Science: Unlocking Potential
Dr Caroline Oprandi keeping you up to date with science & technology at PACA
The International Space School Educational Trust (ISSET) is a registered UK charity that was founded in 1998. The aim of ISSET is to utilise space and space exploration to inspire and motivate people of all ages to believe that they can become what they want to be. ISSET run a range of programmes from summer schools to trips to NASA Space Centres, which accommodate for students, teachers and professionals. ISSET seeks to instil an appreciation of what humans can achieve and encourage people to make something of themselves, particularly in the careers in STEM areas.
“ISSET does great work across the world. I know of no other organisation that is as effective in preparing people for future life in leadership and cutting edge careers such as space exploration, science and the technologies” says Jay Honeycutt, Former NASA Director of Kennedy Space Centre and President of Lockheed Martin Space Operations.
One of ISSET’s programmes is the Astronaut Leadership Experience (ALE), which has been constructed by astronauts & astronaut trainers, replicating aspects of an astronaut’s team building training to enable you to undergo similar leadership exercises to a NASA space shuttle crew. Founded in 2009 by Chris Barber, ALE takes students of all ages on remote wilderness expeditions, teaching them fundamental leadership principals. 
Training centres range from the Gobi desert, Norway, Innsbruck and the Lake District. ALE uses the outdoors to teach students about responsibility for themselves, their team & their surroundings. On your ALE course you’ll learn how to make decisions, develop confidence, and work through challenges with your teammates. Overall, you’ll work hard, have fun, and return home with leadership skills to last a lifetime.
Another of ISSET’s programmes is Mission Discovery, which invites students to work directly with astronauts, astronaut trainers, rocket scientists, and NASA leaders for a week. Students spend the week learning from the Mission Discovery team, with the aim to design an experiment to be launched into space. Successful experiments will be performed aboard the International Space Station.
Mission Discovery is proven to enhance students’ scientific and technological skill set, while developing their innovation, teamwork and leadership abilities. Students will also learn how to plan, budget and present their ideas, all within the context of space research. In January 2014 the first Mission Discovery experiments were launched to the International Space Station, a groundbreaking event in British education, the first time ever that UK school students’ ideas were carried out in space. So far Mission Discovery has been hosted in the UK, Australia and the USA, with plans to expand further afield.
If you are looking to offer something a bit more ‘out of this world’ for your professional leadership or team building programme; or you want something slightly more dynamic than going on a School Ski Trip, then I would recommend taking a look at ISSET’s website!
Portslade Aldridge Community Academy (PACA) is a college offering sixth form, 11-16 years, youth centre, adult learning, community education, sports centre and pre-school. Find out more at www.paca.uk.com
