Solving outer-space problems
A lifelong interest in space led Dr Jessica Dallas to study at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. Now she is one of numerous alumni working in the New Zealand space industry.
Dr Jessica Dallas is a Senior Policy Advisor at the New Zealand Space Agency. A Wellington alumna, she studied a Bachelor of Science majoring in Geology before progressing to a Master of Science with Honours. Although she always had an interest in space science, the trajectory of her space industry career was shaped by the classes she enjoyed during her studies.
“I initially had my sights set on being a planetary geologist, so studying geology seemed like the logical first step. During my undergraduate degree I took a geochemistry course, and there were so many interesting space applications, so I decided to pursue postgraduate research. The Earth Sciences programme has a great reputation and I love Wellington, so studying at Victoria University of Wellington was the obvious choice for me.”
In her current role, Jessica develops both national and international space policy for Aotearoa New Zealand, which she says benefits from her broad multidisciplinary background in space.
“The space industry is very fast paced, with a constant stream of technological developments. There are always a lot of really interesting and varied policy challenges coming my way.”
Jessica says the new Space Science major will provide “a great foundation for students looking to become well-rounded space industry professionals.”
“The space sector is quite unique, so knowledge of the sector gained from this major will be really valuable. New Zealand’s space industry is growing, so it is a great time to be embarking on a career in the space industry.”
During her studies, Jessica had the opportunity to connect with space professionals from around the world, eventually leading her to pursue a PhD in Space Engineering in Australia.
“The skills I developed and the connections I made led to me getting a job working at a planetary science laboratory in Europe. I eventually went on to do a space-related PhD, which I felt really well prepared for as a result of my time at Victoria University of Wellington.”
Jessica says the opportunities in space are endless, and not solely restricted to STEM. “There are so many jobs within the space industry that span a variety of specialties, so it varies depending on what sort of job you are looking for. In general, working in the space industry requires a lot of teamwork, innovation, creativity, and of course, hard work.
“Exploring space is no longer confined to a handful of governments—the diversity of organisations that we now see within the global space industry has brought new ideas, new technologies, and new opportunities for people interested working in the industry. The space industry is very future-focused, so there are always exciting developments on the horizon.”
For students considering space science, Jessica emphasises that there are more opportunities locally than one may think.
“Consider opportunities at your doorstep. When I finished my studies there was not many opportunities to work in the space industry in New Zealand. However, our space industry has grown rapidly since then, and now there are so many incredible opportunities to work in the space industry across a variety of local organisations.”
In 2023, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington will become the first university in the country to offer an undergraduate major in Space Science. The major will give students a broad understanding of what it takes to get into space—from science and technology to the big issues behind space travel. Find out more here.