Heather Walker knows her thermodynamics class can be intimidating. The concepts are critical for the engineering students who take the course, but part of the work for Walker is to help students see through the complexities and realize the incredible ways thermodynamics change our lives every day.

That's why Walker, teaching assistant professor of chemical engineering, reached out to Alyssa Carson, an 18-year-old from Louisiana who been attending NASA programs with the hope of taking part in NASA's Mars mission in the 2030s.
 
Carson, who goes by the nickname "NASA Blueberry,” has a lifelong passion for space exploration and has been actively training to leave Earth since she was 15.

Carson joined Walker's Thermodynamics class April 24 and spent an hour sharing her story and fielding questions from students.

Carson's visit was more than just a celebrity appearance — the group's discussion tied in with key elements of the class.

"In our course, we study energy transfers," Walker said. "In the mission to Mars, there is discussion of all of the astronauts being cooled to put them into a (hibernating) state of torpor. There are energy requirements for the rocket and pod. They will have to grow their food and be able to generate power and water on the surface of Mars. There are almost endless engineering applications."

Walker said she's been following Carson's story for several years.

"I found out about Alyssa a couple of years ago. She was a 15-year-old who was training with the goal to be on the first mission to Mars in the 2030s. That's pretty incredible — just a fascinating story. Her drive and sacrifice to reach her goal is inspiring. I've talked about her in class over the last couple of years because there are a lot of innovative engineering applications in the space field right now."

Carson herself is studying Astrobiology at Florida Tech in preparation for her mission.

Walker said she hopes the visit gave students a chance to see a young person making such a major impact.

"I hope they were inspired by seeing someone their own age working hard to pursue their dreams," she said. "Plus, it's really amazing learning about all of the engineering going into the Mission to Mars.  She talked about microgravity training, underwater survival, working with NASA and SpaceX, meeting Bill Nye.  I also hope it made them realize some of the amazing ways that what we're studying can be applied.  Thermodynamics can be very technical, academic, and intimidating.  But it can be applied in really fun and cool ways."

Walker said the visit was also a bright spot for both her and the students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Our engineering students are awesome. They had been great adapting to all the changes, and had worked so hard," she said. "They were doing an incredible job of rising to the challenge of staying engaged and focused as we transitioned online,  but I could tell they were tired.  This was hard.  I thought a guest speaker would give them something to look forward to."

Walker had long been familiar with Carson's journey, but the idea to invite her to class was inspired by other celebrity responses to the coronavirus quarantine.

"I'd seen everyone from Jimmy Fallon and John Krasinski and others online trying to make the best of the situation for others by hosting guest Zooms.  It's been fun in a different way getting to know these famous people in their at-home setting - that's what gave me the thought.  So, I decided to show them someone in a related field, allow them to get to know them in a more personal way and ask questions.  And right now, through online resources, anyone from anywhere in the world can join you where you are.  Many celebrities and community leaders are making themselves available as a way of supporting others.  That's why I thought Alyssa might be up for it, and I'm so glad she was."

Mostly, Walker said, she hopes the visit will stay with her students.

"I wanted to give our students a happy memory from this time.  I love thinking that if Alyssa goes to Mars in 2033, and my students see her, they'll remember that she visited our class one day during the Coronavirus quarantine."