Update: both sessions took place on 21 October. Read how the day went.

On Wednesday 21 October 2026 we welcome Professor Paul Febvre, Professor of Space Systems Engineering and Director of the Space Systems Centre at Cranfield University, for two sessions at the University of Bradford. Professor Febvre has more than 40 years of experience across satellite communications, positioning technologies and space systems.

15:30 - Masterclass: Space Systems, Innovation and the Future of Space

Richmond Building, room D3

A session for University of Bradford students interested in space, engineering, computing or AI. Professor Febvre will talk about the real-world challenges, new opportunities and future directions of the space sector, with plenty of time for questions.

18:00 - Cantor Technology Lecture: Space 2050

Space 2050: Opportunity, Sustainability and the Future of Life Beyond Earth, 18:00-19:15, Small Hall

What could space look like by 2050, and how might it change life on Earth? The lecture will cover:

• The growth of mega-constellations and the future of space infrastructure
• The opportunities and challenges of lower-cost access to space
• Keeping space operations sustainable as orbits get more crowded
• Large-scale data centres in space and what they could mean for AI
• Large structures and new infrastructure beyond Earth
• Whether space could help with sustainability on Earth

It will also ask whether space will become a burden on Earth's resources, or help us build a more sustainable future.

The Cantor Technology Lectures bring leading academics and industry figures to Bradford to talk about new technologies and the opportunities and challenges they bring. The lecture is open to staff, students, researchers and anyone interested in space and technology.