity, whilst the final one will be looking to develop both the tools and the legal framework to explore what it is that lies beyond our planet. As Sir Martin pointed out, few people believed that small satellites would have any real impact when he began working on them 40 years ago, but now we know that they are a crucial part of understanding how the rest of the world and the galaxy itself work. Students will look to develop on those ideas further.