Meet the CosmoKids Team
Meet the people helping young minds discover the wonders of astronomy, science, and the universe.
Sharing a Passion for Science & Space
At CosmoKids, we believe that some of the biggest discoveries begin with a simple question: “Why?” Our team brings together scientific knowledge, real-world experience, creativity, and a genuine enthusiasm for the night sky to create memorable learning experiences for young explorers.
Kian Abbasnezhadi
Founder & Program Director | Lead Astronomy Educator
Kian is a Climate Change and Hydrometeorology Scientist and Professional Water Resources Engineer with a PhD from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg and extensive experience in climate and Earth science.
Beyond his professional career, Kian has had a passion for astronomy and space since childhood. Growing up in Shiraz, Iran, he attended an astronomy institute as a young student, where his fascination with the universe first took hold. After moving to Canada, he continued sharing that passion with young learners, teaching astronomy courses for children at Tinto Studio in Winnipeg while pursuing his PhD.
As the Founder and Program Director of CosmoKids, Kian brings together his scientific background, experience in science education, and lifelong curiosity about the universe. As the institute's Lead Astronomy Educator, he develops and delivers engaging programs designed to make the wonders of space accessible, exciting, and inspiring for young minds.
His mission is to spark the same sense of curiosity and wonder that first drew him to the stars—and to encourage children to keep asking questions, exploring, and looking beyond what they already know.
Amir Shahcheraghian
Astrophotography Instructor
Amir is a PhD graduate from École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) in Montréal and a Senior AI Consultant with a background in technology, data science, and intelligent systems.
A passionate night-sky photographer with more than a decade of experience, Amir has traveled around the world in pursuit of dark skies and extraordinary celestial events. His astrophotography has been featured by Sky & Telescope and The World at Night (TWAN), among other night-sky photography publications, and his eclipse photography has been distributed internationally through AFP/Getty Images.
His work has taken him from the deserts of Iran to the 2023 annular solar eclipse at Chichén Itzá, Mexico, and the 2024 total solar eclipse in Québec.
At CosmoKids, Amir brings the art and science of astrophotography to young explorers through hands-on sky photography classes, helping them learn how to observe, understand, and capture the wonders of the night sky.
Ziba Rovei Miab
Science & Art Educator
Ziba is a scientist and science and art educator with a PhD in Biological Sciences. She currently works as a postdoctoral fellow at Dalhousie University and Nova Scotia Health.
Alongside her scientific career, Ziba has always loved art, painting, and working with clay. She has designed cover artwork for various science journals, including Oxford Academic's journal of Integrative Biology, and University of Manitoba's Anatomical Sciences Laboratory Manual. She had also been an avid educator of art and science to children, believing that kids learn best when creativity and curiosity come together.
Inspired by the beauty of space, especially the moon and stars, she enjoys painting celestial scenes and imagining the stories hidden in the night sky.
At CosmoKids, Ziba brings together science and art to young explorers through hands-on learning through painting celestial objects and space exploration crafts, helping them learn how to understand and capture the wonders of the night sky and space exploration. Her objective would be to help young explorers discover the connections between science, imagination, and wonder.
More Than Just Learning About Space
We want children to experience science as something they can explore, question, observe, and enjoy.
Explore
We encourage young minds to observe the universe and discover new ideas through curiosity and exploration.
Understand
We turn big scientific ideas into approachable, engaging experiences that children can connect with.
Imagine
We inspire children to ask bigger questions, think creatively, and imagine where their curiosity might take them.
Ready to Explore the Universe?
Discover CosmoKids programs designed to turn curiosity about space into exciting learning experiences.
