Explore UCD

UCD Home >

News Extended

Space Careers Roadshow

An EIRSAT-1 themed Space Careers Roadshow, organised by ESERO Ireland, MTU Blackrock Castle Observatory and jointly sponsored by UCD’s Schools of Physics and Mechanical & Materials Engineering, took place in a packed UCD Astra Hall on March 27th.

A packed Astra Hall with the panel members doing a Q&A about their route to a career in the space sector.




More than 500 TY, 5th and 6th year students heard from EIRSAT-1 physics PhD students Caimin McKenna, Gabriel Finneran and Joe Fisher, who spoke to Dr. Niamh Shaw about their love of sci-fi and the importance of inspiring teachers and career guidance counsellors. Laura Cotter described how hearing about EIRSAT-1 as a 5th year inspired her to study Physics with Astronomy & Space Science in UCD and then to pursue a PhD in Astrophysics. The EIRSAT-1 team is busy learning how to operate the spacecraft, updating operational procedures, and doing final testing before the spacecraft is delivered to the European Space Agency for launch.
(Left) Dr. Niamh shaw interviewing Physics PhD students and EIRSAT-1 team members (l to r)  Caimin McKenna, Laura Cotter, Gabriel Finneran and Joe Fisher at the SFI/ESERO Space Careers roadshow in UCD. (Centre) Ireland’s space industry was also represented at the event by Réaltra. UCD MSc Space Science & Technology graduates Eibhlin Laffan-Downes and James Murphy – both working at Réaltra – were on hand to give advice about building a career in Ireland’s growing space sector. (RIght) Keynote talks were by Dr. Maeve Doyle (right), EIRSAT-1’s lead software engineer and operations scientist, and Bas Stijnen (centre), a PhD student in Mechanical & Materials Engineering. The third keynote was by Hannah Currivan (left), a UCD MSc Space Science & Technology graduate who now works as a space analyst.

UCD School of Physics

University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
T: +353 1 716 7777