May 31st 2022 by Space Apps
We recently celebrated our annual Virtual Winners Celebration event to congratulate the 2021 NASA International Space Apps Global Winners. Global Winners dialed in from around the world to celebrate their achievements and were recognized by NASA civil servants, experts, scientists, and leaders. The event kicked-off with an introduction from Dr. Keith Gaddis, NASA Program Scientist for the Space Apps Challenge!
The Global Winners had the opportunity to share their reflections from the hackathon, reasons supporting their challenge selection, how they overcame obstacles, and gave key advice they would give themselves if they had a chance to talk to their past selves before starting their challenges. Mercedes Tristán from Team Bioshi, Laurence Cullen from Team Cambridge Asteroids, and Edwin Wei from Team Changemaker were even interviewed by Dr. Keith Gaddis himself.
Take a look inside this year’s Virtual Winners Celebration!
NASA’s Earth Science Division (ESD) Director, Dr. Karen St. Germain, shared her remarks and provided insight into new Earth Science Division programs and NASA’s Transform to Open Science program (TOPS). TOPS is an open-source science initiative focused on making data, science and source code available to the public which will empower people around the world - including the Space Apps community - to engage much earlier in the scientific process!
The Global Winners got to learn from NASA’s Chief Scientist and Senior Climate Advisor, Dr. Katherine Calvin, who shared the ways NASA works to combat climate change and the exciting missions of D.A.R.T., Exploring Mars: Perseverance and Ingenuity, James Webb Space Telescope, and Artemis.
The event closed with storytelling from Dr. Yaitza Luna-Cruz and Dr. Kartik Sheth who shared their origin stories, their mindsets on staying motivated and overcoming odds, perceptions of staying hungry for knowledge, and how a person can carve a path for themselves through mentorships and growing their professional networks.
The Virtual Winner's Celebration not only celebrates the Global Winners, but signifies the start to a new year of Space Apps challenges. We look forward to growing the opportunities and additions of NASA International Space Apps Global Winners! Interested in solving some of the world’s most interesting Earth and space-related challenges using NASA and partner space agency data? Join us on Oct. 1-2, 2022 for the next Space Apps Challenge!
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