InnovaSpace Co-Founder and CEO Thais Russomano proudly acted as a Mentor (2020-2021) and supporter of the UNOOSA Space4Women Network, which established a mentoring platform to promote gender equality and empowerment in the space sector. The platform provided an opportunity for anyone with an interest in space to become a part of the network and support women and girls in space education and their careers.
Space4Women Network Mentors are volunteer leaders and professionals from the space industry, representing a wide variety of skills, knowledge and geographic regions. Mentors support women and girls from around the globe through sharing their expertise, knowledge and experience, promoting an environment in which the women and girls can play an active and equal role in space science, technology, innovation, and exploration.
Mentors contribute to initiatives aimed at advocacy, increasing access to education and professional opportunities, raising awareness, inspiring women and girls through personal stories, and career coaching.
Space4Women Network Mentors are volunteer leaders and professionals from the space industry, representing a wide variety of skills, knowledge and geographic regions. Mentors support women and girls from around the globe through sharing their expertise, knowledge and experience, promoting an environment in which the women and girls can play an active and equal role in space science, technology, innovation, and exploration.
Mentors contribute to initiatives aimed at advocacy, increasing access to education and professional opportunities, raising awareness, inspiring women and girls through personal stories, and career coaching.
S4W Mentees
Marcela Mota
Marcela is a Brazilian Design student. She is currently doing her Bachelor’s degree at the Federal Institute of Rio Grande do Sul – IFSul, Pelotas campus, located in southern Brazil. Marcela has previously studied Digital Marketing, Filmmaking and Photography. She has worked at a Video Production Company for two years, while also doing freelance work as a Photographer. Currently, she dedicates part of her time to working as a Graphic Designer for Social Media. Her aim is to have an online Design Studio, working with eco-friendly brands, and developing sustainable projects and solutions in multiple areas. Portuguese is her mother tongue, and she is currently studying French, has a good understanding of Spanish and is fluent in English. In her free time, Marcela enjoys travelling to different countries, getting to know new cultures and people, going to the movies, watching TV series and reading fantasy books. |
Lisanne van Engelen
Lisanne is currently an MA candidate in Museum Studies at the Johns Hopkins Univ Advanced Academic Programs and is based in Washington, D.C., USA. She recently received an MS in Information Systems from Johns Hopkins Univ Carey Business School and has a BS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the Univ of California, Berkeley. Lisanne supports her local and global communities through a variety of activities, including serving on the board of DC Dutch, volunteering with the Smithsonian National Postal Museum, and working as program coordinator for EDsnaps, a non-profit dedicated to inspiring and empowering underserved female-identifying students to become glocal STEAM community leaders. Lisanne’s personal mission is rooted in social impact and helping individuals and communities realise their full potential. Lisanne also likes visiting museums, expanding her stamp collection, and learning more about meteorology, history, geography, cartography, and photography. |
Zhen Cahilog
Zhen is a medical doctor currently working in London, England. She received both her medical degree and a bachelor’s degree in Pharmacology from Imperial College London. With the aim of encouraging more children and young people to engage with STEM subjects and scientific research, she has enjoyed participating in multiple outreach initiatives and teaching activities both within Imperial College, and as a UK STEM Ambassador. She aspires to pursue a career that encompasses research and clinical practice in the fields of Space Medicine & Physiology, and Anaesthesia & Intensive Care, aiming to combine her passion for space sciences with her medical training and background. In her spare time, she’s an avid basketball player. Zhen has loved every minute of playing at the competitive level for six years in the Imperial College Women's Basketball Team, within which she is now looking forward to taking on a coaching role. |
Projects
Marcela, Lisanne and Zhen, under the mentorship of Thais Russomano, are currently engaged in two InnovaSpace outreach projects - Kids2Mars & Valentina - which are in alignment with the goals of the UNOOSA Space4Women Network initiative.
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