The Secure World Foundation is happy to introduce the winners of the Dr. Michael Simpson Scholarship Fund. These young professionals will receive scholarships for travel to the 2025 International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Sydney, Australia. Each scholarship provides an invaluable platform for emerging professionals to advance their careers and share new ideas with the international space community.
This year, we received 57 applications from talented young professionals across the globe. The abstracts covered a wide range of topics, reflecting the diversity and depth of expertise shaping the future of space activities. We appreciate every applicant’s commitment to the process and their patience as we carefully reviewed each submission. We are pleased to announce the 2025 recipients:
|
Núria Escursell i Serra is a Catalan aerospace professional focused on systems engineering and outreach. She earned a degree in Aerospace Vehicles Engineering from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) and is completing a double master’s: a Master’s in Aerospace Engineering at UPC and an MSc in Astronautics and Space Engineering at Cranfield University. Núria advances inclusion in space through leadership roles with WIA-Europe Barcelona and Women4Space Barcelona, where she now serves as Secretary and supports communications and mentoring. She also leads science outreach through Neurones Fregides and her project Galàxia Nu. Her hands-on experience includes the Space Station Design Workshop 2023, ESA CubeSat Concurrent Engineering Workshop 2023, the European Student Assembly 2023, CranSEDS, SG[Spain] 2023 and 2024, and the ESA Concurrent Engineering Challenge 2025. She currently works as a Systems Engineering Intern at an Estonian space startup and plans to continue her career in Germany after IAC 2025. |
|
Katherine (Katie) Melbourne is a space policy professional focused on international cooperation in space governance. She works at The Aerospace Corporation and supports projects related to space sustainability, policy analysis, and multilateral engagement. Katie earned her master’s degree in International Science and Technology Policy from the George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs and her bachelor’s degree in Political Science and History from the University of Florida. She advances responsible and collaborative approaches to space activities. |
|
Carys Thomas studies Aerospace and Environmental Engineering at the University of Manchester, focusing on the intersection of space technology and environmental sustainability. She has contributed to projects on satellite design, climate monitoring, and sustainable mission planning, and applies engineering solutions to environmental challenges while promoting responsible space exploration. |
We congratulate this year’s awardees and look forward to seeing their contributions at the IAC in Sydney. We also thank everyone who applied for the scholarship and commend the dedication, insight, and creativity shown in all submissions.
