On Thursday, 17 October, KCL UN Women UK, in collaboration with Science Mind Magazine, KCL Space and KCL Women in Engineering, held their first panel on the topic of women in space.
Founded this year, KCL UN Women UK’s fundamental goal is empowering women at KCL to feel more confident in their abilities and find better job opportunities. The society supports the UN Women UK office and its aims on campus.
Despite progress, there is still a significant lack of representation of women in the space industry. The event featured four remarkable women who are actively working to bridge the gender gap in their field: Dr. Mindy Howard, Prof. Yang Gao, Linda Ngozwana, and Julia Balm.
“See you in space.”
Dr. Mindy Howard
Dr. Mindy Howard is an astronaut trainer and is on track to become an astronaut herself. Selected by NASA as a ‘Highly Qualified Astronaut Candidate’, she founded Inner Space Training a unique psychological training programme for commercial astronauts. She also established the Cosmic Girls Foundation which aims to help girls build STEM skills as well as life skills, such as mental resilience and teamwork, in order to have the confidence to pursue careers in space.
Helping women in the space industry is imperative for Dr. Howard. As the only girl in her Ph.D. class at Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands, she faced mockery when sharing her dream of becoming an astronaut. One classmate even asked her, “Who do you think you are wanting to be an astronaut?”
Dr. Howard’s experience fuels her work today. She wants “girls to feel free enough to fly and to make sure they know space is not just for the boys.” She believes that “more girls get their dreams crushed than boys do” and that girls can be discouraged by the lack of female representation in the industry. Thus, she is determined to “change what we think an astronaut is.” To the boy in her class who questioned her aspirations, she says “See you in space.”
Addressing the Gender Gap Through Mentorship
Prof. Yang Gao is a professor of robotics in KCL’s Department of Engineering and the head of the Centre for Robotics Research. With over 20 years of experience in developing space robotics, she is involved in real-world space missions. To support women in her field, Prof. Gao mentors through Space4Women, a UN project aimed at empowering women in space. She emphasises the importance of addressing the gender gap through mentorship and increased female representation.
“Know that your work matters, and be bold because your voice matters.”
Lina Ngozwana
Linda Ngozwana is a systems engineer and co-founder of Moonshot Africa. Her South African-based start-up aims to “launch the next generation of African rocket scientists into the space industry.” Having faced self-esteem issues herself, she is passionate about helping others find their voices and pursue their dreams.
Ngozwana’s presentation focused on lessons learned throughout her journey as an engineer. She encourages women to apply for jobs even if they feel underqualified, to ask questions and to advocate for themselves whenever they can. “Women do not often get their fair share of credit, especially when collaborating with male colleagues,” she stated. She urged women to stay inspired and true to themselves, asserting, “Know that your work matters, and be bold because your voice matters.”
It’s Never Too Late for a Career Change
Julia Balm is a research associate and Ph.D. candidate at the Freeman Air and Space Institute at King’s, with interests including space strategy and defence. Before discovering her passion for space, Balm trained as a ballerina and studied arts, history, and poetry. Her journey into defence and policy led her to write her dissertation on space defence. Balm has been working in the space industry for five years.
Balm’s non-linear background serves as an inspiration for those who feel out of place in their careers, and wonder if it’s too late to make a change.
Overlooked Heroes
Historically, the space industry has been viewed as a male domain, often overlooking women’s contributions. For instance, few people recognise Eileen Collins. Collins was the first woman to pilot the Space Shuttle in 1995, and the first to command a Space Shuttle mission in 1999.
The era of women in space, however, began much earlier. In 1963, Valentina V. Tereshkova became the first woman to orbit the Earth aboard the Vostok 6 spacecraft. It wasn’t until 1982 that women returned to space, with Svetlana Y. Savitskaya boarding the Soyuz T-7 to join the first mixed-gender crew at the space station.
Breaking the Glass Ceiling with “Real Opportunities for the Future”
Manon Martin and Maÿlis Menesson, the co-presidents of this society, hope to provide women with “real opportunities for their future”. They do so by organising frequent panel and networking events targeting different industries. These career-focused events are essential for helping women “break the glass ceiling,” especially in traditionally male-dominated fields.
The space industry is ever-evolving, and all speakers expressed hope for a brighter future with more women in leadership roles. Martin and Menesson hope that attendees left the event knowing that “women can do anything,” and “they shouldn’t be scared to dream big.” As they remind us: “If you try to reach the moon, you might end up in the stars.”
To keep up with upcoming events and opportunities, follow KCL Women UK, KCL Space, Science Mind Magazine and KCL Women in Engineering on Instagram.
