ESA/ELGRA Gravity-Related Research Summer School: an Introduction to Microgravity and Hypergravity Research for University Students

Abstract

The European Low Gravity Research Association (ELGRA) and the European Space Agency (ESA) co-organise since 2016 a Summer School on gravity-related research in the frame of ESA Academy’s Training and Learning Programme. This Summer School is organised every year, in June, at the ESA Education Training Centre located in ESA’s European Space Security and Education Centre (ESEC), Belgium. The Summer School explains the fundamentals of performing research at different gravity levels and offers an overview of current research activity under microgravity and hypergravity conditions in life and physical sciences. Over four and a half intensive days, up to 30 Bachelor and Master students from ESA Member States, Canada and Slovenia, attend stimulating lectures, and work within small groups to devise project ideas for prospective experiments. Gravity-related research is introduced to these future scientists and engineers by experienced professionals from across the European space and research sector. These trainers are ELGRA members and ESA experts, freely sharing their experience and know-how with the students, including their day-to-day work and research experience in biology, human physiology, physics and engineering. Each year the programme incorporates new elements to enhance the experience for the students based on their feedback. 104 university students and 43 different experts have already participated in this Summer School.