Martin works for the Fraunhofer Institute of High-Speed Dynamics (EMI) in Freiburg/Germany since 2007, where he leads the Spacecraft Technology Group. Fraunhofer EMI has contributed to the development of impact protection of diverse European Space Systems and groundbreaking studies on spacecraft vulnerability against debris impact since the 1980ies. Recent achievements of research are fragment tracking methods in hypervelocity impact experiments and the development of methods and tools for numerical spacecraft fragmentation analysis. Martin serves as DLR-expert in the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC). Besides his scientific interest in the early dynamics of impact processes, he brings in his space system engineering skills in managing the ERNST project, the first small satellite fully developed by Fraunhofer to be launched in 2024 for demonstrating advanced missile detection.
Richard Moissl is a Solar System Physicist with a specialisation in small bodies. He has Participated in different roles in the Rosetta mission to Comet 67/P, the BepiColombo mission to Mercury and worked on the preparation of the Hera proximity operations of the Didymos/Dimorphos binary. Having coordinated the asteroid Impact hazard mitigation activities of ESA since 2020, he has been appointed as Head of the Planetary Defence office of ESA in 2022.
Jorge Amaya is the Space Weather Modelling Coordinator at the Space Weather Office in ESA’s Space Safety Programme. He has an academic background in Systems Engineering, with a master’s degree in energetics from the ISAE-SUPAERO engineering school, and a doctoral degree in fluid dynamics from the INPT both in France. Before joining ESA in 2022, Dr. Amaya worked for 15 years as scientist in multiple academic and research institutions. His last research work focused on the numerical simulation of space plasmas, studying the interaction between the solar wind and planetary environments. He is a specialist in High Performance Computing, Machine Learning, space plasmas and aerospace engineering. At the European Space Agency Dr. Amaya coordinates the activities related to the modelling of space weather, and those related to the understanding of the impacts of space weather in our life and technology. Dr. Amaya is also the Mission Scientist for the ESA Aurora spacecraft, working on the definition of its scientific requirements and planning the activities for the utilisation of the mission data.
Tim Flohrer leads ESA's Space Debris Office since 2020. He joined the office as an engineer in 2007, and became analyst in 2009, senior analyst in 2018. Since 2014 he is working for ESA's Space Situational Awareness Program (SSA) and Space Safety Programme (S2P) and leads activities addressing the monitoring of space debris. In parallel he is supporting operational collision avoidance activities for ESA and third party missions, re-entry predictions, mitigation analyses, long-term predictions of the space debris environment, and space debris risk assessments. Before he moved to Darmstadt, Germany, Tim was a research associate at the Astronomical Institute of the University of Bern, Switzerland, where he mainly worked on ground- and space-based optical space surveillance, and related planning and processing software. Tim is an ESA delegate to the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC), where he is chair to WG1 (measurements) and he was chair of WG2 (environment and database). Tim holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD; Dr. phil.-nat.) from the University of Bern, Switzerland, and a Diplom-Ingenieur in Geodesy from the Dresden University of Technology, Germany. Tim has been working on space debris and space surveillance topics for more than 22 years.
Alma Kugić is an architect from Pula, Croatia. She earned her Master's degree in Architecture from the University of Technology in Vienna, Austria, in 2023. During her academic journey, Alma developed a passion for space architecture, focusing on the innovative design of habitats for extraterrestrial environments. Her Master's thesis explored groundbreaking concepts for creating sustainable habitation and exploration rover on the Moon, reflecting her commitment to expanding the boundaries of architectural design.
Alma is actively engaged in the broader aerospace community. She is a member of the Adriatic Aerospace Association in Croatia, a founding member of ASTRAEUS in Germany, and also serves on the Space Architecture Technical Committee internationally. Currently, she is working as a junior architect at a firm in her hometown of Pula, where she continues to expand her expertise in Earth architecture while maintaining her passion for space-related projects.
Fellow of AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics), full Member of IAA (International Academy of Astronautics), Honorary Member of IAASS (Int. Assoc. for the Advancement of Space Safety), Member of ESA delegation at IADC (Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee) and UNCOPUOS/STSC (Scientific & Technical Sub-Committee). Klinkrad was ESA visiting scientist in ESOC’s Flight Dynamics Division (1980-1983), Flight Dynamics Engineer for the ERS-1 Project at ESTEC (1983-1988), Senior Mission Analyst in ESOC’s Mission Analysis Office (1988-2005), Head of ESA's Space Debris Office (2006-2014), Appointment as “ESA Senior Advisor” on space debris in 2008. Author of the text book on “Space Debris” (2006), 250 publications, recipient of the “Joseph P. Loftus Space Sustainability Award” from the Int. Association for the Advancement of Space Safety (IAASS) in 2013, recipient of the “Distinguished Service Award” from the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) in 2015, recipient of two “ESA Team Awards” in 2013 and 2014.
Hon. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ognjan Božić, received his PhD from the Technical University of Braunschweig in 2002 with a dissertation related to CFD modeling of heterogeneous multiphase combustion processes in steam generators. Prof. Dr. Ognjan Božić worked for the German Aerospace Center as a research scientist for 20 years. (DLR) – Institute for Aerodynamics and Flow Process Technology, Braunschweig, Germany. His work focused on chemical rocket propulsion, aero-thermodynamics of space vehicles returning to the Earth’s atmosphere, rocket flight mechanics, analysis of space launch systems as well as the development of electromagnetic accelerators (MHD and RAILGUN). Also, he has been involved in many experimental projects such as the X-38 Crew Rescue Vehicle (NASA), ESA Expert Capsule and SHEFEX 1 Suborbital Capsule, as well as several feasibility studies such as “Sample Return Mission from the Moon” (study leader), MHD propulsion Liquid Booster with the possibility of a soft return to Earth (LFBB) for the Ariana 5 launch vehicle and Critical Review of Ariane 6 booster 120C. Božić started teaching as an assistant and assistant professor in the field of defense technologies at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Sarajevo MFS), Republic of B&H and continued his career at the Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany. He is an honorary professor of teaching space propulsion at TU-Braunschweig in his master’s studies (2010-2019). Since 2011' he is a member of the British Interplanetary Society (BIS, GB), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft und Raumfahrt (Supervisor of the Solid and Hybrid Propulsion Committee DGLR Germany). Also Božić is Head of upstream technology (launchers, space vehicles etc.) by Adriatic Aerospace Association (A3-Zagreb, Croatia) and a full member (Academian) of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) based in Paris (F). He was full member of the "European Electromagnetic Launch Society" (EEMLS) in years 2004 – 2016 and also Deputy Chairman of EEMLS (2013 – 2016). Prof. Božić is also the author of 72 books and scientific papers published at international conferences, congresses and in refereed journals.
Stoewer was the European Space Agency’s (ESA) first program Manager for the Spacelab project, where he created a strong systems group. Stoewer also founded the ESA’s Systems Engineering and Programmatics Department, where he implemented an end-to-end systems engineering philosophy across ESA projects. He served as managing director of the German Space Agency’s national space science and applications projects.
Lectures Space Mission Analysis and Design, Space Propulsion, Master Thesis Seminar at University of Applied Sciences in Austria. He is also advisor to students in Projects and Master Theses. Field of specialization: Space Propulsion.
Associated Professor on courses related to Satellite Positioning and Navigation. Received his MSc in 2008, and PhD degree in 2014 from the University of Zagreb Faculty of Geodesy. The areas of his professional and scientific interest are in GNSS, positioning, navigation, satellite geodesy, and geomagnetism. Since 2020 his research activites are focused on the earthquake effects assessed by GNSS methods as well as the assessment of jamming effects on the geodetic GNSS receivers and infrastucture.
Consultant / Senior advisor, space systems professional with 36 years of experience. Special in-depth expertise in Earth observation, satellite navigation and satellite communication as well as ground-based validation experiments. He is the former Head of the Electromagnetics & Space Environment Division at the European Space Agency and has served as expert to several European and national Institutions. He has supported EGNOS and Galileo in defining and developing correction algorithms.
Guenter W. Hein is Professor Emeritus of Excellence of University FAF Munich. He was ESA Head of EGNOS & GNSS Evolution Programme Dept. 2008-2014, in charge of development of 2nd generation of EGNOS and Galileo. Prof. Hein has more than 300 scientific and technical papers published, carried out more than 200 research projects and educated more than 70 Ph. D.´s. He received 2002 the prestigious Johannes Kepler Award for „sustained and significant contributions to satellite navigation” of the US Institute of Navigation (ION), the highest worldwide award in navigation given only to one individual each year. G. Hein became 2011 a Fellow of US ION. The Technical University of Prague honoured his achievements in satellite navigation with a Doctor honoris causa in Jan. 2013. He is Chairman of the Executive Board of Munich Aerospace.
Zoran works as Space Systems Engineer at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory on Dragonfly project. He is responsible on design and implementation of electromagnetic interference test and verification, integration of electronics, and test and verification of complete vehicle. Dragonfly may be the most ambitious science mission NASA has ever attempted: sending a car-sized, nuclear-powered octocopter to explore the surface of a distant ocean world. Before coming to APL, Zoran worked at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center for over 20 years as radiation effects engineer, PCB designer, lead test engineer and space system engineer. During that time Zoran was involved in many high profile projects, such as James Webb telescope, ICESat-2, and PACE.
Zdenko Uvalic was born 1966. He studied Aerospace Engineering at Kingston University, United Kingdom, where he earned his first degree with honours. Between 2001 -2007 he worked at EADS Astrium as a Principal Stress Engineer responsible for all the structural and design aspects of military and commercial telecommunication satellite antenna assemblies. In 2007 he joined EADS Astrium’s Earth Observation Navigation & Science Division where he worked on ExoMars rover programme as a Structural Architect responsible for design test and validation of structural subsystems. Between 2009-2013 he was accountable for all technical and design aspects of Sentinel 5p spacecraft’s structural and mechanical subsystems architecture. He received an award for an exceptional contribution to the project. In September 2013, Zdenko took on the position of Senior Structural Engineer at Aircraft Research Association (ARA) in Bedford, UK. His remit involved developing, introducing and verifying innovative multi-physics FEA, linear and non-linear methods and simulations, as well as enhancing generic static and dynamic analysis of wind tunnel test models. In 2015 he returned to Airbus DS (former EADS Astrium) where he assumed role of a Mechanical Architect on Solar Orbiter programme as well as supporting other ongoing projects.
Alessandro Golkar is Full Professor at the Technical University of Munich, Chair of Pico-, Nanosatellites, and Satellite Constellations. His research interests are in systems engineering and in the development of novel mission concepts of spacecraft systems, with particular interest in nanosatellites and satellite constellation systems. Prof. Golkar served as co-PI of the FSSCAT CubeSat mission, a satellite mission sponsored by ESA, 1st Prize Winner of the ESA Sentinel Small Satellite Challenge, and Overall Winner of the 2017 Copernicus Masters. From 2012 to 2022, Prof. Golkar was among the founding faculty members of the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) in Moscow, Russia, a new research university founded in collaboration with MIT. From 2017 to 2019 Prof. Golkar took a sabbatical leave from academia and joined Airbus as Vice President of the Technology Planning and Roadmapping unit of the Corporate Technology Office at group level, in charge of creating the Airbus Concurrent Design Facility and running roadmapping studies for the steering of the overall group R&T budget of 800 MEUR per year. Professor Golkar holds a Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and M.Sc. and B.Sc. degrees in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Rome “La Sapienza”. He serves as Associate Editor of the INCOSE Systems Engineering journal.
Željko Ivezić obtained undergraduate degrees in mechanical engineering and physics from the University of Zagreb, Croatia, and his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Kentucky in 1995. After working on the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) at Princeton University, he took a professorship in astronomy at the University of Washington in 2004. Željko's scientific interests are in detection, analysis, and interpretation of electromagnetic radiation from astronomical sources, with emphasis on data mining and machine learning methods. He has co-authored over 300 refereed publications, with a cumulative citation count of over 100,000. His current obsession is the Rubin Observatory's Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), for which he served as the Project Scientist for well over a decade, and he is now serving as the Director of the Rubin Construction project. In many ways similar to SDSS, which provided to us the first large digital color snapshot of the faint optical sky, LSST will deliver a digital color movie of the night sky by collecting about 60,000,000 GB (or 60 PB) of astronomical imaging data.
Martin Quack is professor of physical chemistry at ETH Zürich, His research group investigates the quantum dynamics and kinetics of molecules both theoretically and experimentally, with special emphasis on the dynamics of tunneling and parity violation (due to the electroweak interaction of the standard model) in chiral molecules. He has been elected as a Fellow of the American Physical Society, Member of the Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences as well as a corresponding member of Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities. From 2002 to 2011 he had been member of the National Research Council of the Swiss National Science Foundation. In 2014 he was elected as member of the presidium of the German Academy of Sciences, Leopoldina
Hrvoje Buljan received a MSc degree in physics from the University of Zagreb in 1997 and defended his PhD thesis at the same university in 2002. In the period from 2002-2004 he was a postdoctoral fellow at the Technion, Israel Institute of Technology. His research at the time was focused on nonlinear optical phenomena such as incoherent solitons. After the postdoc period he moved back to the University of Zagreb as an Assistant Professor and formed his group with diverse activities including photonics, condensed-matter systems, quantum gases. HB authored and co-authored more than 88 publications in peer reviewed journals with ~4300 citations in Web of Science. HB was promoted to the rank of Associate Professor of Physics at the University of Zagreb in 2009, and to the rank of Full Professor in 2013. He received the Annual Croatian State Award for Science in 2010, the Andrija Mohorovičić award in 2019, and the Croatian Academy of Sciences award in 2023. He mentored 7 PhD theses and more than 40 diploma theses. HB is the PI on several research projects including the Scientific Center of Excellence for Quantum and Complex Systems including 80 scientists from 9 Croatian public institutions and 5 MEUR from EU Regional and Development Fund (2015-2025). At the Brijuni conference, he will present applications of his work in space technologies.
Matija Tomšić is an artist from Zagreb, Croatia. He received a Master of Arts degree in graphics and painting from the Fine Art Academy in Zagreb. His artistic work explores philosophical and scientific topics such as the sustainable future of human civilization, the integration of artificial intelligence into society, space archeology, the appearance of space-time, and others. He is the winner of the prize for architecture and innovation for Space of the Jacques Rougerie Foundation in 2023. He founded the visual design and concept art studio - Artor, which is active in the media, film, and game industries.
Started his higher education at Technical University of Istanbul (ITU), Master's degree from Technical University of Berlin for Aerospace Technologies, 30+ years experience, mostly in Aviation sector. Lecturer for 5 years at Kadir Has University in Istanbul, Former Director General of DHMI, State Airports Authority of Turkey, Former Director General, Aviation and Space Technologies by Ministry of Transport, President of newly established Turkish Space Agency since August 2019
