Students for the Exploration and Development of Space
Encyclopedia
Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) is an international student organization whose purpose is to promote space exploration and development through educational and engineering projects.
, and Yale University
, and consists of an international group of high school, undergraduate, and graduate students from a diverse range of educational backgrounds who are working to promote space. SEDS is a chapter-based organization with chapters in Canada
, India
, Israel
, Mexico, Nepal
, Nigeria
, Philippines
, Spain
, United Kingdom
, and United States
. The permanent National Headquarters for SEDS-USA resides at MIT and that of SEDS-India at VIT University. Each chapter is fairly independent and coordinates activities and projects in its own area.
, Robert D. Richards
, and Todd B. Hawley
and their first meeting was held on Thursday, October 30, 1980. After the initial meetings in 1980, SEDS president Peter Diamandis wrote a letter to the editor of Omni magazine deploring the status of the space program and asking students to help make a difference. The letter, published in Omni in early 1981, attracted students from around the world to SEDS. This laid the foundations for the first SEDS international conference, held at George Washington University
between July 15–19, 1982. As the decade progressed, SEDS continued to have more international conferences, which rotated among schools including George Washington University
(again), University of Alabama in Huntsville
, and Caltech. During the end of the decade, UKSEDS was founded at the Science Museum (London)
and held their first conference at the University of Cambridge
during 25–26 November 1989.
through 1997, when the last "SEDS National Conference" was held (conferences would re-appear 7 years later as the "SEDS SpaceVision Conference"). UKSEDS continued to have national conferences at rotating locations each year. During the last years of the decade there was a major decline in SEDS leadership and a connected drop in the number of member chapters around the United States.
on November 11–14. The conference was re-named the SEDS SpaceVision conference and featured many speakers who would return year after year during this decade, including Loretta Hidalgo, founder Dr. Robert Richards, Rick Tumlinson, George Whitesides, Robert Zubrin
, and Pete Worden
. The SpaceVision conference then visited University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
(2005), University of Central Florida
(2006), the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(2007), Texas A&M University
(2008), and University of Arizona
(2009). During this time, UKSEDS continued to have one national conference each year. SEDS India, after hosting the SEDS International conference in 2007, continued with SEDS India National Conferences every year since 2009 at VIT University,Vellore, India. SEDS also began exploring innovative national projects such as fund-raising for a joint SEDS chapter Zero-G flight and designing an innovative national Rockoon
competition modeled after the Ansari X PRIZE
.
SEDS members often take the knowledge they have gained and use it to influence the future of the space program. Students at several chapters have played major roles in organizing large conferences and have established important contacts with members of the space community. Others have helped increase public awareness of the benefits of space exploration by offering presentations to local primary and secondary schools as well as universities. All chapters keep in contact with each other through on-line computer networks.
Finally, SEDS provides an environment in which people of common interests can relax and freely discuss issues important to them.
Mission statement
SEDS is an independent, student-based organization which promotes the exploration and development of space. SEDS pursues this mission by educating people about the benefits of space, by supporting a network of interested students, by providing an opportunity for members to develop their leadership skills, and inspiring people through their involvement in space-related projects. SEDS believes in a space-faring civilization and that focusing the enthusiasm of young people is the key to humankinds future in space.History
Students for the Exploration and Development of Space was founded in 1980 at MIT, Princeton UniversityPrinceton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, and Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, and consists of an international group of high school, undergraduate, and graduate students from a diverse range of educational backgrounds who are working to promote space. SEDS is a chapter-based organization with chapters in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Mexico, Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The permanent National Headquarters for SEDS-USA resides at MIT and that of SEDS-India at VIT University. Each chapter is fairly independent and coordinates activities and projects in its own area.
1980s
SEDS is established by on September 17, 1980 primarily by Peter DiamandisPeter Diamandis
Dr. Peter H. Diamandis , of Greek immigrant parents, is considered a key figure in the development of the personal spaceflight industry, having created many space-related businesses or organizations...
, Robert D. Richards
Robert D. Richards
Robert D. Richards is a Canadian-born space entrepreneur. He is co-founder and CEO of Moon Express, Inc., a U.S. company awarded a $10M commercial lunar contract by NASA and a competitor in the Google Lunar X PRIZE...
, and Todd B. Hawley
Todd B. Hawley
Todd B. Hawley was one of the three founders of the International Space University and a lifelong advocate of human space exploration...
and their first meeting was held on Thursday, October 30, 1980. After the initial meetings in 1980, SEDS president Peter Diamandis wrote a letter to the editor of Omni magazine deploring the status of the space program and asking students to help make a difference. The letter, published in Omni in early 1981, attracted students from around the world to SEDS. This laid the foundations for the first SEDS international conference, held at George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
between July 15–19, 1982. As the decade progressed, SEDS continued to have more international conferences, which rotated among schools including George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
(again), University of Alabama in Huntsville
University of Alabama in Huntsville
The University of Alabama in Huntsville is a state-supported, public, coeducational research university, located in Huntsville, Alabama, United States, is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, master's and doctoral degrees, and is organized in five...
, and Caltech. During the end of the decade, UKSEDS was founded at the Science Museum (London)
Science Museum (London)
The Science Museum is one of the three major museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is part of the National Museum of Science and Industry. The museum is a major London tourist attraction....
and held their first conference at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
during 25–26 November 1989.
1990s
During the 1990s SEDS continued to host a national conference each year, sometimes in conjunction with the International Space Development ConferenceInternational Space Development Conference
The International Space Development Conference is the annual conference of the National Space Society . Now in its 30th year, these conferences connect the general public and the NSS membership with leaders of contemporary space efforts...
through 1997, when the last "SEDS National Conference" was held (conferences would re-appear 7 years later as the "SEDS SpaceVision Conference"). UKSEDS continued to have national conferences at rotating locations each year. During the last years of the decade there was a major decline in SEDS leadership and a connected drop in the number of member chapters around the United States.
2000s
In 2004 the SEDS National Conferences were re-established by MITSEDS and hosted on the campus of the Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
on November 11–14. The conference was re-named the SEDS SpaceVision conference and featured many speakers who would return year after year during this decade, including Loretta Hidalgo, founder Dr. Robert Richards, Rick Tumlinson, George Whitesides, Robert Zubrin
Robert Zubrin
Robert Zubrin is an American aerospace engineer and author, best known for his advocacy of the manned exploration of Mars. He was the driving force behind Mars Direct—a proposal intended to produce significant reductions in the cost and complexity of such a mission...
, and Pete Worden
Pete Worden
Simon P. Worden, Ph.D. is Director of NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, Calif. Before joining NASA, he held several positions in the United States Air Force and was research professor of astronomy at the University of Arizona, Tucson. He is a recognized expert on space issues...
. The SpaceVision conference then visited University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
(2005), University of Central Florida
University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida, commonly referred to as UCF, is a metropolitan public research university located in Orlando, Florida, United States...
(2006), the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
(2007), Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
(2008), and University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
(2009). During this time, UKSEDS continued to have one national conference each year. SEDS India, after hosting the SEDS International conference in 2007, continued with SEDS India National Conferences every year since 2009 at VIT University,Vellore, India. SEDS also began exploring innovative national projects such as fund-raising for a joint SEDS chapter Zero-G flight and designing an innovative national Rockoon
Rockoon
A rockoon is a solid fuel sounding rocket that, rather than being immediately lit while on the ground, is first carried into the upper atmosphere by a gas-filled balloon, then separated from the balloon and automatically ignited...
competition modeled after the Ansari X PRIZE
Ansari X Prize
The Ansari X Prize was a space competition in which the X Prize Foundation offered a US$10,000,000 prize for the first non-government organization to launch a reusable manned spacecraft into space twice within two weeks...
.
What SEDS members do
SEDS members are people interested in doing as much as they can to promote space exploration and development. The first step in this continual process is learning. SEDS provides an environment in which to obtain access to many sources of information including speakers, tours, films, discussion groups & daily NASA updates. Astronomical observing trips and tours of local space facilities also play a significant role in the life of many SEDS members.SEDS members often take the knowledge they have gained and use it to influence the future of the space program. Students at several chapters have played major roles in organizing large conferences and have established important contacts with members of the space community. Others have helped increase public awareness of the benefits of space exploration by offering presentations to local primary and secondary schools as well as universities. All chapters keep in contact with each other through on-line computer networks.
Finally, SEDS provides an environment in which people of common interests can relax and freely discuss issues important to them.
SEDS Organizational Structure
SEDS is broken up by Country, Region, and Chapter. There are currently a large contingent of SEDS chapters within the United States of America, which are governed regionally and nationally by SEDS-USA. SEDS India, currently has 9 SEDS chapters under it with its head quarters at VIT University. There are also other national sections of SEDS across the world and these disparate groups of students communicate and organize together via SEDS-Earth, the global governing body of SEDS. At the current time (2009) SEDS-Earth is not heavily structured.SEDS-USA
SEDS-USA is the governing body of all chapters within the United States. It is overseen by a national Board of Directors, Council of Chapters, and a Board of Advisers. The current (2011–12) national directors of SEDS-USA are listed below.| Position | Description | Board Member |
|---|---|---|
| Chair | Preside over board and oversee decision-making process. | Dan Pastuf (University at Buffalo) |
| Vice-Chair | Alumni and Advisers liaison. | Sara Meschberger (University of Arizona University of Arizona The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885... ) |
| Director of Finance | Keep financial records and control legal and financial matters. | Andrew Dianetti (University at Buffalo) |
| Director of Chapter Affairs | Conduct CoC meetings and work with SEDS-USA chapters. | Daniel Zhou (Purdue University Purdue University Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and... ) |
| Director of Chapter Expansion | Oversee the recruiting of new chapters and their integration into SEDS-USA. | Hallie Gengl (Arizona State University Arizona State University Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona... ) |
| Director of Publications | Design and produce all SEDS-USA mass publications. | Harvey Elliott (University of Michigan University of Michigan The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan... ) |
| Director of Educational Outreach | Make and compile educational materials about space for outreach activities. | Erik Lopez (Illinois Space Society University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system... ) |
| Director of Public Relations | Produce public releases, handle social media and other public interactions. | Brandon Seifert (University of Colorado at Boulder University of Colorado at Boulder The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado... ) |
| Director of National Projects | Work for the Board on any special projects specified by the board. | Michael Zwach (Purdue University Purdue University Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and... ) |
| Director of High School Affairs | Work with other directors to provide opportunities for high school students. | Pye Pye Zaw (Arizona State University Arizona State University Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona... ) |
| Secretary | Set up meeting rooms for SEDS-USA national meetings and take minutes. | Mary Magilligan (University at Buffalo) |
SEDS-India
SEDS-India is the national chapter for all SEDS chapters and individual members who reside in India. This organisation was formed in January, 2005 by two SEDS chapters, SEDS Mumbai and SEDS-MNNIT. Its head quarters is located at VIT University. The current (2011-2012) national directors of SEDS-India are listed below. The election was conducted by the previous executive council of 2001-2010. The election council consisted of Ch Kalyan Chandra(Ex-Secretary), SabyaSaachi Bhowmick ( Ex- President) and Abhishek Saxena Election commissioner.| Position | Description | Board Member |
|---|---|---|
| President | Preside over board and oversee decision-making process. | Pranay Puchakayala (VIT University) |
| Vice-President | Alumni and Advisers liaison. | Lakshmanaperumal K (NIET, Coimbatore) |
| Secretary | Set up meeting rooms for SEDS-India national meetings and take minutes. | Soumya Batra (VIT University) |
| Joint Secretary Events and Projects | Oversee the Events and Projects under SEDS India. | Deepak Namdev ([GGITM, Bhopal]) |
| Joint Secretary Public Relations and Outreach | Produce public releases,educational materials about space for outreach activities and handle social media,other public interactions. | Bhavan Kuchibhotla (VIT University) |
| Treasurer | Handle financial accounts. | Nimisha Soman (NIET, Coimbatore). |
SEDS UAE
The SEDS UAE Chapter is based at the Our Own English High School in Abu Dhabi. This chapter was formed in November 2010 by a high school student, Nishith Khandwala. Members of SEDS UAE engage themselves in various activities and programs such as the International Asteroid Search Campaign.See also
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- SpacevidcastSpaceVidcastSpacevidcast, often abbreviated as SVC, is a live weekly HD video podcast hosted by husband and wife team, Cariann Higginbotham and Benjamin Higginbotham...
- Space Frontier FoundationSpace Frontier FoundationThe Space Frontier Foundation is a space advocacy nonprofit corporation organized to promote the interests of increased involvement of the private sector, in collaboration with government, in the exploration and development of space...
- National Space SocietyNational Space SocietyThe National Space Society is an international nonprofit 501, educational, and scientific organization specializing in space advocacy...
- The Planetary Society
- Mars SocietyMars SocietyThe Mars Society is an international space advocacy non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the human exploration and settlement of the planet Mars. It was founded by Robert Zubrin and others in 1998 and attracted the support of notable science fiction writers and filmmakers, including Kim...
- NewSpaceNewSpaceNewSpace, alt.space, and entrepreneurial space are umbrella terms for a movement and philosophy often affiliated with, but not synonymous with, an emergent private spaceflight industry...
- Peter DiamandisPeter DiamandisDr. Peter H. Diamandis , of Greek immigrant parents, is considered a key figure in the development of the personal spaceflight industry, having created many space-related businesses or organizations...
- Robert D. RichardsRobert D. RichardsRobert D. Richards is a Canadian-born space entrepreneur. He is co-founder and CEO of Moon Express, Inc., a U.S. company awarded a $10M commercial lunar contract by NASA and a competitor in the Google Lunar X PRIZE...
- Todd B. HawleyTodd B. HawleyTodd B. Hawley was one of the three founders of the International Space University and a lifelong advocate of human space exploration...