We are thrilled to announce the winners of the SGAC Nebula Award for the 2024 Space Generation Congress (SGC) and International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Milan, Italy! This year’s competition was made possible thanks to the generous donation of a dedicated SGAC alumnus. We would also like to thank them for their continued support of SGAC’s mission to empower the next generation of space leaders.
Congratulations to all the winners!
Nathalie Vilchis (Mexico)
Nathalie Vilchis studied Mechatronics Engineering and Applied Robots in Mexico at Tecnologico de Monterrey. She currently works as System Test Engineer in Planet Labs, where she supports the development of their new generation of high-resolution and hyperspectral satellites.
She has been awarded with multiple opportunities such as the Brooke Owens Fellowship, Horizon 2023 Zero Gravity Flight from Aurelia Institute, Caltech Space Challenge, Mitacs research stay, twice 1st place winner and once mentor of the International Air and Space program in NASA Johnson Space Center.
Nathalie has a personal outreach project called ‘Chica NASA’ which aims to engage young Latinos in Science and technology and encourage women to pursue careers in STEAM fields.
At IAC Nathalie will present her independent research on soft robotics in microgravity which was flown on a Zero Gravity flight this year.
“Deeply grateful and honored to be awarded with this scholarship that will allow me to present my microgravity research at IAC, further develop my ‘Chica NASA’ project and make valuable connections and friendship at SGC. Thank you SGAC I cannot wait to meet more members.“
Harlee Quizzagan (Philippines)
Harlee Quizzagan is a young professional with just over seven years of both professional and volunteer experience mainly in machine learning/artificial intelligence (ML/AI) and commercial space. Extending his background in Physics, his current focus is on leveraging space technology and ML/AI for socio-economic development. Currently based in The Philippines (an emerging space economy), he is working as an ML/AI Lead Engineer for XentriAI, Inc. where he develops solutions integrating satellite data into automated business intelligence for insurance (imagery and actuarials), urban development (green spaces and urban landscape analysis), public health monitoring (Project Sentinellium) and renewable energy applications (detection and forecasting).
As an active volunteer in SGAC since 2015, Harlee also helped in local and global space community by taking up lead roles in several SGAC initiatives. His current roles are in the SpaceGen Academy and the CSPG Pre-Accelerator Programme. These provide free, accessible space education and upskilling for students, young professionals, and space entrepreneurs from emerging space economies. As the NPoC of the Philippines since 2020, he also worked with a vibrant local space volunteer group in organising numerous events, strengthening collaborations between SGAC and key institutions locally such as university organisations and the Philippine Space Agency.
Beyond his professional and volunteer work, Harlee is committed to space education, mentorship, and works promoting interdisciplinary and inclusive space. He is also currently developing an Open Challenge that seeks to leverage technical expertise and artistic minds as an inclusive approach to creating novel solutions for space exploration. He is committed to fostering opportunities that actively promotes inclusion, diversity, and tangible sustainability for future space!
“I am very much grateful and honoured to SGAC for the chance it offered me to work with an incredible space community. I am excited to leverage this scholarship to further engage with global space leaders, bring that home, and use it as a launchpad to foster more collaborative opportunities for more Filipino space leaders!“
Yvan Zolo (Cameroon)
Yvan Zolo is a Junior Research Fellow in the Global Surgery Division of the University of Cape Town. He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Buea, Cameroon, in 2021. Yvan’s research focuses on enhancing surgical care in resource-limited settings.
Yvan is committed to integrating space-based technologies into surgical, obstetrical, and anesthesia care. As a researcher at the International Center for Astronautical Development, he actively contributes to the Civilian Medical Information for Space Travel (C-MIST) project. His work and expertise earned him a full scholarship from the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) to attend the 2023 Space4Women expert meeting. At this meeting, he collaborated with other experts to develop UNOOSA’s first-ever gender mainstreaming toolkit for the space sector and advocated for the utilization of space-based technologies to advance maternal and child healthcare in resource-limited settings.
Yvan completed a Master of Science in Medicine (Global Surgery) with distinction at the University of Cape Town, where he investigated the use of geospatial mapping to improve access to neurosurgical care for babies with neural tube defects. He is pursuing a PhD in Global Surgery at the same institution and he recently won a grant to implement a pilot study exploring access to emergency surgical care in the Cape Town metropolitan area using space-based technologies.
In 2022, Yvan was honored with the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship in recognition of his grassroots leadership and commitment to advancing medical education and global surgery in Africa.
“I am deeply grateful to SGAC for creating a space community where people from diverse fields, including medical professionals like myself, feel genuinely welcomed. Your commitment to fostering a Just, Equitable, Diverse, and Inclusive environment is truly inspiring. Thank you, SGAC, for championing JEDI principles, valuing everyone’s contributions to the advancement of space for humanity, and providing opportunities for all to thrive, free from discrimination and bias..”
Mark Angelo Purio (Philippines)
Mark Angelo Purio is an Associate Professor at Adamson University in the Electronics Engineering Department and serves as the College Research Coordinator for the College of Engineering. In 2023, he established and now heads the Space Technologies & Applications Research Laboratory (STARLab), which supports the university’s space-related initiatives and trains the next generation of space engineers.
He finished his BS and MS Electronics Engineering at Batangas State University and De La Salle University, respectively. Just recently, he completed his doctorate degree in Space Systems Engineering at Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan where he took part in satellite development projects. He is notable in his work as one of the engineers you co-developed the first inter-university cube satellite of the Philippines, Maya-2, through the BIRDS-4 satellite project.
He is currently the adviser of the Students for the Exploration and Development of Space -Philippines (SEDS-PH). Moreover, he is a volunteer for IEEE-Region 10 Student Activities Committee and the lead for the Space Advisory Council ACHIEVED Academy. He advocates in encouraging students to pursue a career in STEM as a science communicator through speaking engagements and talks.
“I am deeply honored to receive the 2024 SGC/IAC Nebula Award. This recognition is not just a personal achievement, but a testament to the growing potential and future of the Philippines in the field of space and space exploration. Together, we are laying the groundwork for a future where Filipino engineers and scientists will lead innovative space initiatives, inspiring the next generation to reach for the stars and beyond.
If sky is the limit, then you are not aiming high enough!“
Diego Adolfo Dueñas Parapar (Peru)
Diego Adolfo Dueñas Parapar is a Peruvian biologist focused on space microbiology. He has been research associate of the Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Microbiology Lab Assistant of the Universidad Ricardo Palma, and Global Nominee in the NASA Space Apps Challenge 2021. Supported by the Applied Microbiology International Institution and Universidad Ricardo Palma, Diego has been the first Latin American in the State Key Laboratory of Lunar and Planetary Science of the Macau University of Science and Technology carrying out a project focused on Biological In-Situ Resource Utilization on the moon, which he has presented in the Minerals & and Microbes Congress 2023 and Astrobiology Science Conference 2024.
Currently, he is the National Point of Contact of Peru at Space Generation Advisory Council and research associate at The Mars Society – Peru Chapter working on IRMA (Instrument for Recording Microbial Activity), which is a project approved by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and the Chinese Manned Space Agency, that aims to create an instrument for incubating-monitoring bacterial growth on space stations. This project is ongoing and will be carried out at the Chinese Space Station in 2025.
In addition, Diego is a space scientist blogger who uses his social networks to inspire young Latino scientists to follow a space career (find him as @astrob.diego on Instragram).
“Millions of thanks to SGAC for bringing me the opportunity to be part of two of the best space congresses in the world. This will be my first face-to-face experience with my SGAC community since I am a member and I will take full advantage of it! I am motivated and ready to share ideas and projects with space leaders interested in the new revolution of space exploration. See you in Milano!”
Guillaume Brault (France)
Guillaume Brault is a young French and Canadian space engineer with particular interests in rocket propulsion, spacecraft design and sustainable spaceflight. He is currently wrapping up a double master’s degree from Ecole Centrale de Lyon and Cranfield University. His thesis focuses on multidisciplinary optimization of the engine nozzles on HyPrSpace’s Orbital Baguette One launcher. Guillaume joined SGAC as a member of the organising team of SG[France] 2024, thanks to friends made at the International Space University.
He has been part of several volunteer projects, starting with electric motorsport until his current role in Team Tumbleweed, an international research organisation developing groundbreaking low-cost Mars rovers with the goal of democratizing deep space exploration. In his spare time, he is also a gigging musician and student glider pilot. He will be presenting papers relating to the Tumbleweed project as well as a novel lunar communication network concept at the IAC. The first space exploration mission that Guillaume contributed hardware to, NASA’s EscaPADE, will lift off towards Mars in the days leading up to SGC 2024.
“I am deeply grateful to receive this award, which inspires me to give back to our wonderful space community and to keep pushing as hard as ever in my projects. I would like to thank the generous donor and the SGAC scholarships team who made this possible, and I will make sure to repay their trust with my commitment and energy during and after the congress. Building on the success of SG[France] 2024 which was focused on sustainability, I can’t wait to come to Milan to take this discussion further, make new friends and prepare meaningful recommendations for our future in space.“
Luísa Santos (Brazil)
Luísa Santos is a Brazilian Mechanical Engineer and graduate of the Science and Technology program at UFRN. Her areas of expertise are in Industry and Aerospace Systems from UBA, and she is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Applied Computing at the National Institute for Space Research (INPE). Luísa Santos has over seven years of experience in the aerospace sector, during which time she has made a significant contribution to the promotion and expansion of astronautics and STEAM opportunities for young people. Additionally, Luísa is a dedicated supporter of the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) in Brazil, as well as other organizations that facilitate career advancement for young professionals in the space industry. She has been involved in diversity research in astronaut selection through the DIVINAS group of the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) since 2022. Her extensive training at Habitat Marte in Brazil and the Mars-Moon Astronautics Academy & Research Science in California makes her the most qualified women in the southern hemisphere for analog missions. As a co-founder of Geração de Marte, she is dedicated to fostering interest, creating opportunities, and providing training in space exploration for youth.
“I’m incredibly honored by this recognition. Representing my country at such prestigious international space congresses is a dream come true, and I hope to inspire more young people, especially women, to pursue careers in space exploration, bringing positive impact to their regions and contributing to the global community.“
Lielka Caballa (Peru)
Lielka Caballa is a Peruvian student pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Bioengineering at the University of Engineering and Technology (Lima, Peru). She completed a semester as an exchange student of the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering School at the Georgia Institute of Technology. In 2023, Lielka was selected as an analog astronaut for the Nike I mission at the LunAres Research Station. Currently, she has a role as a Research Associate for the IRMA Project (The Mars Society Peru Chapter), a space biology project selected by UNOOSA to be launched to the CSS. In parallel to research activities, Lielka has been involved in several initiatives to promote space science education among the younger generations in Peru and to disseminate the importance of space technology development for society.
“Not all who wander are lost” is probably the first quote that came to my mind when I received the scholarship. For a student, scholarship applications can be full of uncertainty, especially when there are many events that change our academic and personal situation. Right now, I feel gratitude and a hopeful vision of the future and my role in it to continue making a positive impact within the space sector, among my peers and specially for my country.”
Roshaan Nadeem (Pakistan)
Roshaan Nadeem is an undergraduate student of Space Science at the Institute of Space Technology (IST), Islamabad. With six years of experience in astrophotography, I have been passionately exploring the universe using telescopes and cameras. My work has garnered recognition on both local and international platforms, including being shortlisted twice for the Astronomy Photographer of the Year Competition by the Royal Observatory Greenwich and achieving the runner-up position for the People’s Choice Award in 2022. I am dedicated to increasing space and astronomy awareness among students and the general public, having conducted numerous outreach programs that have educated and inspired thousands. As a top contributor to the Lahore Astronomical Society since 2017, I have organized several telescope observation nights at Zeds Astronomical Observatory. Currently, I serve as a Space Communicator at the Space Education and Research Lab of the National Centre of GIS and Space Applications (NCGSA) and am a leading team member of the IST Astronomical Observatory (IAO). Through my role at the IAO, I observe and photograph the universe in great detail and conduct educational outreach sessions to bring space closer to students.
“I am immensely honored to receive the Nebula Award. Representing Pakistan on this prestigious platform is a privilege, and I am excited to collaborate with professionals from various sectors of the space industry. I look forward to promoting space education and outreach together and am committed to fulfilling my responsibilities to the best of my abilities.“
Vatasta Koul (India)
Vatasta Koul is a research student at SSDL Kyushu University (Kyudai), Japan. She received her Bachelor of Technology in Aerospace Engineering with a specialization in Avionics from India. During her undergraduate studies, she was an active member of Infinity Space Club: The Astronautical Society of UPES and served as a senior executive, contributing significantly to the club’s initiatives and fostering a culture of innovation and exploration. Additionally, she co-led Team Agastya: Aero-Design Team of UPES for the AIAA DBF competition excelling in the collaborative environment. She was an industrial intern at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Helicopter Division, and at the 8 Base Repair Depot Indian Air Force, Chennai.
Vatasta is also actively involved with the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) and gained valuable experience at SGAC while serving on the Public Relations and Communications team for the OGL Hackathon, and the SGx. She is also an active participant in SSSPG and SSPG, enabling her to make valuable contributions to multiple research projects.
Her aspirations are a preface to her research, closely aligned with the direction of responsible and sustainable use of outer space for the benefit of present as well as future generations.
“I am deeply honored to receive the Nebula Award and excited about the upcoming SGC-IAC 2024. This opportunity is both transformative and empowering, and I look forward to the experiences and connections it will bring. Thank you for this wonderful opportunity!“
Laura Rodriguez (Colombia)
Laura Margarita Rodríguez Ortiz is a Mechanical Engineer graduated from Bogotá, Colombia, with experience in design engineering and programming. During her undergraduate studies, she undertook various research internships, including working with the Colombian Air Force on the design of a training ART, with RECA (Network of Astronomy Students in Colombia) where she secured a research position for the exploration of simulated supernova data, and collaborating on the deployable structures project inspired by Origami at Universidad EAFIT. Additionally, with the help of her colleagues and professors, she introduced aerospace to her university and created the first interest group in this research area. She is an active board member of the professional section of ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) in Colombia. She joined the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) in 2023 after attending the Space Generation Workshop in Bogotá and She also participates in Fundación Cydonia and the National Space Society Colombia, enthusiastically exploring opportunities in the space industry to bring advancements to her country.
She will be presenting the results of her undergraduate thesis at IAC 2024, on the development of a neural network for the reconstruction of spectra from satellite images, and aims to make this unique experience a bridge for the development of more STEAM projects for women and young people in her country. |
” I am very happy to receive the Nebula Award and to participate in SGC 2024. It is an honor for me to contribute to this great community and showcase some of my country’s talent to the world. It will be an unforgettable experience and the achievements will be exceptional.”