Young professionals interested in the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) can apply for the Dr Michael Simpson Scholarship Fund.
In collaboration with the Secure World Foundation (SWF), the scholarship will provide funding to space professionals looking to attend the 2025 IAC event happening between September 29 and October 3 in Sydney.
Since the inception, SWF has awarded more than 60 scholarships to participants from 28 countries around the world.
Benefits
Participants will receive up to $1,500 in funding to be used for travel-related expenses, including airfare, lodging, and registration.
Eligibility
- Applicants are required to submit a short essay (max 500 words) explaining the importance of their research and what they hope to gain from participating in the IAC.
- They should an abstract accepted for presentation at IAC 2025
- Proposed research must align with to one of SWF’s focus areas—Space Sustainability, Space Law and Policy, or Human and Environmental Security
- Interested applicants should be under the age of 35
- They should not be a former beneficiary of the Simpson Scholarship.
Note: Successful applicants will be contacted in mid-July and announced in August.
How to Apply
Submit your entries for the scholarship here and visit the official website for more details.
Deadline: Monday, June 16, 2025 (8:00 AM EDT).
The Dr. Michael Simpson Scholarship Fund, in partnership with the Secure World Foundation (SWF), is offering financial support to young space professionals attending the 2025 International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Sydney from September 29 to October 3. The scholarship provides up to $1,500 to cover travel-related expenses like airfare, lodging, and registration.
Eligible applicants must submit a short essay explaining their research’s significance and what they hope to gain from the IAC. They must also have an abstract accepted for presentation at the event, and their research should align with SWF’s focus areas: Space Sustainability, Space Law and Policy, or Human and Environmental Security. Applicants must be under 35 and should not have previously received the Simpson Scholarship.
Application submissions can be made online, with a deadline of June 16, 2025. Successful candidates will be notified by mid-July and announced in August. More details are available on the SWF website.
