Tully Mahr's Galactic Leap from Ormond to NASA
“My ultimate career aspiration has always been to work at a space agency. All through highschool, I aspired to be an astronaut.”
Tuesday 7 May 2024 • 7 minute read
Tully Mahr, a Gundungurra woman and Masters of Engineering student, has embarked on a journey that speaks to humanity’s timeless quest to understand the origins of life and the universe.
Tully’s fascination with machines and the skies began at an early age. On her 15th birthday, when she was first legally allowed to do so, she piloted Piper PA28 Warrior (light aircraft) solo across Camden, New South Wales.
But her dreams are far loftier than the heights reached by plane: “My ultimate career aspiration has always been to work at a space agency. All through high school, I aspired to be an astronaut.”
Tully’s fascination with machines and the skies began at an early age. On her 15th birthday, when she was first legally allowed to do so, she piloted Piper PA28 Warrior (light aircraft) solo across Camden, New South Wales.
But her dreams are far loftier than the heights reached by plane: “My ultimate career aspiration has always been to work at a space agency. All through high school, I aspired to be an astronaut.”
And this year, at age 21 Tully took a giant leap towards this ambition, joining the inaugural cohort of Indigenous Australians to intern at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California through a groundbreaking initiative by the National Indigenous Space Academy (NISA).
Tully has been delving deep into the mysteries of life in our oceans to understand the potential for life on other planetary bodies. This research, where she has been applying her skills in mathematics, chemistry and data science, holds the promise to further our understanding of life beyond Earth.
At Ormond College, Tully has also been a dedicated member of the MCRC and the Head of the Social Committee. She has had the chance to contribute to the vibrant atmosphere and hone her leadership skills, and the friendships forged, the experiences shared, and the dynamic social events she orchestrated for the College played an important role in encouraging her to pursue her dreams.
As Tully embraces this exciting chapter at NASA, she’s not only pushing the boundaries of human understanding but also championing the cause of diversity and representation in STEM fields. Her journey is a testament: the sky is not the limit; it’s just the beginning.
Tully has been delving deep into the mysteries of life in our oceans to understand the potential for life on other planetary bodies. This research, where she has been applying her skills in mathematics, chemistry and data science, holds the promise to further our understanding of life beyond Earth.
At Ormond College, Tully has also been a dedicated member of the MCRC and the Head of the Social Committee. She has had the chance to contribute to the vibrant atmosphere and hone her leadership skills, and the friendships forged, the experiences shared, and the dynamic social events she orchestrated for the College played an important role in encouraging her to pursue her dreams.
As Tully embraces this exciting chapter at NASA, she’s not only pushing the boundaries of human understanding but also championing the cause of diversity and representation in STEM fields. Her journey is a testament: the sky is not the limit; it’s just the beginning.