Rabin William is currently the Accelerometer product lead at Innalabs, an inertial sensor manufacturer. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Physics and a master’s degree in Space Science and Technology.
Rabin shares his NASA Space Apps Challenge experience below.
Can you share your NASA Space Apps Challenge experience?
I first participated in the NASA Space Apps Challenge back in 2020 during COVID lockdowns. It was all online, and I got to work with some really smart people across the globe, who are still good friends today. I wanted to check out the local event, so I took part in the Dublin Space Apps Challenge in 2023, and then I went again last year.
Why did you decide to take part in the NASA Space Apps Challenge?
I was looking to do some personal projects, and this hackathon felt like a good place to find like-minded people and get some inspiration. Once I got there, I honestly had a great time, trying to tackle really interesting problems with really smart people, all within just a couple of days. I had such an amazing experience the first time that I knew I had to come back the following years.
What motivates you?
I think I’m motivated mainly by curiosity and the excitement of solving real world problems, especially in areas that I’m passionate about. Also, working with equally passionate, like-minded people really recharges me. It's something special when everyone’s working towards the same goal.
What was the best part about taking part in the NASA Space Apps Challenge?
I really enjoyed the planning aspect and figuring out how to make the most of the limited time we had.
It pushed me to perform well under pressure and work within the team efficiently, making the most of what we had. It also helped me improve how I communicate science, especially to people from different backgrounds.
After every hackathon, I usually go back to the challenges and try to pick a couple more topics for myself to work on. The resources and the references to the open source data are extremely handy. They make it so much easier to dive deeper even after the event.
What do you aspire to do next?
At first, I thought I wanted to be an astrophysicist, mostly because the title sounded cool, but as I dug deeper, I realised that I was more into the hands-on side of space exploration than the theoretical stuff. That’s what led me to study physics and later do a master’s in Space Science and Technology.
I’ve been fascinated by space ever since I was a kid, and I’ve always dreamed of working in the space industry. The Space Apps Challenge felt like the perfect place to put my skills to the test. It might sound a bit cheesy, but Interstellar had a huge part in shaping my career's trajectory as well.
What advice would you give this year's participants?
Try to finalise your topic early on, and have a rough plan on who’s working on what and how much time you’ll spend on each part. Be prepared to be flexible with your plan and try to prioritise the most important aspects of your project, in case you run out of time...which happens more often than you’d expect!
Interested in taking part? Visit the NASA Space Apps Challenge website to register. Please note that data related to this challenge is not collected, stored, or managed by National College of Ireland.
