Washington Yotto Ochieng on the navigation tech that keeps our world moving

In this episode of The Life Scientific, Professor Washington Yotto Ochieng, a leading engineer and President of the Royal Institute of Navigation, shares his remarkable journey from a childhood fascination with planes on Lake Victoria to becoming a global authority on positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) systems. He explains how GNSS—beyond just GPS—underpins modern life, from urban transport to critical infrastructure, and details the scientific marvels behind satellite navigation, including Einstein’s relativity corrections and the use of atomic clocks. Ochieng discusses his pioneering work in improving GNSS accuracy through differential GPS, his role in shaping Europe’s Galileo system, and the challenges posed by Brexit, which severed the UK’s access to European PNT programs. He emphasizes the urgent need for resilient, sovereign PNT systems, especially in light of growing threats like jamming, spoofing, and space debris. His research has directly influenced real-world applications like London’s intelligent bus tracking and congestion charge planning. Ochieng also champions the next generation of engineers, particularly in Africa, through initiatives like the Royal Academy of Engineering’s African Engineers program and the development of Kenya’s new advanced science university in Konza.