30 January 2014
Reducing the damaging effects of space weather events in the Global South will be the focus of a presentation by the participants of the 2014 Southern Hemisphere Summer Space Program (SHSSP) at the University of South Australia next week.
The presentation, which is being developed into a White Paper later this year, will explore how solar eruptions present a significant hazard to the space-based systems that we depend on in our day-to-day lives.
Program director of SHSSP, Dr Scott Madry says solar eruptions can have a far-reaching impact on earth.
“Such events could have dramatic social, political, economic, and environmental effects,” Dr Madry says.
“All these areas rely heavily on satellite and related systems that are particularly vulnerable to space weather events.
“In the past, solar events have destroyed critical electricity transformers and have led to wide-scale blackouts. A recent study by Lloyds of London estimated the potential cost of damage from one major solar weather event at US$2.6 trillion.”
In their public presentation, the SHSSP team will present their recommendations and strategies for mitigating the impact of space weather events.
The presentation will be the culmination of five weeks’ intensive research by 35 space professionals from 10 countries with a diverse range of technical and non-technical space-related backgrounds.
The SHSSP is a jointly conducted program by the International Space University and the University of South Australia.
The presentation can also be followed live by public webcast at the project website – www.solarattack.org.
Public White Paper Presentation
Date - Thursday February 6 2014
Time - 9:00am to 11:00am Adelaide time
Location - MM1-05, Materials & Mineral Sciences Building, University of South Australia’s Mawson Lakes campus
Interview opportunities
If you would like to schedule an interview with a member of the White Paper team or an international faculty member, contact:
Michael Davis Mobile 0419 170 251 email mdavis@adelta.com.au
Media Contact
Rosanna Galvin office (08) 8302 0578 mobile 0434 603 457 email rosanna.galvin@unisa.edu.au
