First Nations STEM Students Head to NASA
Eight Australian university students will travel to the US for a 10-week research placement at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, as part of Monash University's National Indigenous Space Academy. The program aims to build Indigenous participation in Australia's growing space sector.
Global Newsflix 2 min read
Eight First Nations university students from across Australia will travel to the United States this year for a 10-week research placement at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California.
The placements are part of Monash University's National Indigenous Space Academy, founded in 2019 to build Indigenous participation in Australia's growing space sector.
Among this year's cohort is Jordan Roulstone, a proud Warumungu man from Queensland University of Technology, who has been named the inaugural Boeing NISA Scholar.
Roulstone said he wants to build a career that contributes to Australia's future in space and advanced engineering, and help create a future where more Indigenous young people can see themselves in STEM.
Alaxandrea O'Brien, a proud Dulgubarra-Mamu and Jirrbal woman, is the first student from a Western Australian university to be selected for the program.
O'Brien received the Andy Thomas Space Foundation Women's Leadership Scholarship for her place at JPL, and expects to gain skills she can bring home and use to solve problems relevant to the WA environment and resources sectors.
Each NISA student will be paired with a scientist or engineer mentor at NASA JPL, and will work on real-life space projects developed by their mentors.
The program has grown from a three-student pilot in 2019 to a program that has taken 29 First Nations students to world-class space research institutions in the US and UK.
Key facts
- Eight First Nations university students will travel to the US for a 10-week research placement at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
- The program is part of Monash University's National Indigenous Space Academy, founded in 2019.
- The program has taken 29 First Nations students to world-class space research institutions in the US and UK.
- The program aims to build Indigenous participation in Australia's growing space sector.
Three perspectives
Neutral
The National Indigenous Space Academy provides a unique opportunity for First Nations students to gain experience in the space sector. The program's growth and success are a testament to the importance of investing in Indigenous STEM education. As the program continues to expand, it will be interesting to see how it contributes to the development of Australia's space industry.
Positive
The program is a significant step forward in promoting Indigenous participation in STEM fields, and provides a valuable opportunity for students to gain experience and build their careers. The success of the program is a credit to the hard work and dedication of the students and staff involved.
Negative
Despite the program's success, there is still a long way to go in addressing the underrepresentation of Indigenous people in STEM fields. The program's reliance on external funding and support may also be a concern, and it will be important to ensure that the program is sustainable in the long term.
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