Speaker
Description
The Kenya Space Agency (KSA) has implemented an innovative Asteroid Search Campaign designed to promote hands-on activities in Astronomy and Space Science. This initiative has demonstrated significant success in engaging students across university departments, notably triggering a remarkable shift of interest from engineering to astronomical sciences.
By providing experiential learning opportunities, KSA has created a valuable internship program that not only develops practical skills but also inspires the next generation of space leaders. The campaign's success is evidenced by growing student participation and the recent provisional cataloging of an asteroid detected during the program by me known as (2023 TQ159) — a milestone achievement out of 5 preliminary detections.
The initiative directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). As participation expands, KSA is positioned to make meaningful contributions to planetary defence research and deepen scientific understanding of our solar system.