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CoSEM CDT student attends ESA FAIR Space Radiation Summer School

Gokhan Sancak enjoying a tour of the facilities.

27 September 2024

CoSEM CDT student Gokhan Sancak attended a space radiation summer school in Darmstadt, Germany.

Gokhan Sancak, a PhD student in the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Composites Science, Engineering and Manufacturing, recently attended the ‘ESA FAIR Space Radiation Summer School 2024’. This was organised by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the international accelerator center FAIR (Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research GmbH), currently under construction at the GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung.

The summer school took place at the ESA’s European Space Operations Centre (ESOC), and on the GSI and FAIR campus in Darmstadt, Germany. Fifteen young researchers from ten countries, including various European nations, Canada, and the USA, participated. The exceptional training was led by high-level experts covering the fundamentals of space radiation interactions from both biological and physical perspectives. Space radiation poses significant challenges for human exploration missions, as exposure to such harmful irradiation carries a high risk of acute and stochastic health hazards. Additionally, radiation can impact electronics and materials, jeopardizing mission success. Participants also gained valuable insights into radiation exposure risks on Earth and aboard the International Space Station (ISS), where astronauts may spend months or even a year.

The program was inaugurated by Dr. Anna Fogtman, Radiation Protection Operations Lead at the European Space Agency, alongside Professor Marco Durante, Head of the GSI Biophysics Department. It featured lectures from esteemed experts, including former astronaut Thomas Reiter and former ESA Director General Johann-Dietrich Wörner. Participants enjoyed inspiring tours of facilities in Darmstadt and an excursion to ESA's European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, as well as practical training and research opportunities. At the end of the first week, participants transitioned between the two locations: ESOC and GSI/FAIR-Campus, where they were welcomed in the second week by Dr. Yvonne Leifels, Research Director at GSI/FAIR. Dr. Radek Pleskac provided insights into the FAIR project. At GSI and FAIR, participants had the chance to collaborate in teams on laboratory activities, gaining deeper knowledge in the fields of radiation biology and the simulation of cosmic radiation in accelerators.

Emerging researchers enhanced their experimental ideas by submitting proposals for ground-based space radiation studies, including those under the IBER program, which investigates the biological effects of radiation. This program offered access to GSI's accelerator facilities for exploring cosmic radiation impacts. At the end of the summer school participants completed written exams and beam time proposal presentations. In addition to receiving an attendance certificate, Gokhan was recognized as one of the top students, securing third place in the exam.


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Further information

The CoSEM CDT (established in 2019) has evolved from the highly successful and established ACCIS CDT (2014-2024) to address exciting doctoral training opportunities for multidisciplinary composite materials engineering and manufacture.

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