Leicester goes the distance for Hong Kong alumni

There may be nearly 6,000 miles between our University and Hong Kong, but that will seem like nothing at all when over 140 alumni gather to hear a space scientist speak about her journey so far towards becoming an astronaut.

The University will launch its new Hong Kong Alumni Community on 23 March during the four-day GREAT Festival of Innovation organised by the UK’s Department for International Trade. Among the representatives of the University present will be space scientist and alumna Dr Suzie Imber, the winner of 2017’s Astronauts: Do You Have What It Takes? TV series on the UK’s BBC2 and a Co-Investigator on the MIXS instrument on board ESA's BepiColombo mission to Mercury.

Established to showcase the UK’s creativity and leadership across a host of industry and education sectors, the Festival, taking place 21-24 March 2018, focuses on how innovation, technology and creativity will change the way we work, live, learn and play in the years to come.

Over 1400 Leicester alumni in Hong Kong and another 1700 alumni in surrounding countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan, have been invited to an Alumni Drinks Reception to meet new friends, renew old acquaintances and hear the latest news from the University.

The evening will see the launch of the Hong Kong Alumni Community, laying the foundations for continuing and developing the University’s relationships with its graduates in the region. Guests will hear from aspiring astronaut Dr Suzie Imber, Associate Professor of Planetary Science, and Professor Paul Monks, Head of the College of Science and Engineering and a leading air pollution expert.

The event will also see the launch of the University’s new MSc Entrepreneurship and MSc Innovation Management in Organisations, and the re-launch of our MBAs in partnership with HKU Space. Guests will also hear a message from the President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Boyle CBE.

Internationally renowned for its world-leading research in space science, technology, engineering and Earth observation, Leicester will join other UK universities in showcasing how leading sectors are collaborating with these unique engines of innovation to gain a competitive edge, strategically linking higher education, research and business to help create tomorrow.