Eric Yam

At just 17 years old, Eric Yam made headlines as the designer of Asten, the grand prize winning submission in NASA’s 2009 International Space Settlement Design Competition. Designed to be built 50 years into the future and house ten-thousand inhabitants, Asten emphasizes the ideas of modularity, mass production, the use of pre-existing technology and people oriented design.

In addition to winning the NASA award, Eric has been recognized for his community involvement, winning the 2005 United Way Get in the Way Youth Award and the 2004 ETT Doris Ferguson Award. He is the Youth Representative and spokesperson for the Campaign for Public Education, a coalition of community groups that works together to defend public education. Eric is also as a regular volunteer at St. Christopher House, a local non-profit organization that provides valuable social services to the surrounding community.