Karman-Oxford Week 2025, the fifth iteration of the partnership underpinning the Smart Space MBA Elective, concluded last Friday, August 1st. Our collaboration with the Oxford Space Initiative (OxSI) and the Saïd Business School at Oxford University continues to grow in impact, and passing the half-decade mark has illuminated the myriad continuous strengths of the program.
As part of The Karman Project’s ongoing commitment to engage Karman Fellows and Pioneers (top shortlisted candidates for the Karman Fellowship) with opportunities for dialogue and debate, ten members of our Karman Community were selected to participate as official auditors of the Smart Space MBA Elective. In the classroom, esteemed Karman Community members, lecturers from the OxSI team, and Oxford MBA students nearing graduation collaborated to explore the most pressing questions posed by the rapidly developing space domain.
The Karman Delegation offered their singular expertise across policy, entrepreneurship, business, and diplomacy to illustrate present and future prospects in space. Far beyond a traditional auditor role, Karman Community members Muhammad Sharif, Halit Mirahmetoglu, Tuva Atasever, Irene Benito, and Łukasz Wilczynski delivered individual lectures ranging from local space ecosystem viability and geopolitical aspects of space to microgravity research applications and the firsthand astronaut experience. Newton Campbell, Péter Kristof, Alma Okpalefe, and Dominykas Milasius participated in a panel discussion moderated by Managing Director Hannah Ashford, reflecting on their unique paths into the space sector as well as highlighting diverse challenges and breakthroughs.
The Karman Delegation’s experience outside the classroom was similarly rich. Karman was honored to visit the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, where Rachel Thompson and Hugh Mortimer graciously coordinated in-depth tours of Diamond Light Source, Oxford Space Systems, and RAL Space. We look forward to continued engagement for years to come with the Harwell Campus, the beating heart of the UK space ecosystem. Wednesday night’s Gala Dinner was once again kindly hosted at the St. Hilda's College Riverside Pavilion, and united the UK space and Oxford communities in a shared evening of lively discussion and connection. Between all of these inspiring sessions, the Delegation thoroughly enjoyed soaking up the vibrant (though cloudy!) atmosphere of Oxford, taking refuge with a few classic evenings out at the Pub.
We extend our deepest gratitude to the amazing people at the Oxford Space Initiative and the Saïd Business School for working with us to once again deliver a high-impact, thoughtfully designed program. A special thanks is also due to our stellar Karman Delegation for bringing their energy, expertise, and truly joyful camaraderie that elevated the program to new heights this year!
Annexure: The Karman Project’s 2025 Oxford Delegation
1. Alma Okpalefe, Executive Director, World Space Week Association
2. Irene Benito, AI Policy Officer, NATO
3. Melody Korman, Space Missions Manager, Rakia Mission
4. Muhammad Sharif, Adviser & Director at S&E, ICESCO
5. Newton Campbell, Co-founder, Heritage Space Food
6. Halit Mirahmetoglu, Consultant
7. Tuva Cihangir Atasever, Astronaut, Turkish Space Agency
8. Péter Kristof, Chief Innovation Officer, DATellite
9. Dominykas Milasius, Co-founder, Delta Biosciences
10. Łukasz Wilczynski, President, European Space Foundation
