­­­By Hongchul Yun

A UK physics student will be flying far and away this summer to study the final frontier.

Senior Jake Gamsky has been accepted into the summer Space Studies program in Graz, Austria, at the International Space University. He is supposed to receive financial support from UK’s Physics and Astronomy Department. The funding would be approximately $7,000 for the remainder of tuition to the program and airfare to the Europe.

“My favorite area is human space exploration,” Gamsky said. “I chose ISU because it is the only program in the world that combines all these aspects of space exploration, with thanks to the financial support from UK.”

Gamsky said he recommends that other students interested in ISU join Students for the Exploration and Development of Space, a student group on campus, pursue space-related internships, and perform well in school.

The ISU currently offers graduate-level training to students, consisting of two degree programs and the non-degree-granting Space Studies Program.

The ISU Space Studies Program, in which Gamsky will be enrolled, is an intensive course with a unique core curriculum over two months that teaches a wide range of space-related topics such as space science, space engineering, and space policy and law.

“I believe that acceptance into the ISU program is competitive and so requires someone who shows Jake’s commitment and passion for space exploration,” UK physics department Chair Mike Cavagnero said. “Jake learned about the ISU opportunity during earlier summer experiences he had in NASA programs. I think the ISU summer Space Studies program is another good step in his professional preparation for a career in space sciences.”

Gamsky transferred to UK from Georgetown College. He made the dean’s list his junior year and is seeking a bachelor’s degree in physics. He has a strong interest in space exploration and in the effects of space environments on physical and biological processes.

His participation in ISU program will be supported by a donation to UK from the Huffaker Family Fund, a fund established by an alumnus to support the career aspirations of young scientists. The fund is routinely used to help physics and astronomy students travel to conferences and summer schools around the world.

Daniel Woods, a mechanical engineering student and SEDS member, knows Gamsky well.

“I am very proud of Jake about participating in a good international program,” Woods said. “When I attended the same class as him, he had a positive attitude during the class and seems happy and productive in his field of study.”

Those interested in the SEDS can visit at http://seds.org/ or e-mail [email protected].