The Space Generation Advisory Council is proud to announce Shreya Santra as one of the 2025 Pioneer Award Recipients for her outstanding contributions to the organisation. She has been nominated and voted for, by several Executive Committee Members who were part of the Jury for the Award.
About Shreya
Dr. Shreya Santra is a Specially-appointed Lecturer (Research) in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Tohoku University, Japan. She received her B.Tech degree in electrical and electronics engineering from National Institute of Technology, Jamshedpur, India, in 2014 and the M.S. degree in space and engineering systems from Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia in 2018. She received the Ph.D. degree in aerospace engineering at the Space Robotics Laboratory in Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan in 2021. During 2020-2021, she worked as a Visiting Researcher at DLR Institute of Communications and Navigation, Germany. Since 2021, she has been working as a faculty with the Department of Aerospace Engineering, Tohoku University. Her research interests include coordination, control, perception, and planning for multi-modular robots robotic systems integrated with advanced algorithms to operate autonomously in unstructured challenging environments.
She is a highly motivated space enthusiast and very passionate about inspiring the young generation to follow their dreams of space exploration. Through a variety of STEAM outreach initiatives, she actively works to make space science and technology more accessible, engaging, and inclusive for students of all backgrounds. Her outreach efforts include conducting hands-on robotics and space engineering workshops, delivering public lectures and school talks, mentoring student-led space projects, and collaborating with educational institutions to integrate space-themed learning modules
History with SGAC
Shreya has been involved with the SGAC since June 2015, first as a Web Team member and then 2018 onwards transitioned to the Scholarships Team, where she served both as a team member and subsequently as Co-Lead. In this capacity, she oversaw a broad portfolio of global and regional scholarships over a period of seven years, coordinating application processes, supporting sponsors, selection committees, event managers, and ensuring effective communication with award recipients. Together with her team, they introduced structured procedures that made the scholarship review and award process more transparent, consistent, and fair for all applicants. This role gave her valuable leadership experience, particularly in managing programmes that support early-career professionals and students within the international space community.
Other than the Scholarships Team, Shreya also worked with the Small Satellite Project Group and the IAC2017 Organizing Team. Through SGAC, she organised several local events such as SpaceUp Skoltech (2017, 2018) and SG[India]. Santra also contributed to APSGW 2017, 2018 and 2019 as a Delegates Team Lead and as Working Group Moderator during APSGoW 2020. These responsibilities allowed her to work closely with diverse participants and help shape discussions aligned with regional priorities in space policy and technology.
Her efforts have been recognised and she was awarded the SSPI scholarship to attend the SGC and IAC 2015 in Jerusalem, Israel, as well as the Space Generation Leadership Award (SGLA) to attend the SGC and IAC 2017 in Adelaide, Australia. She mentions also being grateful to SGAC for nominating her for the IAF Emerging Space Leaders Award 2024. Her active association with SGAC over the decade has been very fruitful as she has benefitted in many ways in her professional trajectory to make a mark in the space sector.
While receiving this award, Shreya said:
I am deeply honoured to receive the SGAC Pioneer Award. SGAC has given me a meaningful platform to engage with the global space community and voice my perspectives. As someone committed to advancing space exploration, I have been motivated by the opportunity to contribute alongside colleagues from around the world and to form professional relationships that have grown into lasting friendships. SGAC’s mission and values continue to align strongly with my own aspirations and guide me in my daily work. I am glad to know that my work made a positive impact on the organization.
I would like to express my sincere appreciation to my SGAC family with whom I have collaborated over the years, and to the selection committee for considering my nomination.
