A substantial funding boost from the Australian Government has renewed the Monash University National Indigenous Space Academy's call for stellar Indigenous STEM students to apply for an internship with NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL).
The 2023 NISA cohort outside the JPL facility in California including Monash University graduate Ngarrindjeri man Linden Beaumont (centre).
Now in its fourth year, the National Indigenous Space Academy (NISA) – led by Monash's Faculty of Information Technology (IT) and Faculty of Engineering – has received almost half-a-million dollars from the Australian Space Agency.
The new funding injection will see NISA send five First Nations students to the United States for a 10-week internship at NASA JPL in Pasadena, California each year until 2027.
The opportunity is open to any undergraduate and postgraduate student in Australia who identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, and is studying a degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics.
The students will be chosen from the pool of applicants based on academic merit and placed with mentors at NASA JPL for an internship in 2025.
The chosen Indigenous students will undertake a 'Space Boot Camp' at Monash University's Clayton Campus with former NASA/JPL Leader Lieutenant Larry James, to learn about past and current NASA space exploration missions. They will also familiarise themselves with aerodynamics, robotics, astrophysics, planetary science, engineering, computer and earth sciences before jetting off to the United States.
Proud Whadjak/Ballardong Noongar man and Faculty of IT Associate Dean (Indigenous) Professor Christopher Lawrence is the NISA program lead. He applauded the funding boost as a significant step forward for the initiative.
"This new uplift for NISA will fuel the dreams of a new generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander STEM students and help them join the program's early pioneers at the forefront of space research and exploration," Professor Lawrence said.
"We are looking forward to the next chapter of NISA with this generous and continued support from the Australian Space Agency."
Australian Space Agency Head Enrico Palermo said the Agency was proud to back this program, which is nurturing and growing Australia's space capabilities.
"I've seen first-hand the transformative effect NISA has on the lives of its interns. It gives First Nations' STEM talent the opportunity to learn from some of the world's best and to bring that knowledge back to the Australian space and technology sectors," Mr Palermo said.
"A more diverse STEM workforce is essential to realising the Government's marquee agenda of 'A Future Made in Australia' and programs like NISA are helping bridge the divide.
"NISA is also elevating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders' knowledge systems, in line with the Government's new National Science and Research Priorities."
Over the last few years the NISA program has supported 14 First Nations students to experience an internship at NASA/JPL, mentored by leading researchers, engineers and technologists.
Proud Gamilaroi man from Brisbane and Master of Artificial Intelligence student at Monash University, Carl Goodwin, was part of the 2024 NISA cohort and recently returned from his internship at NASA/JPL where he worked with the Earth Sciences team, contributing to building models to predict harmful algal blooms.
"These models are crucial for preserving the health of large water systems for drinking water, recreation and ecosystems. In the future I am planning to utilise these skills and knowledge to contribute to the preservation of Australia's beautiful coasts and reefs," Mr Goodwin said.
Mr Goodwin encouraged other Indigenous STEM students to apply for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with world leading space scientists.
"It may seem daunting to travel so far and work with some of the most talented scientists in the world. I definitely had imposter syndrome to begin with but everyone at JPL was supportive and encouraging," he said.
"Not only was it an amazing experience that helped me develop my skills, but further opportunities are presenting themselves that I otherwise wouldn't have been exposed to."
Monash University computer science graduate, proud Ngarrindjeri man Linden Beaumont, was part of NISA's 2023 cohort and worked on coding for a new atmosphere analysis system on the international space station during his internship at NASA/JPL.
Building on his work experience at JPL, Mr Beaumont was able to secure a position as a software developer and data analyst for a Netherlands-based noise monitoring company. He uses artificial intelligence to analyse noise levels around airports.
Looking to the future, NISA plans to expand this program to the United Kingdom and Europe.
