Third National Indigenous Space Academy cohort depart for US and UK space experience

Exploring space around the world. 

As part of Monash University's National Indigenous Space Academy (NISA), eight First Nations STEM scholars will experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 

For 10 weeks, the selected students will gain an immersive experience at leading space and science research centres. 

Supported by the Australian Space Agency and CSIRO, NISA is an education program that has completed three editions. 

Its latest student cohort will gain unique space and STEM skills at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in the United States and the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council’s RAL Space near Oxford. 

They will work on exciting space science projects like the biological testing of UV-resistant space organisms, analysing datasets from Jupiter’s atmosphere and working on software within NASA’s Flight Software Framework. 

Supporting the next generation of space and STEM workforce

Since it was launched in 2023, NISA has strengthened the space aspirations of 11 First Nations university students by providing them hands-on experience to build and test instrumentation as well as to analyse Earth observation and planetary data.

“The Australian Space Agency is proud to be a founding supporter of NISA, which is creating unique opportunities for First Nations students to contribute to some of the world’s most advanced space projects.

“Elevating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge is one of five of the Australian Government’s National Science and Research Priorities. Programs like NISA not only open doors for talented students but help integrate important perspectives into the Australian and global space sectors.”

~ Head of the Australian Space Agency Enrico Palermo

The Agency is the primary supporter of NISA and through its funding support it has enabled six students to travel to and complete the program at JPL. Two other STEM scholars will travel to RAL Space in the United Kingdom

NISA's new footprint 

For the first time, the 10-week educational program has expanded beyond the United States to also include placements at RAL Space in the UK. 

Professor Christopher Lawrence, NISA Lead and Associate Dean (Indigenous) at Monash University’s Faculties of Information Technology said the program’s expansion shows how far NISA has come in just a few short years.

“By partnering with RAL, NASA's JPL, the Australian Space Agency and CSIRO, we are creating pathways for First Nations students to pursue international careers in STEM while bringing Indigenous knowledge and perspectives to the global stage.

~ Professor Christopher Lawrence, Monash University

Boandik man Mitchell Cooper is pursuing a Bachelor of Mechatronic Engineering at the University of Sydney. He is one of two headed to RAL Space.

“As a proud Boandik man, I am excited to travel to the UK and gain hands-on experience at a world-class research laboratory. This is an opportunity I never imagined, and I hope my journey shows other young Indigenous people that there are no limits to what we can achieve in STEM, both in Australia and around the world.”

~ Mitchell Cooper, one of the students from 2025 NISA cohort.