Sir Ross and Sir Keith Smith Fund Scholarships

Below information relates to 2023 scholarship. 2025 information coming soon! 

 

The Fund

The Sir Ross and Sir Keith Smith Fund commemorates the achievements of two distinguished South Australian pioneer aviators - Captain Sir Ross Smith K.B.E., M.C., D.F.C., A.F.C., and his brother Lieutenant Sir Keith Smith K.B.E. In 1986 Lady (Anita) Smith, widow of Sir Keith Smith, bequeathed her entire estate to the establishment of the Sir Ross & Sir Keith Smith Fund and directed that the income of the Fund be applied in perpetuity for ‘advancement in the State of South Australia of the science of aeronautics and of education therein’. Lady Smith recognised the need to stimulate local knowledge and innovation in aerospace technology. Her vision encompassed ‘each and every aspect of all means of human conveyance or transportation through the air and inner and outer space’.

The International Space University and The University of South Australia thank Sir Ross and Sir Keith Smith Fund for its continuing support of the Southern Hemisphere Space Studies Program.

The Program

The Southern Hemisphere Space Studies Program is an intensive, five week program, involving the international, intercultural, and interdisciplinary educational philosophy for which the International Space University (ISU) is renowned. Open to qualified Australian and international participants from all disciplines, the eleventh SH-SSP will be conducted on campus from 16 January to 17 February 2023.

Conducted jointly by the International Space University (a non-profit university headquartered in Strasbourg France) and the University of South Australia, the program is attended by:

 

• Professionals and managers in industry, government and the defence services
• Graduate researchers
• Undergraduate students who have completed two years of full-time studies

The program provides a well-rounded overview of the key principles and concepts in:

• space science and exploration
• space applications and services
• human spaceflight and life sciences
• space systems engineering and technologies
• space policy, economics & law
• space humanities, communications, art & culture
• space business and project management

The scholarship benefits

Payment of a full scholarship to the value of A$17,000 or half scholarship to the value of A$8,500 for attendance at the Southern Hemisphere Space Studies Program from 16 January to 17 February 2023. The full program fee is A$17,000 which includes all tuition.

The Sir Ross and Sir Keith Smith Fund provides scholarships in full or partial support of tuitions for the Southern Hemisphere Space Studies Program 2022.  Applications will be evaluated according to the criteria listed below, and scholarships will be awarded to the applicants whose applications address the award criteria best.  The number of scholarships is limited: potential participants are advised to continue to consider alternative sources of support in addition to applying to this fund.

Who is eligible to apply?

University graduates and undergraduates who have successfully completed two years of their studies at the time of the program:

• resident in Australia
• who have applied for enrolment in the Southern Hemisphere Space Studies Program and
• who do not have financial support to attend the program from their employer or other sponsor

Award of full or partial scholarships will be based on motivation, financial need and merit.  While particular consideration will be given to those applicants currently resident in South Australia, or who have plans to move and pursue a career in South Australia, participants from all over Australia are encouraged to apply.

Selection criteria

The Selection Committee will select the scholarship winners taking into account:

Motivation

• the applicant’s motivation to forge a career in a space-related field in Australia.

Financial Need

• the principal consideration for financial need is whether an otherwise excellent participant would be preventing from enrolling because of lack of financial resources to pay for the tuition, and whether the prospective participant will have no other way to obtain support

Merit

• University graduate or undergraduate performance, professional achievement, evidence of output (e.g. publications, conference presentations, if applicable), extracurricular activities (e.g. chairing of committees, conference organisation, leadership of study groups), are some of the criteria considered to establish merit. The applicant’s CV should demonstrate potential to contribute to the class in a leadership and team building capacity, and long term career benefits to be gained from participation in the program.

Documentation required

All applications will be judged on the basis of the information and supporting documents lodged as part of the online enrolment process at http://www.isunet.edu/apply-online-shssp

Applicants wishing to be considered for the Sir Ross and Sir Keith Smith Fund scholarships must include their university transcripts with their enrolment documents, even where this is not a general requirement for enrolment.

(All eligible applicants, including those who have already enrolled, will be automatically considered unless an applicant specifically requests not to be considered by sending an email to inquiries.sh-ssp@isunet.edu)

Conditions of award of scholarship

The scholarship winners may be requested by the program organisers to carry out the following actions following the program:

1. Submit a written report at the conclusion of the SH-SSP describing the program and how they believe the SH-SSP will help them in their future careers in the aerospace sector within Australia.
2. Assist the program organisers in the promotion of the program within Australia, including delivering presentations to national conferences and/or other public events.

Deadline for applications

10 November 2022

Notification

The winners of the scholarship will be notified no later than 30 November 2022.