President of Student Professional Group Champions Sustainable Space Exploration
Christian Villanueva’s desire to protect Earth begins with space.
Villanueva, who graduated with a B.S. in Space Operations this month, is president of Embry-Riddle’s Society of Space Professionals on Campus (SSPOC), a student-led group that is leading the discussion about space exploration and sustainability.
The organization, which exists to connect space-minded students with networking and learning opportunities, is the first university group to join the Space 18th SDG Coalition, a consortium of more than 100 global organizations advocating for the inclusion of a new Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) in the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda.
Dr. David Hopfe, director of research development at Embry-Riddle, described it as a “milestone achievement” for the student professional group.
“Embry-Riddle fosters a unique environment that encourages both creativity and rigor, and it's thrilling to see how this fusion empowers our students to not only excel academically but also make real-world impacts,” he said.
Christian Villanueva is president of Embry-Riddle’s Society of Space Professionals on Campus (SSPOC) and a passionate sustainability advocate. (Photo: Embry-Riddle/Christian Villanueva)
The group’s inclusion came after Villanueva was one of more than a dozen speakers at “Space for All, on Earth and Beyond: Advocating for an 18th Sustainable Development Goal,” a two-day side event organized by the Space 18th SDG Coalition that occurred opposite the United Nations’ Summit of the Future in September. Side events — meetings or discussions that run alongside a UN conference or session but are separate from the official proceedings — allow member states, civil society organizations and others to engage in critical conversation and advance issues.
Villanueva said his goal was to “showcase the role universities and students play in shaping a sustainable future for space,” including his group’s ongoing efforts.
“After hearing about this opportunity from Robert Katz of the World Innovation Network, I wanted to represent Embry-Riddle and student perspectives on sustainability,” Villanueva said.
Villanueva was invited to speak at the event’s virtual media mixer, where he highlighted the importance of student professional organizations in garnering support for sustainable space exploration and developing the next generation of space professionals. The event also helped Villanueva deepen his own conception of advocacy and his role in protecting Earth.
“Space plays a critical role in sustainability, as it advances progress toward all other sustainability goals. For instance, satellites in space enable GPS, telecommunications, weather forecasting and agricultural monitoring. By supporting the space industry, we can continue developing these technologies that benefit everyone on Earth,” Villanueva said.
This year, the Society of Space Professionals on Campus marked its 10th anniversary as an organization on the Daytona Beach Campus. The group “is a community of students passionate about space,” said Villanueva, who is also senior class president and served as the featured speaker at the undergraduate commencement ceremony for the Fall 2024 class.
“We welcome students of all backgrounds,” he said, “and help each other achieve career goals in the space industry.”
SSPOC opportunities can include engagements like Villanueva’s or new partnerships. During the Fall 2024 semester, for example, SSPOC hosted Bob Nance for a speaker series event, enabling more than 100 students to learn from his experiences as an Apollo 11 flight controller.
Villanueva said his recent experience with the group has led him to want to ensure that space expansion follows a sustainable trajectory.
“Whatever field you are in, you can contribute to sustainability,” he added, “and that’s my goal as I pursue a career in the space industry.”
Students interested in joining SSPOC can email the student organization at sspoc.erau@gmail.com or follow them on Instagram.
Posted In: Space