Institute for space science, exploration and technology (ISSET): cross-disciplinary space research institute
A University of Alberta institute advancing space science, exploration, and technology across microgravity science, space instrumentation and robotics, planetary materials, and space physics.
Overview
The Institute for Space Science, Exploration and Technology (ISSET) is a University of Alberta institute that embraces a range of scientific and engineering disciplines related to the exploration of space. It builds on long-standing institutional strengths in space research to pursue emerging, cross-disciplinary opportunities and to develop partnerships with other institutions, agencies, and industry.
Research focus areas
ISSET is organized around four core themes drawn from existing and emerging strengths across six departments in two faculties: microgravity science and planetary environment; space technology for instrumentation and robotics; planetary materials science; and space physics and the space environment.
Membership & engagement
ISSET develops partnerships with institutions, agencies, and industry, and offers educational experiences and provincial capability-building through outreach programs, visiting professor positions, workshops, seminar series, and scientific meetings. Past activity includes the Ex-Alta 1 CubeSat.
About University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a large, comprehensive public research university in Edmonton with multiple campuses and a strong applied research culture. Industry engages through co-located labs and pilot-scale facilities, as well as established co-op and internship programs that place talent with partners year-round. Integration with Alberta’s province-wide hospital system supports clinical research and accelerates translation. Companies also benefit from proximity to regional industry clusters and collaboration hubs on and near campus for joint R&D and prototyping. Supported by NSERC, CIHR, SSHRC, and Canada Foundation for Innovation funding—plus provincial and industry support—the tech transfer office manages IP, licensing, and startup formation with streamlined sponsored-research agreements.
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