Aspiring US astronaut urges students to follow their passion for STEM

One of the world’s leading experts on rocket science and space has urged Irish students to study what they are passionate about and encouraged teachers to make subjects as fun as possible for their students.

Amber Gell, a spacecraft systems engineer and aspiring astronaut addressed students and teachers at Dublin City University on Tuesday, April 5th as part of a visit to Ireland.

A native of Wisconsin, she currently works for Lockheed Martin and NASA on the Orion mission; NASA’s exploration-class spacecraft which will be used to take humans to deep-space destinations, including the Moon, Mars and asteroids. Gell, who is one of 18,000 worldwide applicants for the NASA Astronaut Cadetship programme, is a passionate education outreach activist and advocate for STEM careers for young females.

“Students should follow something they love and enjoy. I wanted to be an astronaut from the age of five but I didn’t know much about space and astronauts, nor did I have any role models in this area, but I was really interested in the topic and I tried to find out as much as I possibly could. I always tried to find fun practical ways to understand my subjects and I used my teachers as much as possible. Students should do what they love and follow their passion,” said Gell.

She highlighted that despite her early difficulties with maths and science subjects, she worked hard to become accomplished in science, technology, maths and engineering (STEM) acquiring numerous qualifications in these areas. She has also conducted significant research into extreme environmental habitats, in an effort to better understand how humans can function in space as well as researching how factors such as crew dynamics, physiological well-being and cultural dynamics also impact on an individual’s ability to function in a space environment.

In addition to her work with Lockheed Martin, Gell also teaches at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and highlighted the significant role that teachers play in the learning process. “It is really important that teachers find ways to challenge their students about what they are learning and that they come up with new ways to engage their students. Teachers should try and find ways to connect what they are teaching about a subject with something fun. Engagement is pivotal to the whole process and vital for learning.”

President of DCU, Brian MacCraith said: “Dublin City University is committed to providing a broad range of exciting and informative opportunities to current and prospective students in the areas of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).

The presentation by Amber Gell to a capacity audience in the Helix is a further demonstration of our commitment to promoting STEM and encouraging young people to consider careers in STEM-related sectors.

Amber Gell is a world- leading expert in the field of space engineering and rocket science and the depth and breadth of her expertise and achievements is a wonderful example of the limitless opportunities available in the areas of science, technology, engineering and maths.”