My name is Eloise Clarke, and I am one of three people who were lucky to be in the first cohort on the Vienna Internship, partnered with the Jeff Bleich Centre (JBC) at Flinders and the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI) in Vienna, Austria. The team included Sailor Tyler, Ellen Feeney, and me.
Whilst in Vienna we were able to attend many incredible events including The 61st Meeting for the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) at the United Nations, Vienna International Centre. We were granted observer status allowing us to sit in at any meeting and or side event for the two weeks whilst the committee debated the progress of States and Non-State actors in Outer Space. Our fantastic UN guide, Alberto Rueda Carazo (and my desk-mate back at the office), gave us the grand tour. We had our pictures taken in front of the iconic UN circle of flags, and with the statue of Yuri Gararin who was the first human in Space.
Monday 29 January agenda, the 61st Meeting
for the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer
Space (COPUOS).
Sailor and I attended the side event Space – Youth and Future Generations co-hosted by the Government of Austria, the Space Generation Advisory Council, and the Office for Outer Space Affairs. At this event we met the UN Youth Delegates for Austria, Jana Berchtold and Marvin Huber. These impressive young people’s role bridges the youth in their country, to the more senior people leading it, their final project will help advocate for young people’s needs worldwide. Many countries have a Youth Delegate including Australia, who’s is currently Gavin Choong. This event opened future pathways and allowed us to make great connections.
The three of us were invited to the Women in Aerospace afternoon tea, hosted by ‘Gate Space’. This event brought women from neighbouring countries and all areas of aerospace to advocate and share their progress in the Space industry. Some of the industries included space law and policy, primary/secondary educators, rocket ship designers, spacecraft architects, and part manufactures, along with authors, and data analysists. At this event I learnt just how many inspiring women are out there with careers contributing to human progression in outer space.
ESPI is an extremely hardworking and talented team who are always willing to have a chat during the lunchbreak. Anything from what projects they are currently working on, to education and future opportunity advice, or even which country makes the best coffee were topics up for discussion.
Whilst we made friends with everyone in the office, we naturally spoke more with those who we shared our office room with. Alberto Rueda Carazo, Lars Petzold, and Laura Corbett were my go-to people for project or office related questions, sightseeing recommendations, or just having a break from working on the project. We were very lucky to have Mathieu Bataille as the project manager, who endorsed us to play an active role in the writing and design of the final project.
Space exhibition in the VIC UN building.
(Eloise, Sailor, Yuri, Ellen, Alberto)
It was very clear that everyone in the office shares a great passion for space including creating a safe future where all actors can contribute and thrive. I hope our project shows we share that passion, especially for Australia and our future in the space industry.
Whilst we were making the most of our time in the office, we also made use of our weekends. Thermal baths in Hungary, coffee and Kaiserchmarrn (Austrian pancakes) at Café Demel, visiting Beethoven’s house in Baden bei Wien, attending the production of Ariadne Auf Naxos at the State Opera, and seeing the historical art and impressive architecture at Belvedere Palace. Vienna becomes your home away from home, the office and your team is full of life-long international friends.
The three of us at the State opera. (Ellen, Sailor, Eloise)
So, prepare your LinkedIn profile, work on your handshake, and gear up for an adventure of a lifetime. One that an International Relations student could once have only dreamt about.
All the best,
Eloise
PS, my inbox is always open for advice on Vienna, Space, or even a chat about the degree 🙂