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About Us

The AstroNoir Family

We are a team of social, natural, and applied scientists.

 

Learn more about us below. 

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Chaneil James, MSc. 

Founder and Senior Research Scientist

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Chaneil James, MSc., is an accomplished interdisciplinary physicist. With her exceptional communication skills, she effectively bridges the gap between science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) by making these complex subjects accessible to a wider audience.

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Chaneil completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Earth Sciences (geophysics based) at University College London (UCL), where her notable Geosciences Project focused on "The Evolution of Mercury's Core." During her time at UCL, she served as the Community Coordinator for FDL USA/Europe and gained valuable experience as a student intern at CERN. Chaneil also took on the role of Diversity Coordinator for UKSEDS, emphasizing her commitment to promoting inclusivity in the field.

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Continuing her academic journey, Chaneil pursued a Master's degree in Astrophysics, Particle Physics, and Cosmology at the University of Barcelona (UB). Her master's thesis delved into the characteristics of suprathermal particles observed by the Solar Orbiter satellite during their journey from the Sun to Earth. Throughout her master's studies, Chaneil demonstrated her expertise as a Freelance Scientific Journalist for Physics World, and as a Subject Matter Expert in Earth and space sciences for NASA SpaceApps Hackathon events, including the exploration of topics such as the Sustainable Development Goals.

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Chaneil has had the privilege of participating as an independent expert at the United Nations Economic Commission of Europe's Nineteenth session of the Joint Task Force on Environmental Statistics and Indicators, as well as the working group on Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. Additionally, she proudly represented AstroNoir at the 1st and 2nd Sessions of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent organized by the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner.

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Drawing from her decade-long experience as an educator through tutoring and teaching, Chaneil recognized the common intimidation people faced when engaging with STEAM subjects. Identifying the lack of representation and accessibility as contributing factors, she founded AstroNoir in 2020 to address these issues and inspire a new generation of learners in STEAM fields.

Marjahn Finlayson, MRes.

Chief Project Officer and Earth, Environmental, & Climate Sciences Contributor

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As a research scientist at the Cape Eleuthera Institute, Marjahn Finlayson, MRes. has introduced atmospheric science and meteorology to South Eleuthera. From 2021, she has led projects focused on tropical cyclone development projections using PRIMAVERA (from EU Horizon 2020 data) outputs, studied weather and climate conditions in the South Eleutheran community, conducted community surveys on perceptions of climate change, and headed sea glider launches and recoveries with the University of Miami and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She has collaborated with local Bahamian and international institutions and scientists to provide accessible documentation and studies on climate change, hurricanes, and weather. 

 

Marjahn began her earth science career at Wesleyan University, where she learned about tropical cyclones, palaeoclimatology and climate modelling. As a junior, she worked with NOAA scientists at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (NOAA GFDL) and wrote an undergraduate dissertation on the impacts of the El Niño Southern Oscillation on tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic Basin, based on this research. In 2020, she earned a Master's in Research from the University of Leeds in Climate and Atmospheric Science. There she studied storm track movement and statistical analysis under different climate scenarios presented in IPCC AR5. Between her undergraduate and graduate studies, Marjahn discovered her love for teaching and working with students of all ages. Based on her work in education and community engagement for climate science and weather, she founded ClimateEdu Bahamas and Fin Forecasts in 2022 as conduits to extend her reach in this work. 

 

Marjahn studies severe weather in our changing climate, especially for island nations and communities. This research is personal because, as a Bahamian, her communities are most vulnerable to the most adverse effects of climate change. 

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Chris Chellembrom, BEng.

Chief Technology & Operations Officer

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Christophe boasts a strong academic background in Aeronautics and Astronautics, having earned his BEng at the University of Southampton. His final year project focused on the development and application of solid lubricants in space, igniting his passion for the space industry. Christophe is currently pursuing an MSc in Space Engineering at Politecnico di Milano, specializing in propulsion systems.

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Throughout his academic journey, Christophe has been an active participant in various engineering projects, both curricular and extracurricular. He has developed a strong belief that science can be made more engaging and accessible for children and teenagers by transforming it into a fun-learning experience. This conviction has led him to commit to the mission of AstroNoir, a project aimed at promoting STEM education among the younger generation through creative events and activities while ensuring its inclusivity for all.

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Christophe's multifaceted interests extend beyond the realm of science and engineering. In his leisure time, he enjoys staying active through sports and expresses his creativity through music and drawing. With his broad range of expertise and unwavering passion for science education, Christophe is well-equipped to make a significant impact in the world of STEM outreach.

Asanté Boyce, MSc.

Research Editor

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Asanté holds a BA Hons in Sociology and Criminology, during which she completed a thesis on the experiences and perceptions of sisterhood within the Black British community. 

 

Though originally from London, Asanté is currently living in the Netherlands. Completing an MSc in Cultural Anthropology: Sustainable Citizenship. She researched the knowledge and perceptions of people with a refugee background in Utrecht, regarding the environment and sustainability. Asanté has a keen interest in the socio-cultural factors involved in sustainability and the environment, particularly the inclusion of diverse perspectives. She also believes in ensuring that young people are aware of the impacts and policies surrounding environmental-related issues such as climate change. With AstroNoir, Asanté knows that such scientific-related topics will also be made approachable for young people and help develop representation within such fields. Additionally, by volunteering as a Networking & Outreach Officer for ClimaTalk she is able to further the work on this. 

 

She is also interested in food waste/management, soil degradation, and education. A lover of documentaries and non-fiction books, she always appreciates any recommendations!

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Natoshia Anderson, Ed.D.

Community Liason Manager

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The engaging, phenomenal founder of Natoshia Anderson Consulting, LLC. Dr. Natoshia Anderson, is a reformed Mechanical Engineer-turned award-winning STEM educator and STEM gender equity/diversity and inclusion advocate, STEM leadership consultant, and dynamic and informative, in-demand STEM motivational speaker and podcast host (STEMming in Stilettos ™).

 

Dr. Anderson loves to offer intensive professional and leadership development coaching and training for women of color in STEM, and STEM keynote/motivational speaking services to organizations, associations, corporations, conferences, and educational systems nationwide.

 

In her spare time, Dr. Anderson can be found reading a good romance novel or binge-watching Netflix shows. She is a wife of 23 years and is a mother to one college and high school senior.

Kanyin Odeyinde

Early-Career Researcher

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Kanyin is a first-year university student studying Physics with Astrophysics and Cosmology. Drawn to working for AstroNoir, she is inspired by their promotion of diversity and inclusivity in the natural and social scientific communities. This closely aligns with her aspiration to encourage underrepresented individuals in the industry.

 

Kanyin's particular interest lies in Astro-particle physics, and she plans to specialize in this field through a Masters/PhD after completing her bachelor's degree.

 

She is thrilled to be part of the AstroNoir team and dreams of inspiring younger girls to explore the wonders of the world. Recognizing the significance of representation, Kanyin admires the impactful work AstroNoir is undertaking.

 

In her leisure time, she enjoys reading, dancing, and crocheting.

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Mariama Williams, Ph.D.

Community Liason Manager

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Mariama Williams, Ph. D. is a feminist economist working on economic development, macroeconomics, trade external debt, and finance issues, with a focus on gender equality and women’s empowerment, social equity, sustainable climate finance & development, and climate change issues. Her most recent publications include Financing the Blue Economy: Impacts and Implications for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in the Global South January 2023 DAWN Discussion Paper #48; Investment and finance, In IPCC, 2022: Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change. Contribution of Working Group III to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (Kreibiehl et al., 2022)*;  'Shaping the Future of Multilateralism Just and sustainable finance to address multiple global crises demands a focus on gender equality' Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, June 2021; 'International Financial Institutions and Using Country Systems: Implications for Gender Equality', Programme on Women’s Economic Social and Cultural Rights (PWESCR), BRICS Feminist Watch, the South Centre, Heinrich Boll Stiftung, March 2021; ‘Africa’s Trade and Environment Policy, in Encyclopedia on Trade and Environment, Panos Delimatsis and Leonie Reins (eds.), Edward Elgar Publishing, 2021; ‘Three decades of climate mitigation: why haven't we bent the global emissions curve?’ Annual Review of Environment and Resources, Volume 46. (Stoddard I, and Anderson K. et al. (2021); and ‘Gender and energy poverty: the view from the North’, in Engendering the Energy Transition: Policy and Practice. (Feenstra, Clancy and Daskalova (editors), Palgrave Macmillan, 2021); An Assessment of the impact of climate change, trade and sustainable development nexus on gender equity. Commonwealth Secretariat and South Centre (forthcoming); Gender, Tax Reform and Taxation Cooperation Issues: Navigating Equity and Efficiency under Policy Constraints, South Centre, 2019.


Her books include Gender and Climate Finance: Coming out of the margins (Routledge 2015), Gender Issues in the Multilateral Trading System (Commonwealth Secretariat, 2003). Trading Stories: Experiences with Gender and Trade (co-edited with Marilyn Carr), Commonwealth Secretariat, 2010) and co-author Gender and Trade Action Guide: A Training Resource (Commonwealth Secretariat, London, 2007) and An Initial Exploration of the Trade-Gender- Climate Change Nexus and Its Interlinkages to Sustainable Development (with contributions from Yinka Bandele) Commonwealth Secretariat, Unpublished May 2019.


Williams is also a board director of the Institute of Law and Economics (ILE, Jamaica), a member of the Caribbean Feminist Action Network, the Gender and Trade Coalition, and Principal Consultant the Integrated Policy Research Institute (IPRI - Syntropy) Williams other relevant associations include: Senior Associate, the Political Ecology and Sustainability Programme, Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN), Coordinator, Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Gender (SDCCG) Programme, the South Centre, an inter-governmental think-tank of developing countries; a member of the Advisory Group of the SG’s High-Level Task Force on Financing for Gender Equality (2019-2020); member, UN Women's  Expert Advisory Group--the SDG Monitoring Report; member of the International Working Group on Gender and Macroeconomics & International Trade (IWGEM) and founding Coordinator/Research Adviser, the International Gender and Trade Network(IGTN).
 

Previous Board and Committee Representations include:

  • Member, Board, the Center of Concern, (Washington, D.C.) 2003-2006

  • Member, Board, The Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation (Sweden) 2010-2015

  • Member, Board, Association for Women’s Rights and Development (AWID, Canada)

  • Member of the Planning Committee for the Bi-annual Forum, the Association for Women

  • UNIFEM’s International Advisory Committee of Progress of the World’s Women for Development (AWID);

  • Member of the Director General’s Advisory Council at the World Trade Organization.
    (under the leadership of Supachai Panitchpakdi, WTO Director-General, 2002-2005)

 

Mariama is also a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT) with the International Association of Yoga
Therapists and an experienced registered yoga teacher (RYT500) with the Yoga Alliance. A
graduate of the Inner MBA program (Mindful New York University, LinkedIn, Sounds True and
Wisdom 2.0) and holds certificates in both Collective Trauma and Polyvagal Theory. She is
President and CEO, FromtheInside2theOutside LLC which supports improvements in personal
growth and effectiveness, building and enhancing resilience and improving vitality, performance,
constructive communications, and decision-making both with individuals, organizations, and in the workplace.

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*Kreibiehl, S., T. Yong Jung, S. Battiston, P. E. Carvajal, C. Clapp, D. Dasgupta, N. Dube, R. Jachnik, K. Morita, N. Samargandi, M. Williams, 2022: Investment and finance. In IPCC, 2022: Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change. Contribution of Working Group III to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change  [P.R.  Shukla, J. Skea, R. Slade, A. Al Khourdajie, R. van Diemen, D. McCollum, M. Pathak, S. Some, P. Vyas, R. Fradera, M. Belkacemi, A. Hasija, G. Lisboa, S. Luz, J. Malley, (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK and New York, NY, USA. doi: 10.1017/9781009157926.017

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