Reiki Ishibashi attended the Global Space Design Challenge held at Imperial College London in the UK from Wednesday, July 19 to Monday, July 24. He had applied for and been awarded a scholarship from Linden Hall High School to attend this prestigious international programme.

1. What did you learn at the GSDC?

I learned two very important lessons, that creating a new product requires thinking critically through a great many elements and that collaboration, trust and communication are essential to working effectively with a large group of people. This competition involved creating the blueprint for a commercial aircraft that could realistically be launched in the near future. We had to consider a multitude of aspects including the spacecraft’s external architecture, building materials, floor plan, boarding and disembarking processes, fuel and energy, oxygen production, atmospheric pressure maintenance system, internal transportation, and budget.

For the first time ever, I collaborated with a team of 20 to consider how the many elements of spacecraft design interacted with each other and develop a viable plan. I had run for President during the Presidential and Leadership Elections, but I lost by a narrow margin and ended up serving as the Head of the Structural Department.

As we worked day and night to push the project forward, I realised just how vital collaboration, trust and communication are. The planning and design process became smoother and faster as we got to know each other better. I also became more confident in my position and role. Moreover, I found that bits and pieces of knowledge I had unrelated to aerospace engineering actually came in handy, and I learned how valuable a broad base of knowledge can be. Engaging in conversation with native English speakers also enhanced my linguistic skills.

2. Tell us about the other participants from around the world.

The GSDC is organized by the Space Science Engineering & Environmental Foundation (SSE2F). Many of the participants in this GSDC round had already been through the UK Space Design Challenge. Having participated in multiple similar competitions, they took on leadership tasks in the team and shared the knowledge and skills they had cultivated, such as Computer-Aided Design.

3. What left the greatest impression on you?

What struck me most was how willing each person was to share with the team their particular set of skills and knowledge. While participation in previous competitions would have given them opportunities to sharpen their skills, I could see that they must have spent significant time on their own to master their craft in preparation for the GSDC.

4. How will you use what you have learned through the GSDC in the future?

My aspiration is to create a better world through science and technology. I am specifically interested in helping tackle environmental issues, which are also complex and require effective collaboration between researchers, engineers, etc. Therefore, I believe the scientific thinking and teamwork skills I gained through GSDC will benefit me greatly in both my academics and career.

Through this learning journey, Reiki Ishibashi had the opportunity to not only interact with scholars from around the world but also develop essential career skills. Linden Hall High School will continue to support students in making their dreams come true.