Nasa science officer and ISU alum to give homecoming talk

Angela Garcia, planetary geologist at NASA Johnson Space Center, will present “Angela Talks Artemis: Training Astronauts, Testing Spacesuits, and Supporting Moon Missions,” on Friday, October 9, from 3 to 4 p.m. in Physical Science Complex Room 108 on ISU’s Pocatello campus. The talk will focus on the science of space exploration, how NASA conducts geologic research, her recent time as a NASA Science Officer, and more.

“I’m thrilled to return to the geology department and share my NASA journey seven years after graduating,” said Garcia. “This place and its people nurtured the curiosity that shaped my career. I can’t wait to reconnect with familiar faces, meet new students, and see how the department—and Poky—have grown. It feels especially fitting to return to my home department during Homecoming Week.”

The Artemis II mission in May marked the first time NASA incorporated Science Officers into mission control. As one of the three Science Officers, Garcia was responsible for ensuring “NASA’s lunar science objectives are seamlessly integrated into mission execution.”

“The Artemis missions are the start of a whole new era of science-based space exploration, and it's awesome to see one of our alumni at the heart of this innovation,” said Shannon Kobs Nawotniak, professor and chair of the geosciences department at ISU. “Angela is a rock star, using her knowledge to merge science, engineering, and human factors to help guide us to a Star Trek-future. Angela and the rest of the Artemis team are tackling big problems that will ultimately not just answer questions about the Moon and solar system, but will result in advancements that help people here on Earth."

In addition to her talk, Garcia will also receive the Young Alumna Award from the Idaho State University Alumni Association Friday evening. The honor “recognizes alumni who have graduated within the last ten years for exceptional achievement in career, public service and volunteerism that brings honor to the University.” Garcia earned a master’s in geology from ISU, and during her graduate research, she, along with Kobs Nawotniak and fellow graduate student Ashley Shields, helped discover a new hydrothermal vent field in the Pacific Ocean.