Celebrating World Space Week: Powerful STEM Education Panel of Women in the Space Industry

In honor of World Space Week and its theme of “Celebrating Women in Space,” we would like to highlight an amazing discussion from an all-star panel of women working in the space industry. The “Making Space for All in STEM” session is from the 2021 International Space Station Research and Development Conference(Abbreviation: ISSRDC) The only conference dedicated exclusively to showcasing how the International Space Station is advancing science and technology and enabling a robust and sustainable market in LEO. This annual conference brings together leaders from the commercial sector, U.S. government agencies, and academic communities to foster innovation and discovery onboard the space station. ISSRDC is hosted by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, manager of the ISS National Lab; NASA; and the American Astronautical Society. this summer.

The International Space Station (ISSInternational Space Station) U.S. National Laboratory is a unique national asset that is steadily contributing to scientific advancement through research and development initiatives. However, the ISS National Lab is also being utilized to make significant investments in our collective future through science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education initiatives. While space has always inspired student interest in STEM topics, the ISS is an incredible platform to facilitate student scientific inquiry and experimentation, providing an authentic connection to space for students.

Nothing inspires like space—but is that space equitable and accessible to all?  The “Making Space for All in STEM” panel brought together an outstanding group of diverse women in STEM to look at the future of STEM education, what inspires, and what still needs to transform. How can we create more pathways for kindergarten to career-level students to be activity engaged in space education? Hear insights from this powerful panel in the session video.

Moderator: 
Emily Calandrelli
Host and Co-Executive Producer of Emily’s Wonder Lab

Panelists:
Serena Auñón-Chancellor, M.D., M.P.H., NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration astronaut
Gitanjali Rao, TIME’s 2020 Kid of the Year and Top Young Innovator
Rihana Mungin, Mechanical Engineer and SEM Coach, Energy350
Sayaka Umemura, Associate Senior Engineer of the Kibo Utilization Center, Human Spaceflight Technology Directorate of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)