By Varda Sharma

There is a pride and a sense of satisfaction as we learn that Dr. Shawna Pandya will become the third woman of Indian origin to go to space after Kalpana Chawla and Sunita Williams. Born in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada with roots in Mumbai, the 32-year old General Physician is one of the two candidates shortlisted from 3,200 people enrolled in the Citizen Science Astronaut (CSA) program. 

“Shawna was a bright student right from her childhood. When she was around three years old, we came to Mumbai and visited Nehru Planetarium. We were surprised to see her knowledge on the subject as well as her inclination towards Astronomy,” says Mrs. Indira Pandya, mother of Dr. Pandya.

Academically brilliant, Dr. Shawna had an equal inclination towards medicine as well. “She drew her inspiration from her father, who is a physiotherapist and her elder brother who is a neurosurgeon,” says Mrs. Indira.

Dr. Shawna did her B.Sc in neuroscience from University of Alberta and applied for higher studies in University of Alberta as well as in International Space University, France.

“Admission in both these universities is difficult to get but Shawna got admission in both,” smiles Mrs. Indira making it even more difficult for Dr. Shawna to make a choice. However, her decision was made easier as Dr. Shawna was allowed to defer her programme in Alberta for few years.

With her Nani

She went to France and obtained MSc. in space sciences from International Space University in around 2007. Thereafter, she joined University of Alberta and got her MD in Medicine.

In 2015, Dr. Shawna successfully completed Scientist Astronaut Candidate training with project PoSSUM (Polar Suborbital Science in the Upper Mesophere), which will study the effects of climate change.  She will also work on Physiological, Health, and Environmental Observations in Microgravity (PHEnOM), and is a prime crew member of Project Poseidon, a 100-day underwater mission at the Aquarius Space Research Facility in Florida. Dr. Shawna Pandya also received the Global Women of Vision award in 2016.

“These projects are like dream come true for me and I am incredibly fortunate to be a part. It is equally heartening to learn that I have become a role model for many youngsters from across the globe,” says Dr. Pandya.

Dr. Pandya, is well versed in multiple languages including and is a black belt in Taekwondo. She is an author and even has got training in Muay Thai with a Navy SEAL. She has even been a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, walked the runway as a model and given a TEDx talk about resilience.

Advising all the women and the youngsters, Dr. Pandya says,” If you have a dream, do not hesitate to pursue it. With consistent hard work and passion, one can easily reach the pinnacle of success.”