Ticas en el Espacio 2

Through SWISE Costa Rica, in collaboration with the CFIA (Colegio Federado de Ingenieros y de Arquitectos de Costa Rica), I organized and led a symposium featuring Costa Rican women leaders who have contributed to projects within the aerospace industry, with the goal of increasing visibility and motivation for women in the field. The symposium included keynote talks by Roxy Williams, Melania Guerra, Cornelia Miller, and Inge Puschendorf, all women who have had—and continue to have—a significant impact on the space industry at both national and international levels.

The event also featured a panel discussion with prominent leaders, including Dr. Paola Vega Castillo, then Minister of Science and Technology; Ing. Alejandra Morice Sandoval, President of the Board of CITEC; Ileana Aguilar Aguilar, President of the Board of CFIA; Ing. Mariela Rojas Quesada, an engineer and member of ACAE; Ing. Merary Alvarado Rojas, Digital Product Consultant at RedMente; and myself, at the time an engineering student and founder of SWISE Costa Rica.

The symposium was live-streamed, expanding its reach beyond physical attendees, and included a special message from Sandra Cauffman, a Costa Rican aerospace leader who, prior to her retirement, served as Deputy Director of the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters. The impact of this event centered on inclusion, representation, and visibility, creating a space where women could see role models who reflect their potential and recognize that meaningful careers in space and aerospace engineering are both possible and within reach.