By Christy Parker | Photos: Michael Hussey (YoughalOnline.com)

Ian wins race for space on valuable energy course.

It’s not quite -or even nearly- flying to the moon but Ian Broderick’s career is certainly taking off with Nasa. The Youghal electrician has just embedded himself with the American space agency on a three-month ‘upskilling’ course being run in conjunction with FAS.

The futuristic electronics programme will focus on the science of alternative energy and require the 24-year old to study variously at Florida’s Institute of Technology and the University of Florida, alternated with work practice at the Florida Solar Energy Centre at Nasa’s base in Cape Canaveral, 30 miles from the Kennedy Space Centre. “People naturally associate Nasa with space travel but there is a lot more goes on there,” he says.

There were 120 applicants nationally for Nasa’s expenses-paid places and the Youghal man is one of seven electricians amongst the chosen 20, which also includes seven plumbers and six heavy vehicle mechanics on relevant courses.

Ian, who lives at Carleton village with his brother Colin, is the son of Dennis and Bettie Broderick and works for the family hardware & electrical store in North Main Street. Bright and talkative, he qualified as an electrician with FAS last March, following a brief stint studying civil engineering at WIT that ultimately didn’t appeal.

Last December, his former Cork FAS co-ordinator Ken Quinn interrupted Ian’s dreams of a travelling trip to Canada to recommend he apply for the FAS/Nasa opportunity. Anything involving America’s Space Agency seems sure to be kick-ass intense and so it proved with Ian’s “gruelling 40-minute interview” in which “they wanted to know everything about my life!”

They probed as to what he knew of solar energy. “Technically very little,” the former busker, disc jockey and drummer informed them, before announcing his awareness that “renewable energy is going to be a big part of people’s lives in years to come.” He told them his dad’s business would have to react to those needs. He let them know why felt he should be chosen, that he was honest, hardworking, eager to learn and wouldn’t waste their time. They had no reason to doubt him and two weeks later Nasa had replaced Montreal on his immediate horizon. Had he not quit smoking months previously he’d probably have lit up a cigar.

Some of Nasa’s top technicians and engineers will tutor the course, which swathes four modules: solar photovoltaic (converting solar energy into electricity), wind turbines for houses and small businesses, fibre optic cabling for communications and smart systems for homes. Ian is not unaware of their significance. “Nasa is at the cutting edge advanced technology. Their engineers are scientists. The experience, knowledge and certs I get here will be very important to my future,” he asserts.

He sees the future already present. “Top hardware and building suppliers like Chadwicks now have renewable energy sections and employ engineers,” he muses. “Solar panels for houses may not yet be practical because it takes a lot to power one house,” he proceeds, “but they are now deployable and beneficial in big businesses where there is ample space.”

For his own part, FAS/Nasa requires he send reports home every three weeks before actively “spreading the word” in his workplace on his return. Meanwhile it won’t be all about overheating at Cape Canaveral. “We have weekends off and Miami is only three hours away. Orland, Disneyland and Universal Studios are just down the coast,” he ponders. Sounds like he’ll be investing in energy all right…