A 10-week internship at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is set to strengthen the space aspirations of five Indigenous Australian university students. 

The opportunity is part of Monash University’s National Indigenous Space Academy (NISA), an initiative supported by the Australian Space Agency and CSIRO. 

The five university students selected will form the second NISA cohort, who will be mentored by top-tier scientists and engineers at JPL's California facility. They will complete projects outlined by their mentors while also contributing to NASA JPL missions.

The second NISA cohort

● Carl Goodwin, Monash University

● David Corporal, Queensland University of Technology

● Jordan McGrath, Griffith University

● Lucy Barr, University of Tasmania

● Renee Wootten, University of Sydney

 

A group of people
Head of the Australian Space Agency Enrico Palermo (centre) along with the first NISA cohort. 

Providing valuable stepping stones

Developing a diverse STEM workforce is a priority of the Australian Government. The Agency supported NISA initiative is expected to create a pathway for the selected students in robotics, robot perception control, path planning and Artificial Intelligence.

“I am really excited to apply my AI and machine learning knowledge for research in the space sector,” said Carl, who will be analysing spectral data captured by NASA’s Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) mission aboard the International Space Station.

“Apart from working with world-leading space scientists this is also a great opportunity for me to interact and work with other like-minded Indigenous people. 

Our People are underrepresented in STEM and programs like NISA are providing valuable stepping stones for First Nations students in this sector,” shares Carl.

Before heading to the US, the students will gear up with Monash’s ‘Space Boot
Camp,’ an intensive program covering aerodynamics, robotics, rovers, rockets
astrophysics, planetary science, engineering, computer and earth sciences, and a
deep dive into NASA’s JPL past and current space exploration missions.

space_careers_career_quiz_cover

Discover which space career is right for you

Take our short interactive quiz and see what type of space work you’re most suited to.

Take the quiz

Main image caption: NASA Administrator Bill Nelson with two students during his 2023 visit to the Australian Space Agency in Adelaide. 

Our department recognises the First Peoples of this Nation and their ongoing cultural and spiritual connections to the lands, waters, seas, skies, and communities.

We Acknowledge First Nations Peoples as the Traditional Custodians and Lore Keepers of the oldest living culture and pay respects to their Elders past and present. We extend that respect to all First Nations Peoples.