The Tribune

By FAY SIMMONS

Tribune Education Reporter

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

AT an age when many students are just beginning to explore career possibilities, 15-year-old Lorrie Deus has already experienced hands-on satellite education in India and shared her learning with fellow students and professionals in The Bahamas.

The Akhepran International Academy student was the youngest presenter at Geospatial Week 2026. Lorrie, a Grade 12 honour scholar and Head Girl Elect, shared her experience with the ShakthiSAT satellite education mission during a programme at the BEMU STE facility in Nassau.

Approximately 75 Akhepran students attended the session, which connected her international learning experience with the growing role of geospatial technology in The Bahamas’ development.

Lorrie’s journey began in September 2025, when Akhepran President Dr Jacinta Higgs introduced students to ShakthiSAT. Following months of online study and preparation, Lorrie was selected to represent The Bahamas in India, accompanied by fellow Bahamian co-ambassadors Daphney Towns and Lillian Flowers.

Created by Dr Srimathy Kesan and led by Space Kidz India, ShakthiSAT aims to engage approximately 12,000 girls from 108 nations in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and satellite education.

At Gautam Buddha University, Lorrie joined girls from around the world for lessons and practical activities involving satellites, payloads, electronic components and spacecraft technology. She built miniature satellite models and participated in soldering and wire bonding exercises. A drone simulation also introduced her to mapping and scaling, linking her experience in India to the technologies explored during Geospatial Week.

Geospatial Week 2026 brought together students, educators, surveyors and other professionals under the theme “Geospatial Intelligence for a Climate-Resilient Bahamas.”

Akhepran International Academy was among the organising partners, with Delarease Allen of the Bahamas Association of Land Surveyors assisting in facilitating the event.

The programme explored how geospatial information can support coastal resilience, environmental protection, agriculture, infrastructure planning and community development. Students were also introduced to career opportunities in surveying, drone technology, geographic information systems (GIS), hydrography and land planning.

The programme examined land and property rights, including land registration, through discussions featuring professionals from surveying, public administration and the legal sector. The sessions highlighted how technical expertise, mapping and data can inform decisions about land ownership, resource management and national development.

Lorrie’s presentation brought a student perspective to these discussions, demonstrating how international learning experiences can connect classroom knowledge with real-world applications.

Since returning from India, she has continued sharing her experience and encouraging other students, particularly girls, to pursue STEM opportunities. She was also selected for IGNITE-HER, an all-girls STEM programme, alongside fellow Akhepran student Zoe Storr.

Her participation reflects Akhepran’s emphasis on STEM education, leadership, environmental awareness and global citizenship.

At 15, Lorrie has progressed from studying satellite science to participating in an international educational mission and sharing that knowledge with her peers. Her journey demonstrates how practical learning and global opportunities can help young Bahamians envision themselves contributing to the science and technology shaping their country’s future.