How will this be reflected in the congress?
Birgit Kinkeldey: We are looking to increase the proportion of female delegates, for example. One of our targets is for 50 per cent of the main talks to be held by women. That will be a new record if my calculations are right. Young girls and young women need these role models to show them that they too can forge a career in the industry and achieve their goals.
We also want to attract younger delegates. There will be a conference for schoolchildren, for example, giving them the opportunity to submit proposals for talks. And we want to specifically attract delegates from countries that do not have a space agency of their own.
You were also part of the organising committee when Bremen first held the IAC in 2003. 2,700 people attended that event. For 2018 you are reckoning on up to 4,000 delegates: that’s a whole new ball game.
Peter von Kampen: 2003 really was a very different time. Things have moved on quite a lot since then, not only with the IAC and how it is organised but also for Bremen too as an aerospace hub. Back then we mainly just needed to organise the congress and the accompanying exhibition. Now there are up to 50 other events that go on at the same time. That’s a tenfold increase. And so we are now having to bolster our team with two new full-time members of staff.
Ms Kinkeldey, Mr von Kampen, thank you for speaking with us.
For further information on innovation in space technology contact Dr Barbara Cembella, cluster manager for the space sector, T +49 (0)421 9600-340, barbara.cembella@aviaspace-bremen.de.
Click here for information on the aerospace industry in Bremen.