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 fund laboratories and UKRI.

SPAN Board Members

Professor Mark Sims, Chair of SPAN

Professor in Astrobiology and Space Instrumentation.

Professor Kate Robson-Brown, Co-Chair of SPAN

Professor in Mechanical Engineering, Department of Engineering Mathematics; Professor of Biological Anthropology, Department of Anthropology and Archaeology; Director of the Jean Golding Institute, Jean Golding Institute.

Dr Matthew Middleton

Chair of the Space Science and Exploration Working Group. Associate Professor Astronomy, School of Physics and Astronomy Vice President of the Royal Astronomical Society (A).

Professor Stephen Hobbs

Chair of the Engineering and Technology Working Group. Professor of Space Sensing and Systems Director, Cranfield Space Research Centre, Cranfield University.

Dr Nic Walton

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

Dr Anna Hogg

Chair of the Earth Observation Working Group. Professor of Earth Observation at University of Leeds

Dr John Coxon

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

Berend Winter

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

Carly Beckerman

Chair of Space and Society Working Group. Associate Professor in the International Relations of the Middle East at Durham University. Member of the Institute for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies

Alessandra Marino

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

Latest News |

06 December 2024

Exploring the Universe: UK’s Role in NASA’s Habitable Worlds Observatory

The SPAN team attended the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) – UK Community Workshop at The Open University, led by Martin Barstow and Jesper Skottfelt. The Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) is NASA’s next flagship space astronomy mission, building on the legacy of Hubble, Webb, and Roman, to search for Earth-like planets and potential signs of life. […]

SPAN Whitepaper: Academic View on the Future of Space Policy and Funding

The Whitepaper, now available from SPAN, covers and I hope reflects academic views on funding gap implications, membership of ESA, need for a strong national and bilateral programmes along with comments on links to industry and some general points.

Space Science in Context Conference

Space Science in Context (17–18 October, 2024) is returning for its third year! SSiC is a FREE, cross-disciplinary conference on outer space and society...