[Partnered] 90 Minutes in Space Workshop

The 90 Minutes in Space Workshop program is hosted by Saudi Space Commission (SSC). The webinar is mainly targeting Saudi youth of all ages, with the main goal being to inspire the next generation and promote a greater interest in Space and Space Sciences.

This webinar is part of the “Education in Space” series.

This webinar session will feature two selected speakers:

1- Paul Davey: He joined QinetiQ in 2018 and leads Business Development in the Space domain with particular responsibility for SatCom programmes.

2- Dr. Tanya Harrison: calls herself a “Professional Martian.” She has spent the last decade working as a scientist and in mission operations on multiple NASA Mars missions, including the Curiosity and Opportunity rovers.

 SSC is supported by SGAC organizers:  

1- Abdulaziz Alsaeed 

2- Ghaida Aloumi

The SCC moderators will be: 

1- Faisal M. Al-Betiri (AJYAL Space Project Coordinator)

2- Woud Al-Sadoun (Student Consultant Committee Member)

The webinar session will be held via Microsoft Teams and streamed on SSC’s Twitter account in parallel.

Schedule

6:00-6:05 pm Discussion panel introduction – Mr. Faisal Al-Betiri and Woud Al-Sadoun
6:05-6:35 pm First Speaker – Dr. Tanya Harrison
6:35-7:05 pm Second Speaker – Mr. Paul Davey
7:05-7:25 pm Q&A Session – Dr. Tanya Harrison and Mr. Paul Davey
7:25-7:30 pm Wrap Up – Mr. Faisal Al-Betiri

All times are AST (UTC+3).

Speaker Biographies

Dr Tanya Harrison

Dr. Tanya Harrison calls herself a “Professional Martian.” She has spent the last decade working as a scientist and in mission operations on multiple NASA Mars missions, including the Curiosity and Opportunity rovers. Her specialty lies in geomorphology: the study of a planet’s evolution based on its surface features. Before Mars however, Tanya had her head in the stars as an astronomer studying the metal content of star clusters and recurring novae systems.
She holds a Ph.D. in Geology from the University of Western Ontario, a Masters in Earth and Environmental Sciences from Wesleyan University, and a B.Sc. in Astronomy and Physics from the University of Washington.
After her Ph.D., Tanya became the the Director of Research for Arizona State University’s Space Technology and Science (“NewSpace”) Initiative.
Currently she is the Manager of Science Programs at the federal arm of Planet Labs. Tanya is also an advocate for advancing the status of women in science and for accessibility in the geosciences. You can find her prolifically tweeting about the Red Planet—and her experiences with both #WomenInSTEM and  #DisabledInSTEM—as @tanyaofmars.

Paul Davey

Paul joined QinetiQ in 2018 and leads Business Development in the Space domain with particular responsibility for SatCom programmes. Prior to this, Paul worked for Archangel Imaging, an SME specialising in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, with particular emphasis on transport and UAS and before that Paul was Head of Business Development and Applied Technology for Reaction Engines.
In 2010, Paul became UK Business Development Director for Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, first as BD lead for the Trident II D5 missile programme in service with UK Royal Navy and then for the development of Lockheed Martin’s UK Space Technology Office.
With colleagues from the LM Civil Space Advanced Programmes team, Paul worked with the UK Space Agency and MoD as well as industry partners to guide and develop thinking on an indigenous small-satellite launcher programme. This work was instrumental in the UK Government’s decision to embark on a Satellite Launch Programme.
From 2004-2010 in an earlier spell with QinetiQ, Paul was Project Manager and then Business Development Manager for the record breaking solar powered Zephyr (HALE UAV) High Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. Paul developed flight demonstration programmes with MoD and US DoD for this cutting-edge technology; Paul was part of the team that broke the official FIA absolute world record for flight duration of a powered aircraft in 2010, attaining 14 days continual flight in Yuma, Arizona.
Paul graduated from Southampton University B.Eng. (Hons) Aeronautics & Astronautics and subsequently gained Programme Management qualifications working for the Ministry of Defence. Paul has spent over 30 years in the Aerospace and Defence sector.

About the AJYAL Space Program:

AJYAL Space program was launched under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Chairman of the Saudi Space Commission, with the aim of investing in the development of human capital, which is part of the strategy of the Saudi Space Commission, and aims to create an inspiring and stimulating educational environment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that specializes in Space Science and its fields to enable and qualify national cadres to achieve leadership in these fields through participation in pioneering initiatives that stimulate innovation and creative thinking.