Abigail Harrison
Quick Facts
Biography
Abigail Francis Harrison (born June 11, 1997) popularly known as Astronaut Abby, is an American advocate for STEAM education, particularly in the area of the United States space program, scientist, internet personality, public speaker, writer, science communicator, and a student at Wellesley College, Massachusetts majoring in Astrobiology and Russian Studies. Harrison is best known as an aspiring astronaut with a goal to be the first person to step foot on Mars.
Harrison the founder and leader of The Mars Generation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to excite young people and adults about human space exploration and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) education and foster an understanding of the importance of these two elements to the future of humankind on Earth. As of August 2017, Harrison and The Mars Generation have amassed over one million followers on their combined social media channels.
Early life
Abigail Harrison was born June 11, 1997, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Harrison grew up with one sister and her mother. For as long as Harrison can remember, she has dreamed of becoming the first person to step foot on Mars. Harrison attended Saint Paul and Minneapolis Public Schools for k-12 education. Growing up Harrison valued education and her enthusiasm to learn led her to expand her education with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs and learning opportunities before and after school as well as attending multiple STEM summer camps.
Harrison attended Field Middle School where she was a member of her school's top-ranked Science Bowl team, created an award-winning State History Day Project titled Debate and Diplomacy: The History of the ISS and participated in the school's Girls In Engineering Math and Science Program (GEMS).
Harrison graduated in 2015 from South High School with high honors. During her junior and senior year in high school Harrison attended the University of Minnesota as part of a highly competitive dual enrollment post secondary education program operated by the State of Minnesota. During high school Harrison spent much of her time taking advanced classes in math, engineering and science. Harrison also participated in the state's Model UN program and Youth in Government Programs, she also served as a captain of her gymnastics team, and was a varsity member of the dive team and track and field team.
Harrison is currently attending Wellesley College. She is pursuing astrobiology and Russian degrees. She intends to pursue a graduate education and eventually receive her doctorate degree in astrobiology. She plans to become a PhD scientist and astronaut.
Career
The Mars Generation
In 2015, Harrison founded the 501(c)(3) nonprofit called The Mars Generation. Harrison is the leader of the nonprofit serving as the Chair of the Executive Board. The mission of The Mars Generation is to educate and inspire young people and adults about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and human space exploration. The Mars Generation provides several programs including a Student Space Ambassador Program, Outreach Program and offers a full paid Space Camp Scholarship Program. The Mars Generation is volunteer-driven with executive and advisory boards of leaders from the space industry including astronauts, engineers scientists as well as nonprofit, education and business sectors.
The Mars Generation has been invited to partner with multiple space organizations and attend events around the world to share their work and excite people about human space exploration and STEM education as well as to inspire the next generation to dream big. Partnerships and Events include the Project Space Forum in the United Arab Emirates hosted by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai , the Humans to Mars Summit hosted by Explore Mars in Washington D.C. , Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) in Washington D.C. , National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C., NASA's Digital Learning Network Online., South by Southwest (SXSW) Generation Z (GenZ) panel, National Geographic and National Geographic Kids and Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex the NASA visitors center at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Lake Baikal Research Expedition
During summer of 2016, Harrison was invited by Wellesley College to take part in a scientific research expedition to Siberia's Lake Baikal. Harrison was part of a 12 student cohort working with Wellesley Professor Marianne Moore who is collaborating with a team of 15 scientists from the United States and Russia in a long term study exploring the effect of climate change on Lake Baikal. During the research Harrison's focus was studying how heavily grazers are feeding on algae through the use of grazer exclusion pens.
The Tanner Conference
On October 31, 2017 Harrison along with research partners presented paper on the topic of "Stream Delivery of Nutrients into Lake Systems and Resulting in Eutrophication" at the Wellesley College Tanner Conference
Schuerger Lab
In June 2017 Harrison began working as an intern in the Mars Lab of Dr. Andrew Schuerger of the University of Florida located in the Space Life Sciences Labs at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Harrison's work focuses on a research project titled: Growth of the Bacterium, Serratia liquefaciens, Under Martian Conditions. This research focuses on the search for life on Mars, through characterizing the limits of growth by terrestrial microorganisms under Martian conditions. Dr. Schruerger and his team have successfully grown 31 bacteria (but no fungi or archaea) under Martian conditions. Harrison's work will help contribute to several ongoing projects pertaining to the growth of S. liquefaciens under simulated Martian conditions.
Astronaut Abby
Harrison is popularly known as "Astronaut Abby". In 2011, at the age of 13, Harrison began to speak publicly about her dream of being the first astronaut to walk on Mars. Her work over the years as an international STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) and space ambassador has led to a following of over 1,000,000 people on social media.
Harrison's online presence as Astronaut Abby spurred in 2011 from an 8th grade National History Day project titled 'Debate and Diplomacy: The History of the ISS". Harrison setup a Twitter account under the name of AstronautAbby to connect with NASA employees to get a quote for her project. Harrison got the quote and also found support of the space community as a leader in her generation. Harrison continued to use social media to both network with space industry professionals, help engage her peers on STEM subjects and excite and educate people about the importance of human space exploration and STEM education to the future of humankind.
On April 30, 2011, Harrison conducted her first video interview which was uploaded to YouTube. She interviewed Astronaut Luca Parmitano, whom she had met at the Orlando airport after attending her first launch, STS-134 of Space Shuttle Endeavour. Parmitano subsequently became Harrison's mentor
On July 8, 2011, Harrison was invited by the Canadian Space Agency to attend and report on a special event hosted at the Canadian Space Agency in Montreal, Canada for a viewing of the final STS-135 Space Shuttle Atlantis launch with Canadian Astronauts Jeremy Hansen and David Saint-Jacques.
In January 2013, Harrison was invited by her mentor, Astronaut Luca Parmitano, to attend his first launch to the International Space Station aboard the Soyuz TMA-09M Expedition 36/37 and subsequently she partnered with Parmitano as his Earth Liaison sharing his 6 month experience of living in space with her social media community and in speaking through her worldwide outreach program.
On April 4, 2013, Harrison was a guest blogger for NASA's International Space Station blog, A Lab Aloft (International Space Station Research).
On May 2, 2013, Harrison was a speaker for the Reach for the Stars: EU-MN Aerospace Connection.
On May 28, 2013, Harrison attended the Soyuz TMA-09M launch of her mentor, Astronaut Luca Parmitano to the International Space Station. She shared the experience with her social media audience, marking the beginning of her work as Parmitano's Earth Liaison.
On August 15, 2013, Harrison was a speaker at the Mars Society to speak at their annual convention in Boulder, Colorado as part of their STEM education event.
On October 25, 2013 Harrison was invited to give a TEDx talk titled "What's Your Mars" where she introduces an inspirational concept called the "Circle of Inspiration" encouraging people to "Dream Big. Act Big. Inspired Others".
On December 4, 2014 Harrison co-hosted with Astronaut Robert Springer the Space Flight Insider Live web broadcast of the Orion EFT-1 test mission.
On April 9, 2015, Harrison was the keynote speaker at the East Kootenay Science Fair in Cranbrook British Columbia.
On July 24, 2015 Harrison appeared on a NASA panel titled "Rocket Women" with Sandra Magnus – NASA Astronaut ; Susan Baggerman – NASA’s Health and Medical Technical Authority for Orion spacecraft; Janica Cheney – Director of Safety and Mission Assurance at Orbital ATK; Kathryn Crowe – NASA Propulsion Systems Engineer; and Iylene Patino – Structural Test Engineer on the Space Launch System Program at Boeing. The panel was part of a week long series of NASA events at the EAA AirVenture Oskosh airshow which is the largest airshow of it's kind in the world.
On August 2015, Harrison was a special guest speaker at Space Camp USA located at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Harrison has attended Space Camp during middle and high school.
On September 15, 2015, Harrison founded The Mars Generation nonprofit as a way to expand her own outreach and empower others to join in. She launched the nonprofit along with and advisory board astronauts, engineers and many other professionals. Harrison has continued her worldwide outreach work as an International Space And STEM ambassador representing The Mars Generation both online and through visits to locations around the world.
On May 13-14, 2016 Harrison appeared as a representative for The Mars Generation and was a guest speaker for the Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) in Washington D.C. TARC is an annual American model rocketry competition for students in grades seven to 12 sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association and the National Association of Rocketry. Co-sponsors include NASA, United States Department of Defense, the American Association of Physics Teachers and the Civil Air Patrol.
On May 17, 2016 Harrison appeared as a speaker and representative of The Mars Generation at the Humans to Mars Summit hosted by Explore Mars.
On November 8, 2016 Harrison was named by Huffington Post and Ford Motor Company as one of the 20 under 20-year-olds showcasing the next generation of the best and brightest innovators. Harrison received this recognition for her work in building and growing The Mars Generation.
On December 15, 2016 Harrison was invited and attended a special Hidden Figures in STEM and space screening hosted by first lady Michelle Obama as a representative of The Mars Generation.
In January 2017, Harrison travelled to the United Arab Emirates to serve as an international space and STEAM ambassador representing The Mars Generation as a guest of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre to talk about The Mars Generation and tour the Mars Hope mission. Harrison spoke at the Project Space event hosted by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre at the end of her tour.
On January 18, 2017, Harrison appeared as the host of a newly launched YouTube web series produced by The Mars Generation called The Science Show. The show's mission is to provide STEM experiments, interviews and tours to excite students about STEM and space.
On March 12, 2017 Harrison appeared at SXSW for the first time as part of a GenZ panel for the Girls Lounge. She spoke about what her idea of success is and The Mars Generation.
On April 12, 2017, Harrison appeared as a guest host on the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum live show called STEM In 30 in an episode titled "The Women Paving the Way to Mars."
On April 20, 2017, Harrison appeared on the NASA Digital Learning Network in an episode titled "Women Paving The Path To Mars."
On May 9, 2017, Harrison appeared as a panelist with former NASA Chief Scientist Ellen Stofan to discuss the topic "Women Paving The Way To Mars."
On August 5, 2017, Harrison appeared at the Kennedy Space Center to speak about The Mars Generation and meet people for a photo opportunity.
Awards and recognition
- 2017 Eureka! Innovation Award Winner for Innovation in Education
- 2017 Global Connections for Women Top 100 Women in the World
- 2016 20 Under 20 Pioneers In STEAM presented by Huffington Post and Ford Motor Company
- 2016 Seventeen Magazine 17 Power Teen for 2016
- 2015 Shorty Award Finalist: Teen Hero Award
- 2015 Space Camp Outstanding Alumni Award
- 2014 Scholastic 8 Coolest Kids
- 2014 25 Women Who Rock Social Media
- 2014 Air and Law Institute's (ALI) Inspiration Award
Published works
- Huffington Post, Oct 16, 2015 – If We Don't Push the Limits With Space Exploration, What Are We Really Doing?
- Huffington Post, Oct 25, 2015 – The Mars Generation: Why We Must Go To Mars
- AARP. April 23, 2013 – Astronaut Abby – Inspiring Others to Dream Big
- Reading Rainbow, Nov 20, 2013 – Stand Up and Reach for the Stars
- ISS blog article – Astronaut Abby Hearts NASA