During the discussion, the panel—comprised of Tadzi G Stowers, GE, Joan Chepkemoi, and Johnmark Ochieng from KSA, alongside Samuel Nyangi and Olyvia Gatwiri from Leo Sky Africa —shared insights into their budding careers from their inception. A key takeaway was the diversity of careers in the space sector, emphasizing that passion and drive are essential for the young audience to succeed.
The discussions also highlighted the importance of networking and building human capital, stressing the value of connections that will be beneficial in the long run. The session was moderated by Gitika Gorthi from IgnitedThinkers.
This two-day event, organized by IgnitedThinkers in collaboration with Columbia Global Centers | Nairobi, Leo Sky Africa, STEMlens Network, Nakua Na Taifa Langu, and KSA, aimed to inspire the next generation by demonstrating why space matters. The event kicked off on Friday, with primary and high school students engaging in a day filled with fun and learning. Activities included an immersive planetarium experience, a quiz session, and robotics, facilitated by the teams from KSA and STEMlens Network.
Space education and outreach are crucial for planting the seeds of enthusiasm, ensuring that Kenya’s future in space exploration is secure, and enabling the country to tap into the global space economy for the long term. The event concluded with a hackathon, where teams competed to develop the best innovation to help humans travel to Mars, while also advancing the Sustainable Development Goals here on Earth.