Science Accelerator Semi-Final Competition

The event unite students, facilitators and scientists in celebration of the Israel Space Week. Alongside inspiring lectures, the Science Accelerator students will pitch their innovative ideas. Professional committee will select the best ideas to be developed for the final competition.

About the Speakers: 

Dr. Eliad Peretz is based at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, where he is the principal investigator for the Orbiting Calibrator and Artificial Star (ORCAS), a small-scale space mission aimed at improving the quality of space imaging for the largest telescopes on the ground. In his role as lead researcher for New Space Missions under Nobel Laureate Dr. John Mather, he is responsible for identifying the goals, engineering requirements, cost, and feasibility of missions, especially the discovery of Earth-like planets. Dr. Peretz also oversees the development of new materials and technologies used for advanced space exploration such as high quantum efficiency UV-Vis detectors and X-ray attenuators, and is currently supporting an array of space flight projects.

Born to a family of immigrants from Morocco and the United Kingdom, he received his bachelor’s degree at the Technion Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, and his master’s and doctoral degrees from Cornell University.

Shelli Brunswick, COO of Space Foundation, brings a global perspective and deep vision of the workforce development roadmap and economic opportunities available to all people in the space economy — from a distinguished career as a space acquisition and program management leader and Congressional Liaison for the US Air Force — to her current role as Executive Leader of the Center for Innovation and Education, which creates and delivers inclusive, innovative, and sustainable workforce development and economic opportunity programs.

Brunswick’s work to champion the inclusion of underserved groups stems from staying true to the values instilled while she was in the military — a passion to share her journey, give back to the space community, and contribute to the development of the next-generation workforce. She collaborates with organizations around the world to advance the opportunities for entrepreneurs, piloting the launch of the Space Commerce Entrepreneurship Program and the Junior Space Entrepreneur Program. As a leading role model for women in space, Brunswick was selected as the 2020 Diversity and Inclusion Officer and Role Model of the Year by WomenTech Network.

Brunswick speaks at organizations and events around the globe to advance space technology innovation partnerships and collaboration, chairs the Women in Aerospace (WIA) Foundation, and hosts the Women’s Global Gathering annually at Space Symposium. In addition, she is one of only 35 women worldwide to be selected by the United Nations as a mentor for its Space4Women program and is a World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF) Senator for the United States of America.  She sits on the Board of Directors for Manufacture’s Edge.