Join our Space at Manchester community

22 Jun 2026

One University initiative launched – uniquely placed to convene conversations and translate them into action – discover more and get involved.

Across the University, there is an incredible community of colleagues working on research connected to space – spanning disciplines, perspectives and approaches. 

‘Space at Manchester’ has been established to bring this community together. 

This is a genuinely one‑University initiative: a cross‑disciplinary, peer-led effort designed to connect ambitious researchers who share a common drive to tackle some of the most important technological, environmental and societal challenges of our time – and to shape the research agendas and partnerships needed to address them.  

Whether your work is directly focused on space, or engages through areas such as policy, social research, materials, data, robotics or life sciences, this community wants to engage with you to increase your external visibility and to match you with the right colleagues ahead of funding calls.  

Their aim is simple:  

to make Manchester’s collective research strength more visible  

to connect colleagues with shared ambitions  

to create opportunities for new collaborations, and

to attract the scale of funding and partnership our work deserves   

Manchester has the breadth, depth and infrastructure to be a genuine powerhouse in this space. By working more closely together, the Space at Manchester community can better articulate that strength – and ensure that the University is positioned to lead as the UK’s space capability continues to grow.  

The Space at Manchester community is designed to be inclusive and open. Whether you are early career or established, new to the area or already deeply embedded, you are encouraged to connect, contribute and help define what comes next.  

“With strengths ranging from world-leading astronomy at Jodrell Bank to emerging capabilities in areas such as bioengineering, policy and governance, and data science, The University of Manchester is uniquely placed to convene these conversations and translate them into action,” Kate Smith, Space at Manchester co-chair and Professor of Space Technology, explained at a recent showcase. 

Discover more 

If you are interested in getting involved, or simply want to find out more, please contact FSE Research Development and Innovation at: FSE.RDI@manchester.ac.uk. 

You can also explore our One‑University web page and read about our recent showcase driving collaboration and new partnership opportunities.