Members

SPAN operates an open membership to its working groups. Please contact info@span.ac.uk to join one of the working groups.

Membership of the SPAN board is outlined in the Terms of Reference for SPAN. The board comprises of the Chair of SPAN, the Chairs of each of the Working Groups, representatives of universities contributing to the funding of SPAN, and representatives of UKSA, government funded laboratories and UKRI.

SPAN Board Members

Professor Mark Sims

Professor in Astrobiology and Space Instrumentation. - SPAN Co-Chair.

Professor Anna Hogg

Professor of Earth Observation at University of Leeds, School of Earth and Environment. - SPAN Co-Chair. - Chair of the Earth Observation Working Group.

Professor Kate Robson-Brown

UCD Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Impact.

Dr Matthew Middleton

Deputy Head of School (Education) School of Physics and Astronomy at University of Southampton - Chair of the Space Science and Exploration Working Group.

Professor Stephen Hobbs

Professor of Space Sensing and Systems,Centre for Autonomous and Cyberphysical Systems at Cranfield University. - Chair of the Engineering and Technology Working Group.

Dr Nicholas Walton

Director of Research at the Institute of Astronomy at University of Cambridge. - Chair of the Data and Analysis Working Group.

Dr Carly Beckerman

Associate Professor of International Relations at Durham University. - Chair of Space and Society Working Group.

Dr John Coxon

STFC Ernest Rutherford Fellow at Northumbria University. - Deputy Lead of the Space Science and Exploration Working Group.

Berend Winter

Thermal and Mechanical Engineering. Mullard Space Science Laboratory Department of Space and Climate Physics at University College London - Deputy Lead of the Engineering and Technology Working Group.

Dr Alessandra Marino

Senior Lecturer in Geography and Environmental Studies at Open University and member of AstrobiologyOU. - Deputy Lead of Space and Society Working Group.

Latest News |

03 December 2025

NEWS: UK Space Agency invests £17 million to drive next wave of space innovation

The UK Space Agency has today announced the recipients of the National Space Innovation Programme (NSIP). We extend our warmest congratulations to the academic and industry teams whose projects have been selected for support.

SPAN Town Hall – November 2025 Summary

Thank you to everyone who joined our November SPAN Town Hall. Below is a brief overview of the key updates shared across the community.

SPAN Whitepaper: Bridging the Gap Between Industry and Academia

We’re pleased to announce that our SPAN Whitepaper, Bridging the Gap Between Industry and Academia – led by Anushka Sharma and Professor Mark Sims (University of Leicester / SPAN), is now available to read. The paper sets out practical ways to deepen collaboration across the UK space ecosystem, including: Co-design from day zero with early academic […]