Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) was honoured to host Dr. Sian Proctor, a renowned geoscientist, astronaut, and continuing NASA Solar System Ambassador, during her visit to Kenya.
Dr. Proctor, the first African American woman to pilot a spacecraft and the mission pilot for SpaceX’s Inspiration4, the first all-civilian orbital mission, came to mentor aspiring scientists and explore potential collaborations in STEM.
The Tuesday, July 23, 2024 visit was organized by Dr. Churchill Saoke of the Physics Department. The visit was aimed to engage and interact with JKUAT leadership, faculty and students and identify and explore potential areas for mutual collaboration.
Receiving Dr. Proctor, Prof. Thuku Thiong’o, representing the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi, emphasized JKUAT’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals through programs that expose students to emerging trends in energy, climate change, material science, control, instrumentation, space, and geoscience.
“The University remains committed to producing highly skilled human capital for Kenya, the region, and the globe. As a
renowned Geoscientist and Astronaut, coupled with your NASA ambassadorial work, we look forward to closely working with you,” Prof. Thiong’o stated.
Before an interactive session with faculty and students at the Innovation and Prototyping Integrated Centre (IPIC), Dr. Proctor met Lenny Ng’ang’a, a recent graduate of BSc. Control and Instrumentation from the Physics Department.
Lenny showcased his Industrial Robotic Arm, designed to ease workloads in factories through tasks like welding, spray painting, and loading heavy items, emphasizing that it enhances processes without replacing human labor.
Addressing the eager JKUAT community, Dr. Proctor shared her inspirational journey with SpaceX, an opportunity she won through a Twitter contest with her video poem, “Space 2 Inspire,” showcasing her talents as both an artist and a poet.
Prior to this, she had been an analog astronaut, living in Moon and Mars simulations, which prepared her for the dream opportunity of becoming a real astronaut.
“Without creativity, we do not make the discoveries that change the world, and this creativity can also be adopted by scientists at any point in life regardless of age. I am also a big proponent of partnerships and open education resources, as well as supporting women in STEM so that all humanity can rise. I am eager to work with JKUAT in developing programs related to Space. As you design the new curriculum, focus on solving real-world problems,” said Dr. Proctor.
The Chairman of Physics Department, Dr. Anthony Kiroe, welcomed the potential collaboration, noting the department’s long-standing desire to start a degree in Space Studies. He highlighted the need to build capacity in this area to develop technologies like high-pressure-resistant balloons crucial for reliable data collection.
Dr. Kiroe also mentioned the department’s efforts to develop an Imaging Science program, an initiative led by Dr. Calvin Ominde, a lecturer in the department, and an ambassador of Geoscience and remote sensing, adding that Dr. Proctor’s visit was particularly timely as the university prepares for the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), given her expertise in science education.
The inspirational visit was attended by students and faculty from various disciplines offered at College of Engineering, Institute of Energy and Environmental Technology (IEET), as well as Physics Department, including the Dean School of Physical Sciences, Prof. Anthony Waititu.
On her visit to JKUAT, Dr. Proctor was accompanied by Ms. Rosalie Daniels from the US State Department Office of Space Affairs in Washington, DC, and officials from the US Embassy in Kenya, Nairobi.
