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WA Student's NASA Dream Takes Flight
2 Oct
Summary
- First Nations student selected for pioneering space program.
- She will work on real-life space missions at NASA.
- Indigenous knowledge integration is a career goal.
Alaxandrea O'Brien, a proud Dulgubarra-Mamu and Jirrbal woman, is set to live her dream of studying space at NASA in California. Growing up in WA's Kimberley region, her fascination with the night sky began early, sparked by viewing Saturn's rings through a telescope.
O'Brien is the first student from a Western Australian university to be chosen for Monash's National Indigenous Space Academy program. She is one of eight First Nations tertiary students heading to the United States for a significant 10-week placement at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
During her time at NASA, O'Brien will collaborate on real-life projects, contributing to current space missions. Her work will involve ocean exploration vehicles and research on microorganisms aboard the International Space Station.
Her placement aims to provide invaluable experience, with a personal goal to integrate Indigenous knowledge with environmental engineering. O'Brien hopes to apply her learnings to address issues like clean water access in remote communities upon her return to Australia.
