Unite! students join forces for the Orbiting Sustainability workshop in Grenoble
A shared vision about space sustainability takes flight in Grenoble.
From 12–14 June, Grenoble INP – Ensimag hosted the Orbiting Sustainability workshop: an intensive, student-led event welcoming participants from three Unite! Alliance universities: Aalto University, ULisboa and Grenoble INP – UGA. United by a desire to tackle the growing problem of orbital pollution, the students came together to explore one of the space sector’s most urgent challenges.
The idea for this workshop was sparked at the Unite! Seed Fund Ideathon, held at Graz University of Technology in November 2024. It was there that students from across Unite! partner institutions connected over their shared passion for space sustainability. With support from their Student Liaison Officers and a successful application to the December 2024 Seed Fund call, they transformed their vision into a dynamic, collaborative project.
Photo 1 - Caption: Participants arriving for Day 1 of the Unite! Orbiting Sustainability workshop in Grenoble – a Unite! Seed Fund-supported event. From left to right: Shaghayegh Ostovar Ravari (Aalto), Deniel Must (Aalto), Tomás Fernandes (ULisboa), Rui Fonseca (ULisboa), Anastasia Bratter (Aalto), Zijad Sivic (Aalto), Blessing Olekanma (Grenoble INP - UGA), Adel Zhumatayeva (Grenoble INP - UGA), Paul Westerlund (Aalto), Rita Leitão (ULisboa), Järn Veli-Matti (Aalto), Miguel Fialho (ULisboa), Johanna Weigel (Aalto), Filipa Cheng (ULisboa), Hassam Sajjad (Grenoble INP - UGA), Teresa Coimbra (ULisboa), Alice Silva (ULisboa), Beste Polatkal (Aalto), Ana Oliveira (ULisboa).
Photo 2 - Caption: Student organisers from left to right: Teresa Coimbra (ULisboa), Beste Polatkal (Aalto), Johanna Weigel (Aalto), Filipa Cheng (ULisboa), Hassam Sajjad (Grenoble INP - UGA)
Collaboration beyond borders
The workshop began as students arrived in sunny Grenoble, framed by the breathtaking backdrop of the French Alps. Coming from a diverse mix of academic backgrounds—including logistics and energy engineering, astrophysics, business economics, and sustainability—they brought together a broad range of perspectives to tackle the shared challenge of safeguarding the future of space.
The event opened with presentations by students showcasing ongoing projects from their home universities, each taking a unique approach to the problem of orbital pollution. Topics included incentivising responsible behaviour among space companies, leveraging green hydrogen for decarbonisation—and even a creative concept involving “space bees.”
Expert insights and fresh discoveries
To deepen the discussion, the students welcomed two guest lecturers: Rui Agostinho, Assistant Professor in Astrophysics from ULisboa, and Mathieu Barthelemy, Professor of Space Weather at UGA and Scientific Director of the Maison pour la Science. Their talks provided expert insights into the technical and political complexities of space debris. A particularly striking moment came with the discussion of a recently identified risk: chemical pollution from melted aluminium in spacecraft dispersing into Earth’s atmosphere.
Looking ahead
As the workshop concluded, participants turned their attention to the future—brainstorming new ways to continue their collaboration and expand the reach of their initiative. With part of the Seed Fund budget set aside for dissemination, the students are eager to pursue further research and plan future events to raise awareness about orbital sustainability.
Want to launch your own idea?
Projects like this one show the power of cross-European collaboration. Whether you’re passionate about space, sustainability, or any other field, Unite! offers a unique platform to build lasting connections and make a real impact. If you’ve got an idea that could fly—why not make it the next one to lift off?
To learn more about the Unite! Seed Fund and how you can bring your own ideas to life, visit the full page here.