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Outback to Orbit: Berlin Science Week Unites Australia and Germany in Space Innovation

Connecting Berlin and Australia Through Space Science and Innovation

November 05th, 2024
Elena Spoială, News from Berlin
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The Outback to Orbit competition, launched by the Australian Embassy in Berlin on the past November 3rd, was a standout event for Berlin Science Week that fostered a unique exchange on space exploration between Australia and Germany. Through this event, the embassy was engaging Berlin’s scientific community with Australia’s advancements in space research, showcasing shared scientific ambitions and technologies. The event highlighted speakers from prominent institutions, such as Professor Anna Moore from the Australian National University and Dr. Hansjörg Dittus, previously with the German Aerospace Centre, who delved into cutting-edge topics in space technology and science policy.

Berlin Science Week offered an ideal platform for this dialogue, bringing together an international audience and spotlighting Berlin’s reputation as a global science hub. The competition format invited participants to engage directly with the speakers, posing questions that won them a virtual pass to the prestigious COSPAR Scientific Assembly in Sydney, a major international space research conference. This prize underscored the embassy's aim to strengthen the Berlin-Australia science connection, particularly in the realms of space exploration and scientific inquiry.

The event also symbolizes broader Australia-Germany cooperation in the STEM fields, where Berlin has played an increasingly vital role. This partnership builds on historical and ongoing collaboration between Australian and German research institutions, as well as private space tech companies, aiming to address global challenges in science and technology. With growing interest in topics like satellite technology, sustainable space exploration, and space ethics, Berlin’s academic and tech communities have a chance to further collaborate with Australian counterparts.

In conclusion, the Outback to Orbit competition reflects Berlin’s spirit of international cooperation and knowledge-sharing in STEM. Events like these contribute to Berlin’s influence in global science dialogues, while celebrating shared achievements and future projects that could drive innovation in space exploration for both Germany and Australia.

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