A former Sandys Secondary School graduate yesterday urged young Bermudians to consider a career in outer space when they finished their education.

Bermudian space technology expert Roderick Dixon passed on the message while announcing his lecture tonight at the Bermuda College.

He will speak at 8 p.m. on "Robotics for the International Space Station'' and discuss his role in space technology as part of the Science and Technology in Action week of activities at the college.

"I am surprised and honoured by this chance to expose Bermudians to my work in the space industry,'' he said.

"Young Bermudians should put their minds to finishing their education. When they have a broadened mind they can achieve wonders.'' Mr. Dixon has been a quality assurance analyst with Spar Aerospace Limited, a leading Canadian advanced technology company with businesses in the space, aviation, defence, communications and software industries, since 1978.

"Spar's expertise was proved during the shuttle programme,'' he noted.

It is now leading a team of subcontractors on behalf of the Canadian Space Agency in a project to build an international space station.

The Canada Space Station Programme began when Canada was invited to help the National Aeronautics and Space Administration build the permanently manned space station.

The idea for the station was planted by former US President Ronald Reagan during his State of the Union message on January, 25, 1984. Canada's contribution is called the Mobile Servicing System (MSS). This includes sophisticated space-based robotics for the construction and maintenance of the space station in orbit.

It includes a large mechanical arm which will capture and berth large payloads, a smaller two armed robot which will handle servicing tasks which were previously performed by astronauts and a mobile work platform and storage area. The space station was being designed for 30 years of life, noted Mr.

Dixon, but different components would have a limited life span and need to be replaced over time.

It would also include laboratories to allow experiments in fluid physics, life science research and material processing. These will have the potential to enhance scientific knowledge and quality of life.

This was where Bermudians could find careers, Mr. Dixon continued.

As a Country, the Island was not in a position to get involved in the space programme as it would be too expensive an undertaking. "Bermuda is not an industrialised Country,'' he said.

However when the space station went up there would be a lot of laboratory space available for projects. And Bermudians in university programmes, or with university degrees, could get involved.

But first, he stressed: "Get that university education. It opens all kinds of doors.'' And with Bermuda being a small Country, with a growing population, Bermudians had to consider the opportunities that would be available in employment overseas in the future.

He explained that he got into his present field in a roundabout way having graduated from college in Toronto and joining the consumer electronics industry as a quality control supervisor with Motorola Canada Limited in May, 1971. However, that industry moved to the Orient in the mid-seventies when the Japanese became far more efficient at it. "That left a lot of people like myself out of jobs. We had to adapt so we moved to other areas.'' Mr. Dixon ended up as an electronics engineering technologist with geophysical instruments manufacturer Scintrex Limited Canada in August, 1975.

There he was responsible for the design, development, manufacture and testing of airborne instrument products which measure emissions and radioactivity.