Best
Corporate/Team Achievement:
-
The Mars Exploration Rovers Team(Link)
The
award was presented by Alistair Scott of EADS Astrium, prime sponsors
of the BROHP conference. He announced to the audience that the team was
represented by a very special guest, the Principal Investigator for the
project, Steve Squyres, who had especially flown from a conference in
Barcelona before returning to the USA. He then added; “The rest
of the team are here in spirit - if not in opportunity!”
On accepting the award on behalf of the team, Steve Squyres said; “The
rovers are now 1,167 days into their 90-day mission! We’re very
tired! The success of this mission is testimony to the efforts of an absolutely
remarkable team of more than 4,000 people, and what characterises everyone
is a passion for the exploration of Mars.”
Best
Space Reporting:
-
Robin Scagell (Link)
The award for Best Space Reporting was presented by populariser of science,
Nigel Henbest, and went to writer and broadcaster Robin Scagell. Robin
was on a Dark Skies astronomy trip in Wales, and was represented by another
space writer, Paul Sutherland.
The nomination was for Robin’s regular appearances on Sky News and
BBC News 24, which have helped to bring the wonder of space exploration
to the general public. Paul pointed out that Robin has also been a leading
name in promoting not just space science but also astronomy in this country
for a very long time.
Achievement
in Education:
-
The International Space School Education Trust (Link)
The
award for Achievement in Education was presented by Gareth James, Chair
of the Space Education Council, and went to The International Space School
Education Trust.
The ISSET space schools help teachers inspire pupils by using the wonder
of space exploration. Their competitions such as “Edge Into Space”
have the lucky winners meeting astronauts and space scientists at Cape
Canaveral and Houston.
Director of ISSET, Chris Barber, quoted a space school participant, who
said; “The ISSET programme has introduced me, through space, to
what humans can achieve, and made me determined to really make something
of myself.” Chris said; “That’s our aim with young people
all over the country.”
Best
TV/Radio Presentation:
-
"The Sky At Night" production team (Link)
The winner of the award for
Best TV / Radio Presentation was announced by Rod Stevenson from Costessey
High Scool, who inspires pupils flying model rockets.
The winner was The Sky At Night Team, “for its pioneering work in
presenting astronomy and space to the public, and for doing it for the
last 50 years.”
As the team are very busy they could not be present, and the award was
presented at Sir Patrick Moore’s home in Selesy, at a special Sky
At Night celebration.
Best
Written Presentation:
-
"Space on Earth" by Charles Cockell (Link)
The award for Best Written
Presentation was presented by Nick Hill, former master at Charterhouse
and the author of “A Vertical Empire”, about British rocketry.
The award went to “Space on Earth” by Charles Cockell, who
suggests that environmentalists and those favouring space exploration
actually have the same objective - to ensure that humanity has a home.
He calls for both groups to work together, explaining that technologies
which will help us on Earth, such as wind power and solar energy, are
also those we will use in space and on other worlds.
Charles said; “It’s always bemused me that evironmentalists
sometimes regard space exploration as a waste of time and money, and often
space explorers view evironmentalists as people who are quite introspective
and can’t see the vision of exploring space. So the reason for this
book was to contribute to the debate on how these two challenges could
be synthesised into one vision for our human future.”
Best
Individual Achievement
-
Steve Squyres (Link)
The award for Best Individual
Achievement was presented by Bo Maxwell, Managing Director of The Mars
Society UK.
When it came to considering the nominations for Best Individual Achievement,
the judges decided that there was one that stood out so much, they took
the decision not to have a short-list, but to declare that entry the winner.
The award went “to a planetary investigator whose work is being
followed by millions of people as his robots continue their extra-ordinary
travels across the surface of Mars” - the Principal Investigator
for the Mars Exploration Rovers, Steve Squyres.
Professor Squyres said; “It is a curious feeling to be singled out
for an individual achievement for what is definitely a team sport. So
I will only say that this is given very generously and received very thankfully.”
Inspiration
Award:
-
Sir Patrick Moore (Link)
Patrick's entire career as a TV astronomer
has been one that has inspired millions of people, young and old, with
an interest in astronomy and space exploration.
The award was presented at Sir Patrick's home, at a celebration to mark
the 50th anniversary of The Sky At Night.
After Jerry Stone announced the award, Patrick asked; "Why me?",
to which Jerry replied; "If you don't know by now ..."
See also the messages from nominees Anousheh Ansari and Piers Sellers.
Outreach
Award for the Public Promotion of Space:
-
Lord Sainsbury (Link)
Sir
Arthur's Special Award:
-
Ray Bradbury (Link)
Read the tribute
and Ray's reply here (PDF file)
Lifetime
Achievement
Award:
-
Captain Eric "Winkle" Brown (Link)
Additional
item - The George Abbey Award:
-
The Reliant Robin Team (Link)
This was a late entry. The
decision to create this award was made after watching an amazing presentation
the night before the awards, which showed something we felt just had to
be recognised.
The award is named for our special guest this year, George Abbey, former
Director of the Johnson Space Centre in Houston. George has really enjoyed
his time here, especially watching the activities of a certain rocketry
team...
This award goes to the team whose space achievement made us laugh the
most - The Reliant Robin Team, represented by
Damien Hall, Colin Rowe, Richard Osborne and James McFarlane
Download a copy of the News Release here (Word file).
A DVD of the event will be available in due course. For information about the DVD, contact me using the e-mail link below.