Susan Murabana experienced a life-changing moment at the age of 22 when she looked through a telescope for the first time. The sight of Saturn and its yellow-gold rings, once just illustrations in textbooks, became real to her, sparking a powerful experience. This moment came while she was volunteering with Cosmos Education, an organization dedicated to improving science education in developing countries, and it inspired her love for astronomy.
From there, Murabana joined a teacher training program and completed a Master’s degree in astronomy before founding the Travelling Telescope with her husband, Daniel Chu Owen. The social enterprise aims to bring astronomy education to underserved and remote communities in Kenya using a mobile inflatable planetarium and a telescope.
Their work has had a profound impact on children, inspiring them and even changing their perceptions of science. Murabana and Owen hope to inspire more Kenyans to take an interest in the space industry and dream of seeing the first Kenyan in space. Their goal is to create a more informed generation of leaders who are aware of the need to protect our planet.
Adding a personal motivation to their work, Murabana aims to combat the perception that astronomy is a Western science and draw attention to the rich history of astronomy in Africa that dates back millennia. The couple funds Travelling Telescope through astro-tourism services and plans to create an observatory in Kenya, away from light pollution, where they can host educational programs and special events.
With the impact of their work already reaching over 400,000 people, Murabana’s dream is for every child to have the opportunity to experience astronomy under the night sky at least once in their lifetime. To stay updated with more news and newsletters from CNN, create an account at CNN.com today.
