The Atlantic International Research Centre is an international collaborative framework to address global challenges and local priorities in the Atlantic Ocean. It promotes an integrative approach to space, climate, ocean and energy in the Atlantic, supported by emerging technological innovations and advances in data science, and through South-North and North-South cooperation.  The AIR Centre aims at becoming a leading internationally distributed and collaborative network. They want to act as a framework for scientific and technology collaboration and development of ideas, policies, research programmes and projects within the context of the Atlantic Ocean, aligning national priorities and global challenges through joint actions.

Their activities are oriented to attract the youngsters and to foster local skilled job creation through “user-driven and open innovation platforms” that test new solutions and facilitate social appropriation of scientific knowledge. Collaborative action research should be transdisciplinary and involve start-ups, SMEs, large firms, engineering centres, research institutions and potential users throughout Atlantic regions.

On August 21,  Danielle will talk about Sustainability in Space and on Earth: Research Initiatives of the Space Enabled group. The moderator will be Hayley Evers-King, from EUMETSAT.  Danielle’s presentation will be about her work of the Space Enabled research group at the MIT Media Lab. The mission of the Space Enabled research group is to advance justice in Earth’s complex systems using designs enabled by space. The group’s message is that six types of space technology are supporting societal needs, as defined by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These six technologies include satellite earth observation, satellite communication, satellite positioning, microgravity research, technology transfer, and the infrastructure related to space research and education. While much good work has been done, barriers remain that limit the application of space technology as a tool for sustainable development. The Space Enabled research group works to increase the opportunities to apply space technology in support of the Sustainable Development Goals and to support space sustainability.