The world of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) has seen remarkable developments in recent years, with many talented individuals paving the way for future generations of innovators. One of these trailblazers is Engr. Lilac Hosalla Schonberg, a mechatronic robotic engineer who played an integral role in the design to explore the planets. The United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) missions to Mars and soon the rover lunar Mission to the Moon are the align-units for students to study the planetary science integrated to STEM subjects.
As an educator, Engr. Schonberg has been inspiring students in the UAE to learn about space and discover the wonders of earth science. She has been representing the campaign to schools all over the UAE, spearheading the training of ROS and Robotics python development, and working with the UAE innovation Ajman University national robotics competition in the Robotics Engineering and Information Technology field. Her contributions have been instrumental in advancing our understanding of space and paving the way for further exploration.
Engr. Schonberg holds the record as the only Filipina who works in the UAE innovation of Ajman national robotics competition in the Robotics Engineering and Information Technology field. She has been raising the Philippine flag in the UAE academe, serving as an excellent role model for young women who aspire to work in STEM fields.
Despite her busy schedule, Engr. Schonberg is a wife, mother, teacher, and a chancellor who spearhead her department at QAT Children Development Center in helping parents recognize an early intervention and behavioural support for children with autism. Engineer Schonberg also provides Kinesthetic learning and Robotics for autism, an interactive robot that provides children on the autism spectrum to develop social appropriateness and emotion via storytelling, physical interaction, and visual communication. Nevertheless, all of which make her an incredible inspiration to those around her. Her journey began with a degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering major in Telecommunication VOIP Systems and upgrade to Mechatronic Robotics automation. A CISCO certified engineer, and completed her AI STEM Robotics Development program at the prestigious Oxford. In addition to her cap, she recently finished her social psychology master in studies in SEN. Her passion for innovation and technology has been with her since childhood, and she has made it her mission to inspire others to explore these fields as well.
The UAE’s Mars and moon Mission are among the most notable achievements in the country’s space exploration efforts. The Emirates Mars Mission “Hope Probe” was the first probe to provide a complete picture of the Martian atmosphere and its layers when it reached the red planet’s orbit in 2021. The data collected by the probe helped answer key questions about the global Martian atmosphere and the loss of hydrogen and oxygen gases into space over the span of one Martian year.
Meanwhile, the Emirates Lunar Mission, designed and developed at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC) in Dubai, was launched by Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral on Sunday, December 11, 2022. The Rashid rover is scheduled to touch down on the lunar surface in April after heading to the Moon on a low-energy trajectory. Engr. Schonberg was an integral part of the curricula development for the distribution of the effectiveness instructions of space science and technology. The integration of science and technology subjects will aim the mission to study various aspects such as thermal properties of the lunar surface and the formation components of the lunar soil, that made these missions possible and helped push the boundaries of what is space technology.
Engr. Schonberg’s dedication, perseverance, and passion for innovation and technology have made her an inspiration to all, and her contributions to the field of Aerospace Robotics STEM NASA Mechatronic Engineering will undoubtedly be remembered for years to come. As one of the first recipients of the Global Filipino Icon Awards in 2021, Engr. Schonberg has left her mark on the world of STEM and space exploration, and she continues to inspire the next generation of innovators.
