Notice – Potential Announcement of Opportunity for Student Participation in the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2019

Publication date: December 21, 2018

1. Purpose

The purpose of this Advanced Notice (AN) is to inform Canadian students from Canadian Universities that the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) intends to potentially proceed with the posting of an Announcement of Opportunity (AO) in order to provide financial support to students wanting to participate in the International Astronautical Congress^{Footnote 1} 2019 (IAC 2019) and in activities organized by the International Space Education Board (ISEB)^{Footnote 2}, both to be held in Washington D.C., United States, between October 20 and 26, 2019. A few of the selected candidates will also have the opportunity to attend the Space Generation Congress (SGC)^{Footnote 3} which will take place between October 17 and 19, 2019, also in Washington D.C., United States. The highlights of the potential AO for Student Participation in IAC 2019 are briefly described in sections 2-4 here below.

This AN is published to timely inform students of a potential AO and to encourage them to prepare and submit abstracts for IAC 2019 technical sessions. For more information regarding the theme and technical categories of the IAC 2019, as well as the different deadlines and conditions to submit an abstract to the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), please consult the IAF Call for Papers webpage.

The CSA intends to publish the AO in January 2019.

2. Context

Aligned with its priority to develop and maintain the workforce of tomorrow in the Canadian space sector, the CSA intends, this year again, to support a group of students to participate in IAC 2019 and in ISEB activities. This experience is an opportunity for them to learn more about the future of the great space adventure, to develop their international professional network and to present their research at the highest professional level.

The students selected under this initiative may be offered internships or short term work opportunity at the CSA after their participation in IAC 2019.

3. Potential eligibility and evaluation criteria

The potential eligibility criteria are:

• be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;
• be enrolled in a full time program (undergraduate, master or doctoral) in a Canadian university at the time of the application; and
• have submitted an abstract to IAF for a presentation during IAC 2019.

Priority will be given to students whose abstracts have been accepted by IAF for a presentation during the IAC 2019.

Criteria such as quality and relevance of the applicant's motivation letter and of the reference letter from a professor as well as of the abstract submitted for IAC 2019 are planned to be used to evaluate the applications.

For the final selection, the CSA could also take into consideration factors such as a balanced grant distribution across Canada as well as a diversified representativeness among the four designated groups. As such, eligible candidates from the four designated groups (women, Aboriginal persons, members of a visible minority group and persons with a disability) are encouraged to consider this potential opportunity. Complete definition of each group.

4. Important notes

This AN is not an AO and it is not to be considered as a commitment to issue a subsequent AO. No grant agreement will be entered into based on this AN. The issuance of this AN is not to be considered in any way a commitment by the Government of Canada, nor as authority to those interested in participating to undertake any commitments that could be charged to Canada.

Information mentioned in paragraphs 1 to 3 here above could be changed without notice between now and the date of the publication of an AO.

This notice is subject to change. If necessary, changes will be published on the CSA website. It is therefore advised to regularly visit the website regularly. No question related to the potential AO will be answered at this stage.