Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS): A Conversation with SEDS-USA Leaders 

National Space Society Space Forum
Thursday, November 10, 2022
Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS): A Conversation with SEDS-USA Leaders
The expansion of the commercial space industry, NASA’s recent successes with Perseverance, the Webb Space Telescope, the DART mission, and the plans to return to the Moon all point to a resurgence in demand for students interested in space careers. One such group, The Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS), is committed to fostering the development of diverse future leaders and contributors in this expanding space industry. SEDS is an international student organization whose purpose is to promote space exploration and development through educational and engineering projects.
SEDS was founded in 1980, primarily at MIT by Peter Diamandis, Scott Scharfman, Richard Sorkin, Robert D. Richards, and Todd B. Hawley. Today, thousands of students in branches around the world participate in projects and programs that prepare them for space careers. NSS has worked closely with SEDS over the years to foster this interest in space exploration and development and to expand our ability to reach the space leaders of tomorrow.
This special space forum cane live from the SEDS SpaceVision Conference in Chicago. SEDS-USA leaders Sara Alvarado, Audrey Scott, and Dominic Tanzillo spoke about SEDS history, programs and accomplishments over the years and their plans to engage students and expand their impact. They will provided a “who’s who” list of prominent space leaders who were once SEDS students. Enjoy this exciting and fun space forum where the NSS shared an evening with the space leaders of tomorrow.
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Sara Alvarado currently serves as the Chair of SEDS-USA. Sara will graduate with a master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Central Florida (UCF) in December. She received her B.S. in Industrial Engineering from UCF in 2019 and her B.A. in Economics from the University of South Florida in 2016. Sara is employed as an industrial engineer at Universal Orlando Resort. As the SEDS Chair, Sara has pursued her passion for space exploration and development while leading the organization in its efforts to expand its reach and impact in developing future leaders for the space industry.
Audrey Scott currently serves as the Vice Chair of SEDS-USA. Audrey is a third year UChicago student pursuing a B.S. in Astrophysics and a B.A. in Anthropology. She has more than 11 years of diverse work and volunteer experience ranging from entertainment to engineering. Audrey is a Brooke Owens Fellow for the Class of 2022 and is now working as a Systems Engineering Intern at Ball Aerospace. As the Vice Chair of SEDS, Audrey uses her plethora of experience to encourage out-of-the-box partnerships and projects to promote the space industry as an intersectional field with a variety of paths to entry.
Dominic Tanzillo currently serves at the SEDS-USA Chapter Expansion Manager. Dominic is a first-year medical student at Duke University with an interest in bioastronautics. Dominic was a double major at Duke University, receiving a Mathematics (B.S.) and Neuroscience (B.S.) in 2021. As a student, Dominic conducted research for NASA, the US Air Force, and the US Space Force. Dominic is firmly committed to expanding access to and diversity within the aerospace industry and encouraging more students to consider the field of bioastronautics. As part of these efforts, he is involved in science communications and created the Spherical Cows Podcast and the first student taught Major Open Online-Course to give students free and easily accessible introductions to the field of Space Medicine!