IIAS believes that communities are empowered when they are represented. We are proud to support several educational outreach programs. In 2019, IIAS partnered with Project PoSSUM to introduce the ‘PoSSUM 13’ and ‘Space for all Nations’ and has also partnered with ‘The Out Astronaut Project’. The PoSSUM 13 is a talented group of thirteen Scientist-Astronaut Candidates and Advanced Academy PoSSUM graduates who will serve as global ambassadors in increasing opportunity and representation for students — and especially young women– who have a passion for space science and exploration. Space for All Nations fosters collaboration between emerging space nations and facilitates access to universities in these nations to established programs in the US and Canada. The Out Astronaut Project is an organization that will address the under-representation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) people in science and space by highlighting the contributions of LGBTQ members currently working in science and space and provide grants to promising LGBTQ students currently pursuing professions in space-related fields.
Alignment with United Nations Strategic Development Goals
Goal 4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
✓ By 2020, substantially expand globally the number of scholarships available to developing countries, small island developing States and African countries, for enrollment in higher education, including vocational training and information and communications technology, technical, engineering and scientific programs, in developed countries and other developing countries.
✓ By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship.
✓ By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations.
Goal 5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
✓Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life
Goal 10. Reduced inequality within and among countries
✓By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status
The PoSSUM 13
Created to honor the legacy of the Mercury 13 and IIAS’s aeronomy project, Project PoSSUM, IIAS sponsors the PoSSUM 13. PoSSUM 13 maintains a talented group of thirteen IIAS graduates through biennial selections who serve as global ambassadors in increasing opportunity and representation for students — and especially young women– who have a passion for space science and exploration through a combination of educational outreach initiatives, student competitions, and mentorship.
Out Astronaut
Out Astronaut addresses the under-representation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) people in science and space. Studies indicate that up to 50% of LGBTQ youth leave STEM due to lack of representation; notably, there has yet to be selected an openly-identifying member of the LGBTQ community as an astronaut. Out Astronaut highlights the contributions of LGBTQ members currently working in science and space while providing grants to promising LGBTQ students currently pursuing professions in space-related fields to train and hopefully fly a member of the LGBTQ community as a scientist-astronaut. That person would be an inspiration to the LGBTQ community while enabling cutting-edge IIAS research.
Space for all Nations
Space For All Nations helps emerging space nations work among themselves to participate in pure science ventures of global importance while creating opportunities for these nations to collaborate with established space nations. Space For All Nations helps its member institutions develop STEM outreach activities within their own nations to inspire the next generation of space professionals.