School Library Journal Reviews: “Dream Big! How to Reach for Your Stars” by Our President Abigail Harrison

The Mars Generation_SLJ Book Review_2021

Our co-founder and president Abigail Harrison’s new inspirational book, Dream Big! How to Reach for Your Stars, released January of 2021, has been reviewed by Maile Steimer at School Library Reviews. Steimer calls Dream Big! “A recommended purchase for middle school and high school libraries.” She adds, “Counselors assisting high schoolers with college preparation and educators teaching leadership classes will find many of the journaling activities very useful.”

The reviewer is impressed with the book’s “conversational style,” the “inspirational quotes,” and the diverse inclusion of “illustrations depict[ing] characters with light and dark skin tones.” Maile notes, “Advice is provided on how to overcome fears and possible failures while achieving a balanced life and avoiding burnout. Harrison also emphasizes the need to seek out mentors and become a part of a diverse community to learn from others’ perspectives.” When considering Dream Big!’s ideal audience, the review says the content “is appropriate for middle and high school, with many of the strategies being pertinent to college and adult readers as well.”

Subscribe to the School Library Journal here to read the full review, and pre-order Abby Harrison’s new book, Dream Big! here.

Launching Dream Big! in Conversation with Astronaut Scott Kelly

Abigail Harrison_Dream Big!_Malaprop Launch_The Mars Generation

We are excited for this upcoming event with our co-founder and president, Abigail Harrison, where she’ll be launching her new book “Dream Big!: How to Reach for Your Stars” with retired NASA astronaut Scott Kelly.

Famous for his record-breaking year-long stay in space, Scott Kelly is an incredibly influential and inspiring figure for us here at The Mars Generation. Scott Kelly also was a participant in the famous twin study, where scientists examined the DNA of him and his twin brother, Mark Kelly. Even more, he commanded the space shuttle Endeavour in 2007 and the International Space Station twice.

Scott is also an avid supporter of STEM and of encouraging young people to become excited and engaged about space and science. He’s written his own book, Goodnight Astronaut, which is available February 2nd, and will be speaking with me about all things STEM, the future of space, accomplishing your dreams, and more!

The mission of The Mars Generation has always been to excite and engage young people about their dreams, whether they are STEM-related or not. That’s why we are so proud of our co-founder for writing this book and guide. “Dream Big!” is all about how young people can create a plan, face their fears, and overcome challenges so they can tackle their dreams head-on! With quizzes, personal stories, and workbook activities throughout, we know “Dream Big!” will be a fun and helpful guide for its readers and a continuation of our core mission!

The event will be held by Malaprop’s Bookstore and Cafe, an independent bookstore in Asheville, NC! Founded in 1982, they also have other cool events and book launches with authors. A huge thank you to Malaprop’s for hosting! If you’re a bookworm like us, we hope you check them out and consider supporting an independent bookstore!

This event will be virtual and totally free to sign-up. The event is Thursday January 21st at 7pm EST. If you do decide to purchase the book, please do so from Malaprop’s bookstore!

Sign up HERE to celebrate with us: https://www.malaprops.com/event/abigail-harrison-launches-dream-big-conversation-scott-kelly

On the day of the event you’ll receive the link to join! We hope to see you, and any other big dreamers you know, there!

Booklist Magazine by the ALA Review: Dream Big! How to Reach for Your Stars by TMG President Abigail Harrison | November 17, 2020

Dream Big! Cover_Abigail Harrison_ALA Review_The Mars Generation

We’re excited to share how Dream Big! How to Reach for Your Stars, the upcoming book by the TMG co-founder and President, Abigail Harrison, has been reviewed in Booklist Magazine by Sharon Rawlins at the ALA (American Library Association). Rawlins writes, “In this practical self-help book, Harrison shares useful lessons she’s learned that could help inspire young readers to pursue their own dreams.”

The review summarizes and praises Dream Big!’s strategies for young people to achieve their goals, breaking them down into clear steps of identifying your dream, researching it, forming a plan to achieve it, and standing up for it. Rawlins also remarks on the book’s inclusivity, writing, “Harrison enthusiastically recommends bringing people with diverse backgrounds and viewpoints to the table to enhance a person’s opinions, abilities, and skills.” The review concludes, “Any young person who wants to achieve their dreams will find this comprehensive book helpful, particularly the activities and the extensive chapter on mentors.”

Subscribe to Booklist magazine and read the review of Abby’s book on page 43 of the December edition here. Don’t forget to pre-order Abby Harrison’s new book, Dream Big! How to Reach for Your Stars here.

 

Kirkus Reviews: Dream Big! How to Reach for Your Stars by TMG President Abigail Harrison

Abby Harrison_Dream Big_Kirkus Reviews

Our co-founder and president Abigail Harrison’s new inspirational book, Dream Big! How to Reach for Your Stars, which guides young people on how to attain their big dreams step-by-step, has been reviewed by Kirkus Reviews, which says that Dream Big! will “appeal both to STEM-oriented fans of the author as well as those whose interests lie in other areas.”

The review remarks on the way Harrison formed her own step-by-step plan to achieve her dream of becoming an astronaut; Kirkus writes, “In this conversational guide, Harrison walks her readers through the same process, providing personal reminisces alongside workbook-style exercises.” Described as “Fun and helpful,”  Kirkus says that  “With friendly encouragement, [Dream Big!]  introduces concepts like the elevator pitch, SMART goals from the world of business management (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Timely), “accountabilibuddies,” and burnout.” Kirkus also notes that “Minibiographies of notable achievers outside the space world…add interest and inspiration.”

Click here to read the full review, and pre-order Abby Harrison’s new book, Dream Big! How to Reach for Your Stars here.

Press Release: Astronaut Abby to Moderate Escape Velocity Extra with Focus on Female Engineers

Wednesday Night, October 28, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. ETEVX_FemaleEngineers_Astronaut Abby

Washington, DC (October 21, 2020) – When the Museum of Science Fiction (MOSF) presents their next Escape Velocity Extra (EVX) online program, Wednesday, October 28 at 7:00 p.m. ET, the spotlight will focus squarely on five prominent women in Aerospace Engineering, each of whom presently play critical roles in NASA’s ongoing partnership with private enterprises.

The next installment of the Museum’s ongoing online programming, entitled Women in Aerospace Engineering, will showcase today’s generation of female engineers, each with an eye toward both the 2024 Artemis Mission to the Moon and the eventual colonization of Mars.

While all five scientists have carved their own paths in the fields of aeronautics and space exploration, each credits such legendary female characters as B’Elanna Torres from Star Trek: Voyager (played by Roxann Dawson), Naomi Nagata (Dominique Tipper from The Expanse), Kaylee Frye (Jewel Staite from Firefly) and others, for their inspiration.

While registration – available at https://escapevelocity.events/evx/ — is entirely free of charge, donations to the Museum, a 501(C)3 organization, are encouraged.

Moderated by Abigail Harrison, this 90-minute episode will discuss the contributions of real-world engineers to the fields of STEAM (science, tech, engineering, arts and math).

Colloquially known as Astronaut Abby, Harrison, only 23 years old, harbors the goal of becoming the first explorer to step foot on Mars. Five years ago, Harrison founded The Mars Generation, a 501(C)3 nonprofit with the aid of an advisory board of astronauts, engineers, scientists and more than a million online followers and supporters. The nonprofit has reached more than 25 million people in its first two years of operation with its work to educate and excite kids and adults about space exploration and STEM education.

Harrison will be joined by:

  • LaNetra Tate – NASA’s Space Tech Mission Directorate’s Program Executive
    Dr. Tate has served roles in polymer chemistry material science groups, Program Executive for two of the largest programs within the Mission Directorate, STMD Advanced Manufacturing and Nanotechnology Principal Technologist and the NASA representative to the National Manufacturing Initiative. Dr. Tate currently works at Goddard Spaceflight Center, leading the Commercialization, Innovation, and Synergies within the Exploration and Space Communications Division. Dr. Tate has received numerous awards for her work, which she holds numerous patents and publications.
  • Jody Davis – NASA Deputy Payload Systems Engineer
    Davis has worked on missions Cassini-Huygens, Mars Phoenix and Mars Science Laboratory, specializing in entry, descent and landing flight dynamics and trajectory simulation of the Curiosity Rover and Technical Lead for the Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator flight test project at NASA Langley Research Center. Currently Davis supports the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope as the Observatory Lead Interface Systems Engineer. Responsible for aiding the development, design, fabrication, test, verification, mission integration, launch support, and on-orbit operations in the area of technical interfaces. She earned a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and an M.S. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from University of Virginia.
  • Elizabeth Jens – JPL Propulsion Engineer
    Dr. Jens is a Propulsion and Systems Engineer at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory working on a cold gas system for the Mars 2020 mission and working on the proposed Mars Ascent Vehicle. Dr. Jens serves as a chairperson of the ASME Propulsion Technical Committee, as well as a member of the Propulsion Technical Committee of the International Astronautical Federation and the Hybrid Rocket Technical Committee of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Dr. Jens earned a Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University in 2016, a Bachelor of Science in physics and a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Melbourne, Australia in 2008.
  • Lindsay Aitchison – NASA Spacesuit Engineer
    Lindsay Aitchison is the Program Executive for Extra-vehicular Activity, otherwise known as “spacewalks,” within the Advanced Exploration Systems Division at NASA Headquarters. Her team is supporting the Artemis missions to send humans back to the lunar surface and on to Mars. Prior, she was a space suit engineer at NASA’s Johnson Space Center where she focused on the development and testing of space suit pressure garments for surface exploration, gaining extensive hands on experience- as both test director and test subject- in the lab, at remote test sites, and in reduced gravity analogs including the Neutral Buoyance Lab and NASA’s reduced gravity aircraft. Aitchison earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University, and a Master of Science degree in Industrial and Human Factors Engineering from Wright State University.
  • Powtawche Valerino – NASA Guidance Engineer
    Valerino is an Aerospace Engineer who works at the NASA-Marshall Space Flight Center where she supports NASA’s Space Launch System and Human Landing System Programs in the areas of guidance and flight mechanics. Prior to her current position, Powtawche was a senior guidance engineer for Aerodyne Industries at NASA-Marshall, and a flight path control analyst at NASA-Jet Propulsion Laboratory where she worked on the navigation teams for the Cassini-Huygens, Europa Clipper, and Parker Solar Probe missions. Powtawche earned a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University, and a Masters’ and Doctoral degree in Mechanical Engineering with a specialty in Aero-Astronautics from Rice University.

About the Museum of Science Fiction
The nonprofit Museum of Science Fiction will be the world’s first comprehensive science fiction museum, covering the history of the genre across the arts and providing a narrative on its relationship to the real world. The Museum will show how science fiction continually inspires individuals, influences cultures, and impacts societies. Also serving as an educational catalyst to expand interest in the science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) areas, the Museum uses tools such as mobile applications and Wi-Fi-enabled display objects to engage and entertain. For additional information, please visit: www.museumofsciencefiction.org.

PRESS RELEASE: The Mars Generation Announces 24 Under 24 Leaders and Innovators in STEAM and Space Award Winners for 2020

MINNEAPOLIS, MN, UNITED STATES, September 16, 2020 / The Mars Generation (TMG) announced its third class of 24 Under 24 Leaders and Innovators in STEAM and Space Award winners (Class of 2020). The group is comprised of young people from around the world who are breaking barriers in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) fields and bringing the sciences to the public through multidisciplinary interests. The youngest winners of this international recognition are 13 years old. To qualify for consideration nominees must be members of TMG’s Student Space Ambassador Leadership Program, be under the age of 24 on January 1, 2020, and be involved in work or a project that is focused on STEAM.

“The 24 Under 24 awards elevate youth accomplishments in STEAM fields, empowering and encouraging them to continue working for a brighter future,” said Abigail Harrison, Founder and President, The Mars Generation. “This year’s 24 Under 24 are doing exceptional work in STEAM, and perhaps even more importantly, in bringing STEAM interest and education beyond their computers and labs, including to rural towns and underrepresented communities.”

Sponsored in 2020 by Aerojet Rocketdyne, the winners for 24 Under 24 are involved in a variety of STEAM interests, including founding nonprofits for science education and inclusion, designing technology that will be used by astronauts in space, creating mobile apps for medical and healthcare resources, using machine learning technology to reuse natural resources, and facilitating in-class programs in places where science education has not previously been a priority.

The winners are not only active in academic communities, but also in helping to lift up underrepresented voices—inspiring young people to reach for their goals, improving accessibility in STEAM fields, and creating films or writing books about their discoveries. The 24 Under 24 embody the philosophy of “going above and beyond”–many of them founding their own organizations and/or mentoring young people.

“Like those youth honored in our inaugural 24 Under 24 class, this year’s winners are ambassadors of The Mars Generation mission to build a stronger tomorrow by energizing our youth today about space and STEAM no matter what it takes,” said Harrison. “STEAM changes the world, and so do people who not only innovate, but also share ideas with passion. That’s what 24 Under 24 is about, and how our 2020 class shines.”

The 2020 winners of the 24 Under 24 Leaders and Innovators in STEAM and Space are:

1. Anvi Bhagavatula, Age 13, United States

Founder / Coder

Mars Generation STEM awards 2020 Anvi Bhagavatula Founder Coder

Anvi is the winner of the SWENext STEM in Action Award, an award given to girls who are active in promoting STEM in their communities. She is also thefounder of MESSAGE, which stands for Math Engineering Science Studies Accelerate Girls’ Empowerment. This organization supports girls of any income level in STEM-related fields. Its members volunteer through partnerships with First Book, Connecting Hands-OC, Peace First, and Grandma’s House of Hope, a transitional living shelter for victims of sex trafficking and domestic violence. There, Anvi leads free classes in coding and robotics. Anvi began coding at a young age with the encouragement of her father, but it was her mother who showed her the greater implications coding could have in her life. Coding has opened up many STEM opportunities for Anvi. Being a musician, singer, and an artist, she has also used coding alongside her original compositions in app design and in making characters in original comic books. Since learning to code, Anvi has been passionate about teaching others, especially those with less exposure to STEM opportunities. She feels that when others can see someone as young as she is coding, they believe that they can do it too.

2. Danielle Boyer, Age 19, United States

Founder / STEAM Advocate

Mars Generation STEM Awards 2020 Danielle Boyer Founder STEAM AdvocateAs an Ojibwe girl, Danielle was drawn to robotics, but quickly realized how inaccessible and un-diverse so many STEAM resources were. She knew she had to do everything in her power to change that reality. She tackled the problem by self-publishing five STEAM books for grades K-3, which feature children of different ethnicities, religions, and disabilities participating in STEAM. In January 2019, Danielle founded The STEAM Connection, which creates diverse, accessible, and affordable STEAM educational materials for young kids. The STEAM Connection creates opportunities for children of all socioeconomic backgrounds. Within The STEAM Connection, Danielle’s work includes developing educational content, teaching classes, and running robot and book distribution. Danielle dreams of becoming a researcher in BioRobotics and plans to double major in Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering while eventually pursuing a Ph.D. in BioRobotics or Aerial Robotics.

3. Regine Chan, Age 22, Singapore

Founder / Computer Scientist

Mars Generation STEM awards 2020 Regine Chan Founder Computer ScientistRegine believes that technology is the most powerful equalizer in our society, and hence founded Generation Z, a non-profit aimed at empowering underprivileged youths across Asia via meaningful economic opportunities with startups. A recent graduate from the Nanyang Technological University, Regine studied Business and Computer Science and has since then become a leader in technology and engineering. She has worked for a range of well-known STEM companies including McKinsey & Company, Google and Mercedes Benz, and also started Aelixir, her own enterprise software startup. Back in 2016, Regine launched the Insights into Financial Technology Roundtable, the first-ever student-led Financial Technology event in Singapore which attracted close to 300 participants. She has also won the Best Pitch Award in the National University of Singapore’s innovation hackathon, Grand Winner Award in Spark Tank Singapore, was the former President of The Investment Banking Club, and is a Project Leader at the World Economic Forum Global Shapers Community today. Through these impressive achievements and experiences, Regine has been able to help other students find their way in school, rise up to leadership roles, and challenge conventional norms. She is also passionate about empowering women in IT and leads Project Womenpower, a social initiative which supports women in the corporate workplace with a strong focus on working moms.

4. Lauren Church, Age 21, United Kingdom

STEM Outreach / Scientist

Mars Generation STEM awards 2020 Lauren Church STEM Outreach ScientistLauren knew from a young age that she had a love for both space and medicine, and as a graduate student pursuing her masters degree in space physiology, she’s found a way to combine them! For her dissertation, Lauren is working with NASA and the University of Birmingham in the UK. Her ultimate career goal is to be a flight surgeon supporting astronauts as space travel moves toward exploration-class missions. In 2019, Lauren shared a TEDx talk about her space medicine journey, and she has been a part of starting the Next Generation Aerospace Medicine group at the Royal Aeronautical Society in the UK, where she serves as the group’s inaugural deputy chair. However, Lauren says the work she’s most proud of is her “space worms” with ISSET (International Space School Educational Trust), where she researches and conducts experiments involving flatworm regeneration and plastic digestion by waxworms in microgravity. Her experiments are launching to the ISS at the beginning of March on SpaceX CRS-20. Additionally, Lauren belongs to the Paraboladies, which is a group of four young women, based in London, who research aerospace medicine and focus on STEM outreach, with a goal of inspiring the next generation of females in the STEM workforce.

5. Ria Doshi, Age 16, United States

Founder / Computer ScientistMars Generation STEM awards 2020 Ria Doshi Founder Computer Scientist

Ria’s excitement for artificial intelligence and computer science started in ninth grade, when she participated in the Stanford AI4ALL program researching cancerous genes using machine learning. Since then, Ria has published the first book in her series, The Code Detectives, which centers around two middle school girls who love coding and use artificial intelligence to solve mysteries. Through her book series, Ria wants to eliminate common misconceptions about artificial intelligence. She’s currently working on the second book in her series. Ria is the founder of CodeBuddies, which uses workshops, panels, challenges, and more to promote problem solving through technology. She is also the founder of the Women in AI club at her school, where she teaches girls the impact of artificial intelligence in daily life. Ria is the creator of the app called Alleviate, which helps individuals with autism overcome challenges they face using speech recognition. The app has gained recognition from Congress, impacted over 2,000 people, and was awarded the US Champion in the Technovation Challenge. Ria’s goal is to learn as much as she can about artificial intelligence through real-world research projects and hopes to study computer science and artificial intelligence in college.

6. Makiah Eustice, Age 23, United States

Founder / Aeronautical Engineer

Mars Generation STEM awards 2020 Makiah Eustice Founder Aeronautical EngineerIn 2017, Makiah was chosen for the Brooke Owens Fellowship, an organization that boosts the careers of a select group of exceptional undergraduate young women in the aerospace industry, through which she experienced her first internship at The Aerospace Corporation. When she was involved in the Texas A&M chapter of SEDS, Makiah founded the Aggie Astronaut Corps Program, so aspiring astronauts and researchers would have more opportunities for technical and professional development in human spaceflight. She’s currently an officer and aeronautical engineer in the US Air Force and works on the C-5M Super Galaxy cargo plane. Makiah hopes to eventually pursue her master’s degree in Human Factors or Aerospace Human Performance. Her ultimate goal in the Air Force is to become a Flight Test Engineer, which may also position her to apply as a NASA astronaut or for commercial spaceflight opportunities.

7. Elizabeth Gabler, Age 22, United States

Space Educator

Mars Generation STEM awards 2020 Elizabeth Gabler Space EducatorFor Elizabeth, volunteering at the Community Observatory is what helped shape her career path around the aerospace industry. It ultimately led her to an internship at Aerojet Rocketdyne during her sophomore year of College, where she became the youngest member of NASA’s DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) team. Additionally, Elizabeth has worked as an Outreach Coordinator at the Sacramento State University Society of Physics Students, where she helped run the new Sacramento State University planetarium, putting on shows for the public and managing four field trips a week for grade school students. Elizabeth truly enjoys educating the public on astronomy, as she believes aerospace can inspire anyone, anywhere in the world. Elizabeth’s long-term goal is to work with NASA, and to make a difference inspiring the next generation of space explorers.

8. Aakash Gautam, Age 21, India

Founder / Space Educator

Mars Generation STEM awards 2020 Aakash Gautam Founder Space EducatorFor Aakash, there was never a specific moment when he fell in love with the cosmos. Instead, his life has always been fueled by a curiosity about the unknown. Aakash is always looking to educate and foster excitement in people about astronomy, and as a result he founded the Planet Aakash School, an online astronomy and space education website that he says is the perfect place for young space enthusiasts to learn about the basics of astronomy. In 2019, he also became the co-founder of India’s first independent astronomy magazine, CosmosNow. So far Aakash has released seven issues of the magazine and has interviewed astronomers, astrophysicists, and astronauts to inspire and motivate young readers and aspiring astronomers. Currently, he is working on a new series of visual books on the solar system and science communication, which is specifically geared for high-school-age students. In the long term, he ultimately sees himself as an educator. Whether it’s through space, science, or programming, Aakash ultimately wants to help other young people satisfy their thirst for knowledge.

9. Dan Hirst, Age 21, United States/United Kingdom

Founder

Mars Generation STEM awards 2020 Dan Hirst FounderDan is a co-founder of the non-profit corporation, Chapel Thrill Escapes, which sought to provide art, engineering, and business students opportunities to collaborate on a single project: an escape room. Today Chapel Thrill Escapes operate a thriving escape room called “The Belltower.” They employ seven students who run the room, and the group is bringing on more to build a second escape room experience. Dan has also served as the Chair of SEDS USA, the world’s largest student-run space organization, which organizes conferences, competitions, scholarships, and events for thousands of students around the US. Currently, Dan and his friends are working on a business plan to make Earth observation insights more accessible for all. This would be Dan’s first foray into space entrepreneurship, and he looks forward to learning and improving his approach throughout this process. Ultimately, Dan wants to spend his life working in the Earth observation industry and dreams of being a part of an influential geospatial company or even starting a company of his own.

10. Erica Hsueh, Age 17, United States

Founder / Computer Scientist

Mars Generation STEM awards 2020 Erica Hsueh Founder Computer ScientistThough she has yet to graduate high school, Erica has already set a large goal for herself: to improve people’s lives everywhere by seeking solutions through technological innovation. And Erica has already accomplished a lot. As the founder of Bytes of Code, a program that introduces STEM to underserved girls of color with little exposure to computing, Erica is actively working to end the gender gap in high-tech fields. Erica says that by the end of 2020, she will have raised over $30,000 in grants and sponsorships, spent over 2,000 instructional hours teaching and developing a multilingual curriculum, impacted over 800 girls through her own workshops, and appointed 20 global ambassadors in Asia, Africa and Central America, whose outreach activities have impacted over 75,000 girls around the world. It’s these kinds of experiences that have solidified Erica’s decision to pursue computer science and engineering in college, as well as an eventual MBA. Erica’s ultimate career goal is to start a company focused on social entrepreneurship and to use her multilingual and cultural background to expand her company globally. She says that despite going off to college next year, she plans to bring her Bytes of Code efforts wherever she goes.

11. Thendral Kamal, Age 17, India

Founder / Space Advocate

Mars Generation STEM awards 2020 Thendral Kamal Founder Space AdvocateFrom the first time Thendral looked through a telescope at the Sharjah Science Museum at 10 years old, she has dreamt of going to space–more specifically, she has dreamt of being the first Indian woman to step foot on Mars. Thendral is the founder and president of her school’s astrophysics club, and in 2019 she designed her own curriculum called “Bringing Space to Classrooms,” and she organized the first ever “Space Day,” where students used virtual reality headsets to tour the lunar surface and participated in a rover and moon lander building competition. Thendral has been able to share her passion for space through a variety of platforms, from her interview on the Gilli Radio FM morning show to her 2019 TEDx talk in Dubai titled “We Choose to Go to Mars.” She is the winner of the UAE Zero Gravity competition, and her short story won the MBRSC’s Send to Space Competition in 2019. Thendral plans on pursuing degrees in Aerospace Engineering and Earth and Planetary Sciences in the United States, and she hopes to pursue a PhD before applying to become an astronaut at NASA. Besides her involvement in space and STEM, Thendral also loves acting and performing. Who knows, Thendral just may be the first woman to be on Mars AND Broadway!

12. Sandali Kumarasinghe, Age 19, Sri Lanka

Founder / Space Advocate

Mars Generation STEM awards 2020 Sandali Kumarasinghe Founder Space AdvocateSandali has always enjoyed pondering questions about the universe, but it wasn’t until after joining her school’s astronomical society and later, The Mars Generation, that she fully realized his passion for space. In 2019, Sandali was selected as a Scholarship Winner in the Leadership category and was able to attend Space Camp at the US Space and Rocket Center. Since then she has dreamed of being an astronaut. Sandali has helped found her own space club where she serves as the Director of Public Relations, encourages younger students to engage in activities related to space and STEAM, and organizes space-related events such as celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission. Now that Sandali has completed her high school studies, she plans to pursue her college education in engineering, robotics and astronomy. She is also planning to pursue her SCUBA diving license and her pilot’s license. Sandali’s ultimate dream is to work as an aerospace engineer, an astrophysicist, and eventually, an astronaut.

13. Caeley Looney, Age 23, United States

Founder / Aerospace Engineer

Mars Generation STEM awards 2020 Caeley Looney Founder Aerospace EngineerCaeley’s Twitter bio pretty much sums it up: Rocket scientist by day, editor in chief by night. While working full time at L3Harris Technologies as a Mission Analyst, Caeley is also the Founder and President of the non-profit organization Reinvented Inc., which aims to reinvent the general perception of women in STEM fields while inspiring interest in STEM for young women across the globe. Caeley accomplishes this through Reinvented Magazine, the nation’s first ever print magazine written for women in STEM, by women in STEM. Reinvented Magazine breaks down barriers and tells the untold stories of brilliant women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, reaching over 2,000 young women across the globe. Caeley says that the more light that we shine on empowering female voices, the more accepted the idea of women in STEM workplaces become. Caeley is currently enrolled in Johns Hopkins University’s Masters in Space Systems Engineering program and hopes to pursue her PhD in either Aerospace Engineering or Engineering Physics with a focus on control theory. While Caeley balances her nonprofit work and aerospace career, she is determined to continue making a difference in advocating for women.

14. Anna MacLennan, Age 16, United States

STEAM Educator

Mars Generation STEM awards 2020 Anna MacLennan STEAM EducatorFor Anna, the biggest thing she’s learned from being a young person in STEAM is to set goals based on dreams, not doubts. In 2018, Anna was an Education First Global Citizen Scholar, which allowed her to attend the Education First Global Leadership Summit. In 2019, Anna worked as a NASA intern through the STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) program. This year, Anna started an all-female rocketry team at her high school, co-authoring a grant to fund all supplies and software. Anna has also organized local outreach to introduce students to basic rocketry. Anna has been honored as a national finalist in Education First’s WeShare Video competition for her video on how to inspire youth to believe in their capacity to change the world through innovation.

15. Sahith Reddy Madara, Age 23, United Arab Emirates

Research Engineer

Mars Generation STEM awards 2020 Sahith Reddy Madara Research EngineerSahith believes that, as we stand on the verge of the next frontier, it’s important for everybody to be educated about space and space technology. He’s passionate about learning and sharing his knowledge of the cosmos with everyone. Sahith works as a research engineer at the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences, and Technology at the University of Sharjah. During his education at Amity University Dubai, Sahith was elected Vice President of the SAE International Chapter, Chair of the ASHRAE, and Head of Black Box Newsletter for the Aero-Club. He was the 1st person from the MENA region to be awarded the 2020 “20 under 35 honor” by the Space and Satellite Professionals International (SSPI), USA. In 2020, Sahith was nominated for the Aleem Achievement Award for research innovation, and in 2019, he was awarded the Distinguished Speaker Award at the MBRSC – IEEE Young Professionals in Space Conference in Dubai. To date, Sahith has published over twenty-five research and review papers at various International peer-reviewed journals, presented 10 technical papers, and repeatedly received top awards at various international conferences around the globe. Sahith is committed to inspiring passion for space in the next generation, convinced that education is the most powerful tool we have to change the world for the better.

16. Artash Nath, Age 13, Canada

Founder / Inventor

Mars Generation STEM awards 2020 Artash Nath Founder InventorArtash has had a love for science and engineering from a young age. At 13, not even yet in highschool, he has already participated in over 35 hackathons and has been using sketches, experiments, and prototypes to try to answer questions on STEM and space. Artash was seven years old when he started making small electronics projects using motors, transistors, integrated circuits and LEDs. He picked up programming skills using MIT Scratch, and has moved to writing small programs using Arduino, making more complex projects and merging them with fascinations with space. Artash built his first autonomous rover at the age of eight for the 2014 NASA SpaceApps Challenge Toronto. Artash is a member of the Ontario Science Centre and the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. He is the co-founder of the HotPopRobot.com initiative to bring the love of science, space, and technology to other students.

17. Emily Pattison, Age 20, United States

Founder / Filmmaker

Mars Generation STEM awards 2020 Emily Pattison Founder FilmmakerA student at Wellesley College, Emily has pursued an interdisciplinary major in Economics and Media Science and is incredibly excited to see what new media opportunities are created when technology is integrated. Emily recently worked as an intern on America’s #1 science and documentary show, NOVA at PBS, as a part of the “Polar Extremes: Antarctica” series, where she worked with Emmy-winning broadcasters and digital producers. Emily is also working to form a student production company with hopes of providing students with the opportunity to experience filmmaking and use storytelling to effect meaningful change. The first project Emily’s group is working on is a documentary about the struggles formerly incarcerated individuals face when trying to gain meaningful employment. This summer, Emily is interning at a global consulting firm that specializes in media and technology, and after graduating she plans to pursue her MBA. Her ultimate goal is to be a studio or network executive of a company that produces socially-minded content.

18. Audrey Pe, Age 18, Philippines

Founder / STEM Advocate

Mars Generation STEM awards 2020 Audrey Pe Founder STEM AdvocateAudrey knew she was passionate about coding and technology at a young age, but early on she also recognized the impacts of gender inequality and lack of accessibility within STEM fields. At fifteen, Audrey started a blog called WiTech, which stands for Women in Technology, where she conducted interviews and wrote features on women in tech in order to celebrate their achievements. WiTech eventually grew from a blog into an organization with a mission to educate, inspire, and empower youth to break gender barriers and use technology to make a difference in society. Since its creation, WiTech has hosted the first ever women in tech conference for students in the Philippines, curated tech talks centered around sustainable development goals, and launched an outreach program to teach high school students from war-torn Marawi basic programming skills. In addition to her work with WiTech, Audrey has presented at over 40 schools and events across the Philippines, Thailand and Portugal; spoke at the ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Carnival; and given two TEDx talks. Audrey will attend Stanford University in the fall. Her greatest goal is to provide every Filipino youth with access to technology, regardless of gender or socioeconomic status. Audrey’s call to young people is this: if you see something in your community that needs to be changed, don’t be afraid to step up and be that change.

19. Gia Ramos, Age 16, Puerto Rico

Founder / STEM Outreach

Mars Generation STEM awards 2020 Gia Ramos Founder STEM OutreachIn 2017, Gia designed her first mobile application called SNAPStroke, which she created to predict strokes in real-time and help people get treatment. For her innovation, she became the first-ever highschool freshman named the 2018 NCWIT Aspirations in Computing National Winner. Gia was also the first Puerto Rican to win the 2017 ProjectCSGIRLS National Award. In 2018, Gia founded her social enterprise, Girl Innovation, with a mission to close the gender gap in the tech fields. The program offers summer camps, workshops, and mentoring services which introduce girls to programming, robotics, and cybersecurity. For her initiative, Gia received the 2018 Puerto Rico Leadership Award in the Innovation & Technology category, the Puerto Rico Governor’s Medal for her contributions to society, and the Mayor of Gurabo medal for her leadership and entrepreneurial skills. She was also selected as a 2019 HERLead Fellow and a 2019 T-Mobile Changemaker. And, as if this 16-year-old wasn’t busy enough, Gia is the president of her school club, Girls Who Code, a team captain of her school’s VEX Robotics team, which was a finalist in the 2015 VEX Robotics Worlds Championship, and a mentor for girls in STEM. In the future, Gia dreams of becoming a biomedical engineer where she can use her technological skills in the healthcare industry and better people’s lives as a result.

20. Arunima Sen, Age 18, India

STEM Advocate

Mars Generation STEM awards 2020 Arunima Sen STEM AdvocateBecause of her parents’ jobs at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Arunima basically grew up in a space agency’s headquarters. Now, despite obstacles of gender discrimination, she is working toward being the first woman in her family to pursue a career in engineering. Arunima’s biggest accomplishment so far has been Homestead Green–a project aimed at solving some of the environmental challenges caused by rapid urban expansion in the last few decades. This work led Arunima to be awarded the United Technologies Future of Buildings and Cities Challenge, and she was selected among thousands of applicants as a 2020 Global Teen Leader. Arunima will begin college in the fall and is interested in studying several subjects, including engineering, environmental and urban studies, and physics. In the future, she envisions herself working to achieve the UN 2030 agendas, advocating for women’s rights, and fighting to increase the representation of girls and women in STEM.

21. Antonio Stark (KangSan Kim), Age 23, South Korea

Aerospace Engineer

Mars Generation STEM awards 2020 Antonio Stark Aerospace EngineerBetween reading about space elevators and watching string theory documentaries, Antonio became fascinated with how future societies would be changed through space technologies. What began for Antonio as a hobby in aerospace engineering became a career in space policy. Antonio’s most famous project is the “space toilet,” which is a toilet that works in microgravity and can be operated without electricity. His invention won the grand prize at the Conrad Challenge, and now he serves as a member of the Alumni Leadership Committee. Antonio is also involved with the Space Generation Advisory Council, where he works in regional event management and public relations, as well as with the National Space Society. Additionally, he’s been the National Coordinator for the World Space Week Association, a space policy lobbyist for the Alliance for Space Development, a Co-Director for Yuri’s Night Bay Area, and a judge for the NASA Space Apps Challenge. Right now, Antonio is working on a series of academic papers and is hoping to do his postgraduate studies in international policy, strategy, or business management.

22. Piotr Torchala, Age 23, Poland

Founder / Space Outreach

Mars Generation STEM awards 2020 Piotr Torchala Founder Space OutreachGrowing up, Piotr worked with everything from remote-controlled cars to motorcycles. These days, he’s upgraded to more sophisticated projects, like working on the Mars Rover. Piotr is the co-founder of the Innspace group, a collective gathering of people from various universities in Poland who take part in competitions related to space, particularly Mars. The group organizes lectures and workshops, and its members will be presenting their recent publications at the SpaceOps 2020 conference in CapeTown. Piotr is currently working on his master’s thesis on the research of industrial robot work. After completing his master’s, Piotr wants to head his own start-up and focus on furthering the development of technology that will accomplish easy and cheap removal of debris from the orbit of the earth.

23. Bianca Vasquez, Age 22, United States

Founder / Space Outreach

Mars Generation STEM awards 2020 Bianca Vasquez Founder Space OutreachBianca’s philosophy has been to follow her heart but be guided by her head, and that combination has brought her to some pretty remarkable places. She was a part of the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) program. Bianca is also the founder of the Society of Women in Space Exploration (SWISE), an international organization that promotes women and diversity in the world of space exploration. Bianca founded SWISE with hopes of highlighting women of the past, present and future in space, encouraging more dialogue about equality and inclusion, and promoting leadership opportunities for college students in their community. Bianca is also working with a team at the University of California, Santa Barbara, on building an atmospheric water generator (AWG), a device that takes water vapor from the atmosphere and condenses it into potable water.

24. Sobina Yu, Age 19, Philippines

Founder / Space Advocate

Mars Generation STEM awards 2020 Sobina Yu Founder Space AdvocateSobina says that part of the beauty of STEAM is striving to give explanations to the mysteries of the world we live in. One of the ways Sobina has been able to do that is through her non-profit, the Judenite’s Astronomical Organization (JAO), which is the official astronomical organization of Saint Jude Catholic School, where Sobina attended. Through JAO, Sobina organized various conferences, free telescope viewings, and stargazing trips, all with the goal of promoting astronomy in the Filipino community. Sobina is also the founder of The Cosmic Wonderer, an online platform used for sharing the stories of young aspiring astronauts and astronomers worldwide, and showing what they are doing to achieve their dreams. Sobina is passionate about empowering young people and providing quality education to marginalized sectors in the Philippines through book drives, educational sponsors, and community outreach. As a current undergraduate student, Sobina is studying French, and plans to take SCUBA diving classes and pursue her pilot’s license. Her goal is to get her masters degree in Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics. Sobina’s long-term aspirations range from being a STEM researcher to modeling and studying art, while also dreaming of being an astronaut. Whatever she does, Sobina knows she wants to keep contributing new knowledge to the world of space and STEM.

 

About The Mars Generation

The Mars Generation is a volunteer-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit with an advisory board that includes astronauts, engineers, scientists, and professionals from the nonprofit and business communities. Reaching millions of people since 2015, the organization has served students and adults from around the world through multiple programs, including the Student Space Ambassador Program, Future of Space Outreach Program, and Space Camp Scholarship Program. The Mars Generation is supported by private donors, members, influencer work, and major corporate sponsors. Through an innovative approach of leveraging new media technology and providing engaging content and programs, the organization aims to excite and educate students and adults about the importance of human space exploration and STEAM education to the future of humankind.

For more information on The Mars Generation, go to: TheMarsGeneration.org

 

About Aerojet Rocketdyne

Aerojet Rocketdyne, a subsidiary of Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AJRD), is a world-recognized aerospace and defense leader that provides propulsion systems and energetics to the space, missile defense and strategic systems, and tactical systems areas, in support of domestic and international customers. For more information, visit www.Rocket.com and www.AerojetRocketdyne.com. Follow Aerojet Rocketdyne and CEO Eileen Drake on Twitter at @AerojetRdyne and @DrakeEileen.

The Mars Generation Founder, Abigail Harrison, Offers Virtual Support for Distance Learning Classrooms 

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN, UNITED STATES, May 22, 2020 / The Mars Generation (TMG) began releasing new episodes of their popular YouTube series, #AskAbby Space and Science Show to support distance learning classrooms amid school closures resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak. The show’s third season, #AskAbby Space and Science Show Homeschool Edition, answers questions on a wide range of topics relating to space and science, from artificial intelligence to motion sickness in space. TMG began releasing episodes on May 18, 2020.

The Mars Generation’s co-founder and president, Abigail Harrison, more commonly known as “Astronaut Abby,” made an offer via her social media channels, which have approximately 1 million followers collectively, inviting teachers, parents, and students around the world to submit student questions about space and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math education) for the series. In each episode of this season, Harrison will answer questions submitted. The videos, intended to supplement curricula for students being schooled at home and via distance learning, are currently available for people around the world to watch for free on Harrison’s “Astronaut Abby” YouTube channel, and will soon be available on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

“The coronavirus outbreak has been difficult for everyone as we collectively try to slow the spread of the virus. It has been an especially challenging time for educators, who are doing the vital work of staying connected to their students and maintaining curricula through distance learning,” said Harrison. “Every response to this pandemic matters. If there’s a way to help a teacher with a lesson or to offer up something new and engaging for a student, then I’m going to do that.”

Harrison has used her leadership and widespread global influence to increase focus on space exploration and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) as vital to the future of humankind. She has drawn together international supporters from many backgrounds after she unapologetically shared her dream of becoming an astronaut and the first human to Mars at age 13 on Twitter. She is dedicated to inspiring people of all ages to build a future in which the innovation and advancement of space exploration will offer solutions to problems on Earth and beyond.

About The Mars Generation
The Mars Generation aims to excite, educate, and inspire all people about the future of human space exploration. Reaching millions of people since 2015, the organization has served students and adults from around the world through programs including the Student Space Ambassador Program, Future of Space Outreach Program, and Space Camp Scholarship Program. The Mars Generation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by the then-18-year-old aspiring astronaut, Abigail Harrison, and her mother, Nicole Harrison. Its advisory board includes astronauts, engineers, scientists, and professionals from the nonprofit and business communities. The Mars Generation is supported by private donors, members, influencer work, and major corporate sponsors. For more information, visit TheMarsGeneration.org.

About Astronaut Abby
At age 13, Abigail Harrison, now popularly known as “Astronaut Abby,” publicly shared her dream of becoming the first astronaut to land on Mars. Since then, Harrison has worked diligently to stay on course and pursue this dream, including earning bachelor’s degrees in astrobiology and Russian studies. Now 22 years old, she is a respected thought leader who is passionate and vocal about space exploration, and uses her widespread influence, leadership, and The Mars Generation, the nonprofit organization that she co-founded, to foster support and enthusiasm for human space exploration. Harrison has been hailed as one of the most influential people in STEM and has earned accolades for her leadership including Forbes 30 Under 30, Glamour Magazine College Woman of the Year, TIME Magazine and TIAA Difference Maker 100. She has worked with major brands, including Microsoft, Disney, 3M, Nissan, LEGO, Hulu, Kellogg’s, and Samsung to further her message, and has appeared on television networks such as Fox Business News, The Weather Channel, and BBC World. For more information, visit AstronautAbby.com.

Microsoft and NASA Invite The Mars Generation Founder, Abigail Harrison, to Attend Downlink Event

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN, UNITED STATES, February 29, 2020 / The Mars Generation (TMG) today announced that its co-founder, Abigail Harrison, will join Microsoft and NASA at an event at the Museum of Flight in Seattle on March 2, focused on making science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) opportunities accessible to all. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station, including Jessica Meir, will join via a live In-Flight Education Downlink to share their experiences of working and living in space, and to answer questions from attendees. The downlink for the event will be live streamed online for public viewing. Microsoft and NASA are hosting this event in response to the anticipated 9 million STEM jobs that will be created by 2022, and the desire to see women and minorities accessing those jobs.

The event will kick off Microsoft’s In Culture campaign to honor International Women’s Day on March 8th, and throughout Women’s History Month by recognizing women who are overcoming obstacles and breaking boundaries—with the goal of encouraging young women and girls to pursue their goals without giving up. Harrison, known online as Astronaut Abby, is a leader in STEM who inspires the future by encouraging people of all backgrounds to pursue big dreams.

essica_Meir_ISS_Microsoft_NASA_Downlink“Women and people of color are significantly underrepresented in STEM careers and in the pathways that lead to those careers,” said Harrison. “I fiercely believe that we will close that gap, and I am thrilled to be a part of the movement that will do it. Giving young people access to people like astronaut Jessica Meir and the information that she’ll share during this event, can help keep their minds open to the possibilities of what they can do themselves.”

Microsoft is sponsoring Harrison’s attendance at the event as she is known for using her leadership and widespread global influence to increase focus on space exploration as vital to the future of humankind. She has also been vocal about the need for people of all backgrounds to have a seat at the table, and advocates tirelessly for the importance of diverse perspectives being represented in STEM and beyond.

About The Mars Generation

The Mars Generation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with an advisory board that includes astronauts, engineers, scientists, and professionals from the nonprofit and business communities. Reaching millions of people since 2015, the organization has served students and adults from around the world through programs including the Student Space Ambassador Program, Future of Space Outreach Program, and Space Camp Scholarship Program. The Mars Generation is supported by private donors, members, influencer work, and major corporate sponsors. The Mars Generation aims to excite, educate and inspire all people about the future of human space exploration.

For more information, visit TheMarsGeneration.org.

About Astronaut Abby

At age 13, Abigail Harrison, now commonly known as Astronaut Abby, publicly shared her dream of becoming the first astronaut to land on Mars. Since then, Harrison has worked diligently to stay on course and pursue this dream. Now 22 years old, she is a respected thought leader who is passionate and vocal about space exploration and uses her widespread influence, leadership, and The Mars Generation to foster support and enthusiasm for human space exploration. Harrison has been hailed as one of the most influential people in STEM and has earned accolades for her leadership including Forbes 30 Under 30, Glamour Magazine College Woman of the Year, and TIAA Difference Maker 100.

For more information, visit AstronautAbby.com.

 

TMG Founder Abigail Harrison Named One of Glamour’s College Women of the Year 2019

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Abigail “Astronaut Abby” Harrison

For 62 years, Glamour Magazine has produced an annual list of exceptional female college students across the United States who are changing the world with their work.  The College Women of the Year list seeks to honor extraordinary and exceptional women across all fields, including scientists, artists, activists, business women, and athletes, and this year, on their 2019 College Women of the Year List, they have recognized our co-founder and President, Abigail Harrison!

Past winners have included Martha Stewart in 1961, America’s first youth Poet Laureate, Amanda Gorman, in 2018, and Katiti Kironde in 1968, who made history as the first black woman to be featured on the cover of a major womens’ magazine. Glamour Magazine’s College Women of the Year list has identified many remarkable women who have gone on to be successful businesswomen, renowned athletes, and public officials.

Glamour’s College Women of the Year list highlights young women who are stepping up and making an impact in bold ways by refusing to doubt their own gifts, passions, and abilities. This annual list of 10 amazing students serves to inspire women everywhere to do the “crazy” or “impossible” things–maybe even to be the first. The women named on this this list are the strong young leaders asking “Why not me?” and “If not me, then who?”

Our co-founder Abigail Harrison has been included in the 62nd class of winners, along with nine other recipients, which include UCLA gymnast Katelyn Ohashi, nineteen-year-old author Camryn Garrett, political activist Taylor King, city council member Avra Reddy, mental health advocate Gabby Frost, environmental scientist Kiara Nirghin, Student Academy Award winner Hanna Kim, computer scientist Kavya Kopparapu, and University of Alabama’s URGE (Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity) President, Annabeth Mellon.

Each of these women was hand-picked for the strides they are making in their fields and communities, and our co-founder and president Abigail Harrison is no exception. Glamour calls Abigail a “STEM warrior” and highlights the dream and passion she’s had for space travel ever since she was old enough to gaze into the wonder of the night sky. Abigail has been honored for her ambition and accomplishments in areas that are traditionally male-dominated, such as aviation, space, and STEM. She is also recognized for the ways she has supported and advocated for other women and girls to do the same. Not only does she want to go where no person has gone before, but she wants to make that impossibility possible for other women. Part of Abigail’s goal in founding The Mars Generation was to promote female representation within STEM and bring opportunities and exposure to other young women who may not experience it otherwise.

With Abigail’s recent graduation from Wellesley College this spring, she will be leaving behind her status of “college woman” for the next year while she focuses on the The Mars Generation and works for Wyoming Stargazing as an astronomy educator. After her gap year, she plans to attend graduate school with the goal of a PhD in astrobiology or planetary science, always keeping in mind her big dream of one day becoming the first astronaut to go to Mars. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll see Abigail not just as one of the College Women of the Year, but as a Glamour Woman of the year.

We are so proud of Abigail and all she has accomplished since her co-founding of the Mars Generation and her time as an undergrad student, but we are even more excited to see all she goes on to do and how she will continue to positively impact the world. With your help and support, we’ve seen her walk across the stage at graduation at Wellesley, and we hope that with the help of a generation of big dreamers we’ll get to see her walk across the surface of Mars one day too. Congratulations Abigail “Astronaut Abby” Harrison, and thank you for all you do!

Nominations Open for The Mars Generation’s 24 Under 24 Leaders and Innovators in STEAM and Space Awards Class of 2020

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Class of 2019 24 Under 24 STEAM Space Awards The Mars Generation

Don’t Miss Your Chance to Join An Elite Cohort of Young Change-Makers

MINNEAPOLIS, MN, UNITED STATES, June 11, 2019 / Are you making a difference in the world of STEAM or space? Are you under the age of 24? Do you want to be a part of something bigger? We invite you to nominate yourself for the third annual The Mars Generation 24 Under 24 Leaders and Innovators in STEAM and Space Awards, an industry-recognized, highly competitive awards program honoring young people in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) fields.

For the third consecutive year, The Mars Generation (TMG) has opened the nomination period for the prestigious STEAM awards. The award celebrates change-makers of the next generation–young people who are not only making strides in their STEAM fields, but are also leaders in their communities and advocating for STEAM education and/or space exploration. Students and young professionals are nominated from around the globe for their work on projects big and small.

Ken Buckler, a cyber security professional and TMG Student Space Ambassador Board Chair, encourages young people considering the award to self-nominate. “The 24 Under 24 awards highlight the exceptional work of young people who are the face of The Mars Generation,” said Buckler. “The cohort of award recipients are an inspirational catalyst to youth all over the world,” he explained. “Our 24 Under 24 nominees underscore what can be accomplished when you set your mind to something and put in the work it takes to succeed.”

Abigail Harrison, founder of The Mars Generation, says she is excited that the awards are open for self-nomination again this year. “We believe in the abilities of young people and that they are not only capable of but responsible for making a change in the world around them,” Harrison says. The 24 Under 24 award empowers young people with the recognition and prestige to continue in their studies, seek out additional resources for their projects, and bring attention and support to their work. Harrison continues, “The 24 Under 24 awards serve as an embodiment of our mission by calling on young people to reach for their ‘Mars’, whatever that may be.”

“We are honored to support these prestigious STEAM awards,” says Eileen Drake, CEO of Aerojet Rocketdyne, the sponsor for the TMG 24 Under 24 awards in 2020. “Every year, each of the award winners displays an exceptional commitment to innovation, excellence, and a can-do attitude. It will be exciting to see what new discoveries and advances these award winners will make in space exploration.”

The Mars Generation 24 Under 24 Leaders and Innovators in STEAM and Space awardees from past years are, indeed, changing the world with their work. Projects have ranged from finding ways to generate clean energy, to authoring books about women in STEM, to assisting the development of their respective nations’ space programs, and so much more. They serve as role models to their communities and inspiration to others in their fields. “We are proud to honor these students and young people who are dreaming big, acting big, and inspiring others with their work and their lives,” says Harrison.

Nominations for the Class of 2020 are now open and will be accepted through November 1, 2019. Students must nominate themselves for the awards. Nomination forms and further information about the awards can be found by at: https://themarsgeneration.org/steam-space-awards

About The Mars Generation
The Mars Generation is a volunteer-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit with an advisory board that includes astronauts, engineers, scientists, and professionals from the nonprofit and business communities. Reaching millions of people since 2015, the organization has served students and adults from around the world through multiple programs, including the Student Space Ambassador Program, Future of Space Outreach Program, and Space Camp Scholarship Program. The Mars Generation is supported by private donors, members, influencer work, and major corporate sponsors. Through an innovative approach of leveraging new media technology and providing engaging content and programs, the organization aims to excite and educate students and adults about the importance of human space exploration and STEAM education to the future of humankind. For more information on The Mars Generation, go to: www.TheMarsGeneration.org

About Aerojet Rocketdyne
Aerojet Rocketdyne, a subsidiary of Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AJRD), is a world-recognized aerospace and defense leader that provides propulsion systems and energetics to the space, missile defense and strategic systems, and tactical systems areas, in support of domestic and international customers. For more information, visit www.Rocket.com and www.AerojetRocketdyne.com. Follow Aerojet Rocketdyne and CEO Eileen Drake on Twitter at @AerojetRdyne and @DrakeEileen.

Yvonne Hundshamer
The Mars Generation
+1 612-670-0337
email us here