Space was never so close to our faculty! Last Wednesday, November 4th, room Q4/0011 of the School of Engineering became the epicenter of space exploration to welcome a truly historic visit: Carlos García-Galán, Moon Base Program Manager at NASA.
Expectations were so overwhelming that they exceeded all our forecasts, bringing together over 100 people from different UAB faculties and even from off-campus. A full house to listen to a true benchmark in engineering and space exploration!
🚀 From Madrid to NASA: The Journey of a Dream
During the talk, Carlos shared his personal and professional journey, explaining how he went from being a young student in Madrid to leading key programs within the world’s premier space agency. It was a lesson in perseverance and pure inspiration that resonated deeply with the entire audience.
He left us with a key takeaway to remember throughout our careers: we must always keep our dreams in mind and fight for them with everything we have, no matter how distant or ambitious they may seem at first.
🌕 Artemis Project, the Moon, and the Path to Mars
Throughout the talk, we got to see spectacular immersive videos of the Artemis Project and learn firsthand how a sustainable human presence on the Moon is being designed.
🖊️ Personalized Autographs, UAB Media Coverage, and an Unforgettable Memory
The event also caught the attention of campus media: the UAB Media team conducted an exclusive interview with Carlos to capture his impressions and the significance of this meeting with engineering students.
After an enriching Q&A session where attendees were able to ask him questions, Carlos proved to be incredibly approachable and humble. At the end of the event, he patiently stayed behind to sign event posters for attendees: many of those present took home posters personally signed for them!, complete with their names and motivational messages for their future projects.
The Numbers of the Day 📊
A historic event that marks a turning point for our student branch:
- 100+ attendees: Full house in room Q4/0011 with UAB students and general public.
- 1 world-class speaker: Carlos García-Galán sharing inner insights from NASA.
- Exclusive interview: Special event coverage by UAB Media.
- 2 hours of space inspiration: Videos of the Artemis program, Moon Base challenges, and future vision towards Mars.
- Dedicated posters: Dozens of attendees took home a personalized signed souvenir.
🚀 What’s Next?
Hosting talks of this caliber demonstrates that the alliance between IEEE UAB x GDGoC UAB continues to bring cutting-edge technology to our campus. This is just getting started, and we are already putting the finishing touches on upcoming hands-on workshops on hardware, software, AI, and Cloud Native.
If you don’t want to miss out on a spot in upcoming activities or would like to join the organizing team, remember to register as a member completely free of charge and follow us on our Instagram account (@ieee_uab).
A huge thank you to Carlos García-Galán for his visit and inspiration, to UAB Media for the coverage, and to everyone who came to fill the room!
The IEEE Student Branch UAB x GDGoC UAB team