Workshop Topics

Delegates will be able to choose between the following topics that are currently prominent in Asia-Pacific’s space industry. Each topic has been carefully selected and designed to ensure that each delegate will be able to actively participate during the online workshops. You will be able to read through the background of each topic in the context of the Asia-Pacific region, the goal of each working group, the suggested outcome or deliverable and some questions to consider for deeper exploration and discussions.

1. Specificities of Asia-Pacific Space Development 

Background:

The situation of space development in Asia-Pacific is extremely imbalanced. Within the same region co-exist some of the world’s most advanced space powers (e.g. Japan, China and India), intermediate ones with existing space infrastructure (e.g. Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand), newcomers having recently established a national space program (e.g. Philippines), as well as numerous non-space countries having yet to reap the benefits of space technology development and utilisation.

Goal:

To reflect on how space programs in Asia-Pacific were established (each participant could introduce his country’s history) and try to draw useful lessons for newcomers in the region (e.g. Cambodia, Bhutan, etc.). Emphasis will be placed on the potential regional particularities of space development.

Suggested Outcome:

Paper or Recommendations on Lessons for Emerging Asian-Pacific Space Nations.

Focus Questions:

  • What was the primary motivation for the establishment of my country’s space program?
  • Are lessons for space development in my country applicable to other regional countries willing to develop a national space program?
  • Based on the experience of advanced neighbouring countries, what aspect of space technology development and utilisation should my country emphasise?

Subject Matter Experts

Mr Kuang-Han Ke (葛廣漢)

Founder & Chairman at Gran Systems

 

Kuang-Han holds an M.S. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University.   He has experience in the industry, government, research, academia, and global industry associations.  In the semiconductor industry, he has over 27 years of experience encompassing a mix of industry and teaching.  In New Space, he launches CubeSats and experiments in space and is the International Space Station Gateway Company in Taiwan and South East Asia.  He is also the Founder & Chairman of Gran Systems where they engage in system integration design, think-tanks, and manufacturing in new space and medical equipment.  Today, he is engaged in angel investing in startups and MakerSpaces to foster creativity and innovation in Taiwan.  He runs a Space Business Incubation Center and invested in 12 companies and involved in 3 IPOs in Taiwan.

Dr Narayan Prasad (PhD)

Chief Operations Officer at Satsearch

Narayan is Chief Operations Officer at satsearch chiefly responsible for helping buyers find the right products and services for their mission or service. He also serves as a Partner to SpacePark Kerala, a Government of Kerala initiative to develop a dedicated space economy hub in India. Narayan holds a PhD in Supply Chain Management from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg. He previously served as an Associate Research Fellow at the European Space Policy Institute where he contributed to enhancing cooperation between Europe and India in space. He has authored over 75 articles in various national and international publications and was educated in India, Germany, Sweden and France. He is also an elected member of the International Institute of Space Law, awardee of Emerging Space Leaders by the International Astronautical Federation and host of the NewSpace India podcast.

2. Addressing Global Health (specifically COVID-19) with Space Medicine on Earth

 Background:

When medical facilities are not readily available, such as in remote and underdeveloped regions, the standard of diagnosis and care have to be modified according to the context and constraints of such low-resource settings. Located more than 400km away from Earth, astronauts in the International Space Station (ISS) have been utilizing medical technologies developed to accommodate various medical conditions and perform complex procedures efficiently and remotely. Through the years, some of these technologies, such as telemedicine, portable ultrasound units and ventilators, have been used to make medical care more accessible. In times of global health issues, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, use of such technologies can help empower local healthcare providers to provide more timely and efficient diagnosis and care.

Goal: 

Identify how space medicine techniques and technologies have been or can be utilized in Asia, how it can be further adopted especially in low-resource areas, and how it can be used to aid efforts in diagnosing or treating COVID-19.

Suggested Outcome:

Paper or Recommendations on Use of Space Medicine especially in responding to COVID-19 in Asia-Pacific.

Focus Questions:

  • What space medicine techniques and technologies have been used in Asia-Pacific?
  • What are the common challenges in adopting these technologies?
  • What is the role of space agencies in utilizing the benefits of such technologies for humanity?
  • How can countries without space agencies benefit from these technologies?
  • How is space medicine being used in the current COVID-19 pandemic?
  • How can research on Earth help improve further development of space medicine?

Subject Matter Experts

 

Dr Jaime C. Montoya, (MD, PhD, CESO II)

Executive Director at the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development

Dr. Jaime C. Montoya is a highly trained infectious disease specialist, with an MSc and Diploma in Clinical Tropical Medicine, and MSc in Bioethics. He obtained his MSc degrees from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and UP Manila-College of Medicine, respectively. He also earned his PhD in Medicine from the Juntendo University School of Medicine in Tokyo, Japan. Dr. Montoya is also certified by the Royal College of Physicians (London, U.K.), the Philippine Board of Internal Medicine, and the Philippine Board of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.

Currently, Dr. Montoya is a Professor VIII at the UP Manila-College of Medicine, and the President of the Philippine Association for the Advancement of Science and Technology (PhilAAST). Dr. Montoya is also the Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development-Department of Science and Technology, and was recently conferred the level of Career Executive Service Officer II by President Duterte last December 2019.

Dr Susan Ip-Jewell MD, DCEG

Co-founder & Chief Innovation Officer at AvatarMEDIC.space

Susan Ip-Jewell MD, DCEG is a Space Medicine Physician-Scientist, Analog Astronaut, exponential technologist, entrepreneur. Recently appointed as an official “SPACE COACH” for AFWERK empowered by USA SPACE FORCE and US Air Force and received a “knighthood” as Dame Commander in the Order of the Eagle of the Kingdom of Georgia from Royal House of Georgia. Research focuses on space medicine, health, wellness, human factors and exponential technologies. CEO/Co-Founder of MMAARS,Inc, (Mars-Moon Astronautics Academy & Research Science) training commercial analog astronauts and developing the first Mars-Moon Settlement training facility in Mojave Desert (close Mojave Spaceport) in California, USA (formerly Mars Academy USA). MMAARS is offering fully immersive experiences in analog missions monthly where selected crews live, work and conduct R&D in remote, Isolated and Confined Environments ( I.C.E) integrating experiential learning with exponential technologies. Dr Ip-Jewell is also Co-founder /CIO, of AvatarMEDIC.space, a company with a vision to create a new paradigm to disrupt and democratize healthcare access and medical services by converging XR/AR/AI. haptics, robotics, drones and blockchain. AvatarMEDIC is an official team in the $10 Million ANA Avatar XPRIZE). Dr Ip-Jewell recently graduated from Founder Institute (FI) Silicon Valley 2020 cohort and from Draper University Accelerator programs. A veteran analog astronaut, and Commander of crews deployed to austere, remote Isolated and Confined Environments. Susan pioneered first Mars “Station-to-Station” MARS MEDICS training missions with MAU-MDRS Crew 001, commanded missions from low-to high-fidelity locations under NEAMAE PROJECT (Nepal, Everest, Antarctica, Africa, Americas Mars Analog Astronaut Exploration Expeditions). Trained at National Institute of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI) in clinical medicine, drug discovery / molecular therapeutics at UCLA Depart of Molecular & Therapeutic Pharmacology. Graduate of International Space University (ISU), recipient of Google Scholarship to attend Singularity University’s (GSP15). Graduated from Aston University, UK Ross University School of Medicine. Recipient of “Marie Marvinght Award in “Technologies and Innovations for Space” by Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA) recognizing visionaries in space exploration. Recipient of National Space Society (NSS) “Living in Space” Award for pioneering development of Lunar & Martian settlements. Founded The Clinic LLC, an Integrated Wellness & Telemedicine Center in LA.

3.     Use of Space Technology for Agricultural Development and Food Security in Asia Pacific Region

Background:

The Asia Pacific region is home to over 4.2 billion people, or two thirds of the world’s population   and   is   one   of   the   world’s   fastest   growing   and   most   diverse regions. Studies have shown that growth in the agriculture sector in many of these countries has   led   to   a   decline   in   poverty   rates.   Another   of   the   region’s pressing challenges   is   food   insecurity,   which   is   exacerbated   due   to   many different reasons. The diversity in size, institutional structures and statistical capabilities of the countries in Asia Pacific demands a thorough, holistic and flexible response that accounts for each country’s unique standing, capabilities and direction. So the Asia Pacific region should seek to meet the challenges we have and engender progress through space technology for agricultural development and Food Security.

Goal:

To build a higher sustainable agrarian economy for Asia Pacific region through Space technology.

Suggested Outcome:

A Paper or Recommendations on easily approachable space technology applications based on demands and capabilities of the counties in the Asia Pacific Region

Focus Questions:

  • The role-playing of the Asia Pacific region in Agriculture compared to other regions in both crops and livestock.
  • What are the Applications of Space Technology and Geographic Information Systems for agricultural development and Food Security within the region?
  • How can we use space technology for Disaster Risk Reduction (Both Disaster Monitoring and Early Warning) and Sustainable Development to help Agriculture development and food security within the region?
  • As a region how to achieve climate-smart agriculture improving the integration of agriculture and food security under global climate change?

Subject Matter Experts

 

Dr Hiroyuki Miyazaki (PhD)

Project Assistant Professor at the Center for Spatial Information Science, The University of Tokyo

Hiroyuki Miyazaki received a B.A. in environmental information from Keio University, Kanagawa, Japan, in 2006, and M.E.S. and Ph.D. degrees in environmental studies from The University of Tokyo, Japan, in 2008 and 2011, respectively. From 2011 to 2012, he was a JSPS Postdoctoral Fellow with the Center for Spatial Information Science, The University of Tokyo. Since 2012, he had been a researcher with the Earth Observation Data Integration and Fusion Research Initiative, The University of Tokyo, as well as a secondee at the Asian Development Bank, Philippines. In 2016, he was appointed to Project Assistant Professor with the Center for Spatial Information Science, The University of Tokyo, and was seconded to the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand. His research interests include geospatial information science, satellite remote sensing for socioeconomics, and applications to sustainable development.

Mr Watcharin Unwet

Senior Space Educator, Space Zab

 

Watcharin is a Space Generation Advisory Council National Point of Contact for Thailand and a Senior Space Educator at Space Zab, a company conducting research in 3D Space Food Printing. He is also a Master’s degree student in Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Mahidol University. For his previous experiences, he was the representative of Thailand who gave a presentation about space probiotics experimental idea in the final round of the 6 th Mission Idea Contest at the University of Tokyo, Japan. He was also one of the Thailand team who developed the proposal about optimizing the fermentation process of probiotics under space condition in order to perform in the International Space Station Bartolomeo Platform by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). As a Senior Space Educator, he was the one who organized several space education events and also gave talks and conducted workshops about space related topics for students in several schools in Thailand.

4.     Cooperation (and Capacity-building) of Asia-Pacific Countries for Space Exploration.

Background:

Over the past few years, scientific and technological advancements have enabled some Asian countries to become contenders in the ongoing race to explore and establish settlements in space. Of the 6 major space powers in the world that have full launch capabilities, 3 are from Asia (China, India, and Japan). Each of these countries dominates in its own area (only behind NASA, ROSCOSMOS, and ESA) with China being the first Asian nation to independently send a human to space, and India being the first Asian nation to send a spacecraft to Mars. Meanwhile, South Korea is planning to launch its Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO) to the Moon in 2022 and Japan has signed on to join  the U.S.-led Gateway project to establish a manned lunar space station. With the financial, technological, and logistical limitations of conducting biomedical research in space, some analog missions have also been established in Asia, including the Mars Academy in Nepal. However, most other Asia-Pacific countries are still excluded from this extremely complex field that is space exploration.

Goal:

To identify how emerging space or even non-space countries can contribute, at their level and based on their own assets (e.g. technical, geographical, cultural), to the space exploration programs of their advanced neighbours.

Suggested Outcome:

A Paper or Recommendations on areas for collaboration on space exploration between established powers and emerging ones.

Focus Questions:

  • What niche area of space exploration can be contributed to by emerging or non-space actors (e.g. Mars or Moon analog mission in desertic areas of central Asian countries)?
  • What would participation in an advanced neighbour’s space exploration program bring to an emerging or non-space country?
  • How can national capacities be encouraged to consider technological developments for space exploration specifically in non space countries?

Subject Matter Experts

Ms Soyoung Chung

Coordinator of the International Space Exploration Coordination Group, Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI)

Soyoung Chung is a senior researcher at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), South Korea’s leading space R&D institute. From 2009 – 2019, she worked at KARI’s space policy office, where she assisted the government office in charge of the national space policy and program. She has taken part in numerous government commissioned space policy studies and has supported the National Space Committee for many years. She also served as a South Korean delegate for UNCOPUOS. Ms. Chung currently works at KARI’s Future Strategy division and works on technology strategy. She also serves as a delegate and internal coordinator for KARI’s participation in ISECG and carries out internal policy studies on topics related to space exploration. Ms. Chung has a master’s degree in space engineering and is working on a Ph.D. thesis at the Graduate School of Science and Technology Policy at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).

Ms Nandia Shatar

Foreign Affairs Officer of the Mars-V Project at the Mongolian Aerospace Research and Science Association (MARSA)

Nandin-Erdene Shatar is a Foreign Affairs Officer at the Mongolian Aerospace Research and Science Association (MARSA). After obtaining her International Relations Masters degree at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, she returned to Mongolia in 2019 and established an eco-friendly tour company, EcoOpa. Nandin-Erdene is currently working on the Mars-V project, which is designing a Mars simulation training base and academy in the Gobi desert. She previously introduced MARSA and its Mars-V project during the Mars Society’s annual convention in October 2020.