KYZZHIBEK BATYRKANOVA. PROGRAM DIRECTOR, KYRGYZ SPACE PROGRAM (KSP)
Kyzzhibek Batyrkanova is an economics graduate from the American University of Central Asia and Program Director of the Space Program, a group of dedicated women in Kyrgyzstan who want to build the world’s first satellite and relaunch the space industry.
Presentation Synopsis:
‘Space Programs for Women Empowerment in Kyrgyzstan’
Kyrgyz Space Program is a revolutionary project that aims to have Kyrgyzstan’s first satellite launched into space, which will be built by an all-female team. It is an educational and social project with the purpose of making a difference in science and attitude toward gender perception in the traditional society of Kyrgyzstan.
The development of the space industry and the introduction of low-cost solutions like CubeSats and PocketQubes have made this program possible. Making space more accessible does not only help to contribute to science but also tackle social issues in countries with no space programs. Kyrgyz Space Program is willing to share how establishing the space program, space industry, and technology helps fill the gender equality gap and establish a space-related initiative in a country with no infrastructure and specialists.