Student reaches for stars at U.N. conference

Masters student Shane Kemper seized a rare opportunity this summer to attend and help coordinate the Third United Nations Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in Vienna, Austria.

The event, held once every 15 years, drew 160 college students and young professionals interested in space technology from 60 nations.

The event was held from July 19 to July 30 and culminated in space policy recommendations by the participants to the U.N.

Kemper said he was one of only three California participants and the only California State University student attending the conference.

“I am truly proud of him,” said Braja Das, dean of engineering and computer science. “We all are.”

Das said that Kemper did an excellent job of promoting CSUS and the school of engineering and computer science by his participation in the conference.

Kemper served as a supervising conference officer and a member of the international organization committee. He was initially worried about what his responsibilities would be, although he did not have much time to think about it once he arrived in Vienna. Within minutes of his arrival at his hotel in Vienna he was in his first meeting, and stayed busy the whole conference with 16 to 20 hour days.

The first big project Kemper was involved with was overseeing the setup of a teleconference between the Vienna National Center, where the conference was held, and the Mir space station. Kemper had to speak through interpreters to Russian, French and Austrian telecommunications people.

“We all timed it just right,” said Kemper who briefly spoke to a Russian cosmonaut and French astronaut aboard Mir.

Kemper says he did not have much time to revel in success, though; his next mission was to set up another teleconference between Vienna and Sri Lanka, from where the keynote speaker, science fiction writer Arthur C. Clark, gave a presentation.

In between duties, Kemper was able to attend some of the forums and conferences. Conferences were held to make recommendations to the UN’s space program policy. The conferences resulted in over 40 recommendations for the U.N. to consider.

One forum in which he participated made a recommendation that the U.N. establish a planetary defense system to protect earth from space hazards, such as a collision with a comet. This recommendation was one of only five accepted by a U.N. committee, the UNISPACE committee, for a formal U.N. consideration.

The recommendations will be studied by UNISPACE to find the best way to implement them. Once the studies are done, the recommendation will go to the U.N. for official vote.

The highlight of the trip, according to Kemper, was informing the delegates five of their recommendations had been accepted for review. The delegates broke out in celebration.

“We were prepared to expect the worst,” said Kemper. “We thought the documents were too radical for the member nations to accept.” Instead, Kemper and his newfound friends were charged by their success.

“From there we thought we could take on the world,” said Kemper. “What greater feeling can you have than to make a difference?”

All of this came at a price for Kemper, who spent over $1,300 of his own money to attend the conference. He said he thought of asking the university for assistance to attend the conference but feared they would deny his request. He doesn’t regret his decision, however.

Asked if he would attend the conference again, Kempner replied, “I would sell my soul.” He may get his wish. The delegates decided they want to hold the event every five years. Kemper said the U.N. can count on him being there.