The Kayhana Astronomical Group, established in 2018, stands as the central achievement of civil engineer and astronomer Amena Karimyan. Born in Herat in 1996, Karimyan developed an interest in the cosmos while navigating a restricted academic environment in Afghanistan. She successfully bridged the gap between professional engineering and scientific outreach before international events necessitated her departure from her home country.
Professional Foundations
Karimyan earned a degree in civil engineering from Herat University. Following her formal education, she transitioned into practical application through the UN-Habitat project, a United Nations initiative focusing on urban settlements. While her engineering career provided a steady professional track, her ambition remained rooted in the study of astronomy. Due to the lack of dedicated astronomical programs within Afghan universities at the time, she was forced to pursue alternative academic pathways while maintaining her interest in the celestial sciences.
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In 2018, Karimyan co-founded the Kayhana Astronomical Group alongside Sohail Karimi. The organization aimed to increase the participation of women in the field, providing a rare platform for education and inquiry. Under their leadership, the group grew to 150 members, operating as the sole organization of its kind in the region. Their efforts received international validation in 2021 when the group secured the International Astronomical Union’s Telescope for All award.
Displacement and Advocacy
Following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, Karimyan faced immediate security threats. Seeking to secure passage to safety, she traveled toward the Austrian embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan. During this transit, she was detained and physically assaulted by Taliban forces before being released to continue her journey. Despite her efforts, the Austrian government denied her a visa. Her case was subsequently highlighted by journalists, eventually resulting in the German government granting her entry. By 2022, she was living as a refugee in Germany.
Public Recognition and Media
The global impact of Karimyan's advocacy for female scientists became widely acknowledged in 2021 when she was included in the BBC 100 Women list. She utilized her platform to highlight the systemic barriers faced by women in science, notably contributing an article to Nature Astronomy in 2022 detailing the urgent need for support structures. Her life and experience as a refugee were captured in the 2024 documentary Kleines Universum, a 30-minute film by Nele Dehnenkamp that explores themes of social development and conflict.
Fast facts
- Born: 1996, Herat, Afghanistan
- Occupations: Astronomer, civil engineer, instructor
- Co-founder: Kayhana Astronomical Group (2018)
- Award: BBC 100 Women (2021)
- Award: International Astronomical Union Telescope for All (2021)
- Documentary: Kleines Universum (2024)
Questions readers ask
What is the Kayhana Astronomical Group?
It is an organization founded in 2018 by Amena Karimyan and Sohail Karimi to encourage women's participation in astronomy.
Where does Amena Karimyan currently reside?
As of 2022, she was living in Germany as a refugee.
Achievements
- Worked as astronomer, civil engineer and instructor
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