Space Heritage Project Opportunity.

Request for Proposal

The International Space Centre (ISC) at The University of Western Australia is seeking an experienced and curious researcher to lead a short, high-impact project documenting UWA’s space and microgravity heritage.
RFP due Feb 20 (subject to change).

For more than six decades, UWA has played a nationally and internationally recognised role in space science and microgravity research — from Apollo-era instrumentation under Professor Brian O’Brien, to experiments flown on the International Space Station, satellite missions, space software, space-rock research, and competitive student rocket programs. Yet much of this history remains dispersed across laboratories, archives, digital repositories, and personal collections.

This project represents the first foundational step in bringing that story together.

About the project

The successful project proposal will describe a structured investigation across the University to identify, document, and digitally catalogue UWA’s full space and microgravity contribution — past and present. This includes physical artefacts, experimental campaigns, missions, software, people, and institutional programs.

Working closely with the International Space Centre, the project will result in a coherent digital catalogue that can support future public engagement, storytelling, exhibitions, and institutional memory.

Key activities include:

• Investigating UWA’s space and microgravity activities through interviews, archival research, document review, and on-site inspections;
• Documenting tangible and intangible heritage using consistent metadata and cross-linked records;
• Capturing the people, context, collaborators, and long-term impact behind each contribution; and
• Producing a board-ready summary highlighting key themes, strengths, gaps, and future opportunities.

Who we’re looking for

The project lead would be comfortable running:

• Investigative research, archival work, heritage documentation, or collections management;
• Stakeholder engagement and interviewing across diverse technical and academic communities;
• Building structured digital catalogues or databases; and
• Working independently in complex, exploratory projects.

Experience in a university, museum, library, or research environment — and an interest in space, science, or engineering history — will be highly regarded.

Project details

• Duration: Approximately three months
• Effort: ~8 hours per week
• Location: On-campus presence required for interviews and artefact inspection (with flexible scheduling)
• Engagement: Fixed-term project managed by the International Space Centre, UWA

Why this matters

This work will form the authoritative institutional record of UWA’s space heritage and lay the groundwork for future digital and physical displays. It is a rare opportunity to shape how one of Australia’s leading universities understands, preserves, and shares its space legacy.

If you enjoy uncovering hidden stories, connecting people and artefacts, and creating records that last, we would love to hear from you.

📩 Expressions of interest
Please contact the International Space Centre at The University of Western Australia for further information and submission details.

📃 UWA Space Heritage Project Outline