Aika Lanes

About Aika Lanes

Aika is a high school senior, STEAM advocate, and nonprofit founder in Montana. Throughout her childhood, she attended numerous science summer camps, participated in science fairs, and followed her passions. When doing a “Plants on Mars” project, they found their love for sustaining life within environments in space. She helped bring back the Science Olympiad chapter at her high school after the COVID-19 pandemic, graduated first of her class in Montana Aerospace Scholars, and is a member of the Million Girls Moonshot 2023 Flight Crew. They have worked at Montana Learning Center’s STEM camps over the summer, and Aika is now a NASA-sponsored intern for Montana Learning Center. Currently, she is the Million Girls Moonshot Flight Crew Mentor Coordinator for 2024 and a NASA SEES Intern for the Texas Atmospheric and Space Research Team. Throughout her experiences, Aika has noticed gaps in inclusivity throughout the STEAM fields. Additionally, being in a state with many rural areas that can be miles away from STEAM resources, she realized the importance of accessibility to resources and experiences. They founded STEAM Ready in order to strengthen engagement and curiosity while offering opportunities for youth to grow and chase their dreams. Aside from STEAM activities, Aika loves to read, hike, draw, play the trombone, and take quality naps with her dog. At school, Aika is involved in Key Club, DECA, Science Olympiad, Model UN, National Honors Society, Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, and Jazz Band. She is also an Innovator at TKS this year. Her initiative may be found at steamready.org and her Instagram account at @aikaavenue.

Experience

1. Stem Next Flight Crew Mentor

   Stem Next Opportunity Fund

   Apr 2025 — Present

Education

• University of Washington

  Space and Human Space Travel - AA101

• The Knowledge Society (TKS)

  Innovation

• Montana State University-Bozeman

  Bachelor of Arts - BA, Environmental Design/Architecture