1.8 How should today's students be preparing themselves in terms of training and education so as to have a greater opportunity for more direct involvement in any future SPS undertaking? If one assumes that SPS will become an operational system early in the next century today's students would have careers roughly paralleling the research, development, demonstration, deployment and initial operation of the SPS. Since this program involves so many disciplines scarcely anyone would be precluded from participation because of a specific career choice. However, the next ten to twenty years will of necessity emphasize research and development.,This suggests that engineers will have an edge over welders, system planners will be more sought after than stock clerks, and biophysicists will more likely find SPS-related employment than nurses. The skills mix required to accomplish SPS goals will change as the program unfolds and 30 to 40 years from now there is likely to be a strong demand for registered nurses, stock clerks and welders while many experienced SPS engineers, systems planners and biophysicists will be moving on to new projects requiring their skills. The SPS program will require individuals at all levels of the management/organizational structure with the ability to: o Design the SPS, including terrestrial, space and transportation elements, and components, o Deploy the SPS; fabricate elements and construct them in space and on earth. o Interface with institutions, including international and local bodies, financial organizations, land owners, insurance agencies, utilities, users, etc. o Evaluate SPS environmental and societal impacts and suggest appropriate responses. o Operate and maintain both the space and ground components of the SPS. While the space segment of the system may have the highest profile, visually as well as job related, the majority of jobs will continue to be in traditional fields.
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