Space4Climate lead recognised as Via Satellite Rising Star

Space4Climate programme lead, Krupa Nanda Kumar, has been listed as a Rising Star 2024, announced by Via Satellite.

Krupa, who is based at the University of Reading’s Department of Meteorology, joined Space4Climate in May 2022. Since then Krupa has expanded the organisation’s membership, its range of activities and its outreach into new sectors linked to Earth observation.

Just 25 Rising Stars were selected from all the nominations for magazine Via Satellite’s new accolade. It highlights the achievements and contributions of young professionals in the space and satellite industry. The list features under 35s who have made tangible contributions to the industry, whether through business, technical achievement or advocacy.

In her role as Climate Services Development Manager, based at the University of Reading, Krupa has extended the influence of the group on the international stage. She has spearheaded campaigns such as COP28 where Space4Climate led on four events as well as a stand in COP’s first Space Pavilion, the first Global Space Conference on Climate Change (GLOC) and the Geospatial International Summit earlier this year. Her involvement at national events has included the UKspace Conference, NCEO’s UK Earth Observation Conference, GEO Business and Innovation Zero. She is in demand as a panellist and speaker, engaging wider audiences with UK opportunities in climate data for space and its potential for developing climate services and informing climate action. Krupa has grown the diversity of Space4Climate’s membership, welcoming new, smaller-scale UK businesses, entrepreneurs and innovators in the Earth Observation community, behind the scenes with our policy members and as part of the Women In Space network.

The nomination was kept under wraps from Krupa who was taken by surprise. She said: “I am extremely honoured to be recognised amongst brilliant and inspiring peers from the satellite sector. I’ve had the privilege of being part of diverse organisations across the satellite value chain in SATCOMS and the Earth Observation sector and I continue to be in awe of the potential of space and the impacts of satellite technology.

“We’re in a very exciting era of space capabilities transformation, both for Earth applications and outer space. I am grateful to be a part of this, leading our endeavour at Space4Climate to demystify satellite Earth Observation for climate action across public and private sectors.

“There has never been a more critical time to drive uptake of satellite services for Earth’s survival and my hope is that we strive to responsibly harness space in the continued service of people and planet.

“A huge thank you to my colleagues who nominated me, I am grateful for their belief and support.”

Beth Greenaway, Head of Earth Observation and Climate at UK Space Agency and Chair of Space4Climate, said: “I’m delighted that Krupa’s talents have been recognised. She took on a thriving Space4Climate group from her predecessor Briony Turner, which had just taken the bold step of taking ‘space’ to the COP process for the first time. With high expectations from all its stakeholders, Krupa has dived into the programme, grown the community in diverse and inclusive ways and taken us closer to the markets the community are striving to unlock.”