BY DARGIE KAHSAY
Tinsae Alemayehu’s passion to astronomy began from childhood. He loves reading antiquarian books particularly Ethiopian religious manuscripts. In his immerission to the reading of ancient manuscripts, Tinsae understood that Ethiopians to have deep and wide understanding of space and stars. They have preserved their wisdom in these thousand years of old manuscripts. As a result, he sustains his reading and got fascinated by the study of space science.
Tensae says his knowledge of the ancient Geez language have helped him to read and understand these old manuscripts that are basically written by Geez. It is rare for Ethiopian schools to have Geez language class. Tensae was lucky the school he attended his scondary education: Abune Gorgorios Secondary School have Geez class. He gave this clas due attention and it benefits him as he can now read the language well and understand ancient Ethiopian religious manuscripts that contain rare knowldge of science particularly space and stars.
Reading these books, he understood that astronomy and space science aren’t areas of study that are reserved for Europeans. This revealtion that came after the reading of historical manuscripts encouraged Tinsae to commit his time and money for reading, researching and studying of the space and what it compasses. He became member of the Ethiopian Space Science Society (ESSS) then in 2019 Youth Space Ambassador of ESSS and contributed his share to organize Africa Space Science forum in Addis Ababa in 2019.
Though Tensae has got first Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Mekelle University, his focus is on space and its surrounding. The 25 year old Mechanical Engineer is currently Africa Regional Coordinator at Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) and was named among the five 2023 Young Space Leaders by International Astronautical Federation (IAF) on its Young Space Leaders Recognition Programme announced last week. Tinsae is the only young African scientist named in the 2023 IAF Young Space Leaders list. Tinsae told a local media that his interest was to study Astronomy but since there was no astronomy field in Ethiopia at BSc level, he joined Mechanical Engineering department as it related to the field of Astronomy.
After he started studying Mechanical Engineering, Tinsae strengthened his researches and reading of astronomy related books and continued to attend different trainings parallel to his formal class. He was an executive member of the ESSS Mekelle branch, where he was a member of ESSS since he was a high school student. Following becoming an executive member of ESSS, he strives to expand the knowledge. He worked with different organizations to prepare trainings and awareness creation events for young students at high schools and primary schools.
Passionate about raising awareness for the space sector, Tensae has organized impactful outreach activities in Addis Ababa and Mekelle that inspires and engages young people. His continuous efforts to expand the knowledge and awareness of the field to the society have received different recognitions at continental and international levels. Before his nomination of 2023’s IAF Young Space Leaders recognition, Tinsae have earned continental and global awards even when he was a university student. His journey of recognition as emerging young space scientist started at Mekelle University.
Tinsae was awarded the ‘Top 10 under 30’ African Space Industry Award by Space in Africa in 2021, Emerging Space Leaders award by International Astronautical Federation (IAF) in 2022 and the Global Grants Programme award by SGAC. Finally, he becomes one of the five Young Space Leaders named by IAF for the year 2023.
His dedication and achievements are rewarding him to shine in the space sector at his early age. He achieved these endeavors during the tough time of the COVID-19 He was a fifth year student at Mekelle University at the time the war in Northern Ethiopia breakout. Luckily, he was out of Mekelle for in internship at the time.
Announced the 2023 Young Space Leaders on its website last week, IAF stated that the IAF Young Space Leaders Recognition Program is awarded to “exceptional students and young professional, who contribute to astronautics in their academic or early careers, reach out to other young people and their communities to share their knowledge and experiences, engaged with the international space community and contribute to IAF activities.”
Based on the requirements, five young professionals were chosen for the 2023 IAF Young professional Leaders award by a selection committee during the IAF Spring Meeting in March, according to the organization. Tinsae becomes one of the five Young Space Leaders. IAF reiterated that driving by lifelong passion for exploration and a commitment to making a lasting impact in the space science field, Tinsae Alemayehu Ali is a pioneering figure in African Space Science and Engineering sector. “Tinsae’s visionary leadership and outstanding achievements have set him one of the young space leaders.”
In addition to his Regional Coordinator for Africa role at SGAC, Tinsae plays a crucial role in nurturing the next generation of space professionals, according to IAF. Tinsae recently also joined Cube Space ADCS as a Sales Engineer, a world-leading Satellite ADCS manufacturing company, where he contributes his technical expertise and exceptional communication skills to drive business growth.
The IAF website praises the boundless passion of Tinsae for exploration, innovation, and leaving a lasting legacy and his stands as a true trailblazer and a beacon of inspiration for aspiring space professionals worldwide. His technical expertise, exceptional leadership, and unwavering commitment are also continuing in reshaping the landscape of the space industry, IAF stated.
According to Tinsae, space science is not a luxury and developing countries needs the sector for their development. To develop skilled researchers in the sector in developing countries, like Africa, it is vital to give due attention to the sector by investing in the youth generation. “Developing and expanding practical labs, developing the space science industry, and practice and theory should go parallel to develop the sector in the developing world,” Tinsae said.
For Tinsae, Ethiopia have its own indigenous knowledge in the space sector and the ancient books give hints about the nature of the space. He advised to the youth generation to search and read these ancient books to exploit the indigenous knowledge in the astronomy field. He also recommends to youths to join Science Clubs in their surroundings and to become member of the Ethiopian Space Science Society to develop their knowledge in the field. For him, there are talented students in Ethiopia, though lack of access to practical labs limited them to develop their knowledge in the sector. Hence for him, it is important to support the youth generation by expanding practical labs in astronomy.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 23 JUNE 2023
