ISAT U has marked a milestone in global space research with its first paper published in the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2026 proceedings. The paper was authored by Dave Loui A. Gumarang, a Mechanical Engineering alumnus and founder of the ISAT U Space Society.
Titled “Democratizing Space Education Through Local Applications in Emerging Space Nations: Insights from Youth-Driven Grassroots Outreach in the Philippines,” the paper explores how informal settings reach wider audiences than traditional academic pipelines and that locally grounded content with immediate and practical benefits drives far higher engagement than abstract space narratives which offers replicable frameworks for emerging space nations seeking to make space an accessible source of community empowerment rather than a distant and foreign aspiration. It also shows that grassroots youth organizations have the cultural fluency to build authentic community connections that formal institutions struggle to replicate.
Gumarang presented the paper at the IAC 2026 in Antalya, Türkiye last October 5-9, 2026, during the Space Education and Outreach Symposium’s session, “Sending Out a Signal: Innovative Outreach and Communications Initiatives.”
The paper was also shortlisted by the session chairs for peer review in the prestigious Acta Astronautica, the official archival journal of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) which is prominently indexed in major database like Scopus, a recognition of its high scientific merit, novelty, or practical value to the space community. It is expected to undergo the journal’s rigorous peer review, where reviewers will assess its technical depth, methodology, and clarity.
Gumarang was one of this year’s 40 International Astronautical Federation (IAF) Emerging Space Leaders.
As a non-aerospace university, ISAT U proves that great ideas can come from simple curiosity. The university remains committed to fostering student-led innovation and research initiatives in space science and technology.
