presents the
AIAA Young Professionals, Students, and Educators (YPSE) Conference
Announcements
Announcement (11/20/2023): YPSE 2023 has concluded! Thank you to everyone who helped make this event possible. Check back later for more details regarding YPSE 2024!
When:
November 17th and 18th, 2023
Where:
Kossiakoff Center, 11100 Johns Hopkins Rd, Laurel, MD 20723
We are looking for 15 minute technical presentations in any area of interest to the aerospace community by young professionals (age 35 and under), graduate, undergraduate, high school students, and educators. Topics can be technical in nature or focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
Within the DEI track, we are looking for presenters who want to share their story and speak on topics including but not limited to improving DEI in Aerospace, dealing with imposter syndrome/burnout, authenticity, empowerment and outreach, intersectionality etc. We know this is a broad track; we want you all to have the freedom to speak on anything you are passionate about within DEI.
The titles for the winning technical presentations from past years can be found in the Past Conferences tab. Technical presentations will be scored on various criteria including ability to convey impact of work, demonstrate knowledge of the technical area, methodologies, communication, and more. Awards (Certificate and $200 Gift Card) will be given to exceptional presentations in the various categories listed above.
For questions, contact aiaa.midatlantic+YPSE@gmail.com.
We need volunteers to serve as judges and session chairs. Those interested in volunteering should email aiaa.midatlantic+YPSE@gmail.com for more information.
Important Dates:
Early Bird Registration Closes: October 13th, 2023
Presenter Registration Closes (abstracts due): Deadline extended to: October 27th, 2023
Presenter Full Presentations Due: November 3rd, 2023
Attendee Registration Closes: November 10th, 2023
Conference Dates: November 17th and18th, 2023
Agenda for YPSE:
Technical Keynote: Rebekah Siegfriedt
Rebekah Sosland Siegfriedt received a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas, Austin in 2013. She has operated two Mars Rovers during her ten years at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory: the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity and, more recently, Perseverance. Perseverance’s mission is to search for signs of ancient life on Mars, collect Martian samples to be returned to Earth on a future Mars mission, and prepare for humans to go to Mars. Rebekah currently serves as Deputy Team Chief for the Engineering Operations team that builds daily instructions for Perseverance and then analyzes the data it returns to Earth. Not only is she a Mars robot operator, but also the mom of two amazing children, Milo and Luna.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Keynote: Dr. Joi Spraggins and George Hardy
Dr. Joi C. Spraggins is recognized as a legacy leadership expert in global diversity inclusion, leadership development, communications, workforce development, public policy, NASA STEM and community engagement. Dr. Spraggins is a NSBE Life-Time Member and 2018 recipient of the NSBE Technical Excellence Ambassador Award. As a NSBE Aerospace Ambassador SIG and a member of the NSBE Public Policy Leadership Team, she advocates for greater diversity and inclusion for women/girls, minorities and veterans in aviation/ aerospace, scientific research, systems thinking and private/public sector HBCU Partnerships. Dr. Spraggins serves as the AIAA Greater Philadelphia Section Public Policy Officer and sits on the AIAA National Diversity Working Group Committee.
Lt. Col. USAF George Hardy is a retired pilot and military officer. In World War II Hardy served the Tuskegee Airmen and flew 21 combat missions. In the Korean War he flew 45 combat missions as the pilot of a bomber. In the Vietnam War Hardy flew 70 combat missions piloting an AC-119K gunship.
Technical Panel:
Elena Adams: Mission and Spacecraft Systems Engineer for NASA DART Mission, Formulation and New Opportunities Lead at the JHU/APL
Alice Bowman: New Horizons Operations Manager, Space Missions Operation Group Supervisor, JHU/APL
Andrew S. Driesman: Parker Solar Probe Program Manager, Managing Executive for the JHU/APL Space Sector
Ralph Lorenz: Dragonfly Mission Architect, Planetary Scientist at the JHU/APL
A special thank you to our 2023 Signature Sponsor:
Our Mission: Powering Innovation That Drives Human Advancement™
When visionary companies need to know how their world-changing ideas will perform, they close the gap between design and reality with Ansys simulation. For more than 50 years, Ansys software has enabled innovators across industries to push boundaries by using the predictive power of simulation. From sustainable transportation to advanced semiconductors, from satellite systems to life-saving medical devices, the next great leaps in human advancement will be powered by Ansys. 
The full list YPSE 2023 sponsors can be found on the Sponsor Page
If you are joining us from out of town, the AIAA Region 1 Mid-Atlantic Section recommends the Residence Inn Fulton at Maple Lawn.
Kossiakoff Center
Residence Inn