NASA astronaut Jessica Meir to deliver UC San Diego graduation address
Former Scripps Student Jessica Meir to Keynote UC San Diego Commencement
Jessica Meir, a UC San Diego alumna and NASA astronaut, will serve as the keynote speaker at the 2022 All Campus Commencement Ceremony. Meir, who earned her Ph.D. in marine biology from Scripps Institution of Oceanography in 2009, has had a distinguished career with several notable achievements.
Meir's astronaut ambitions were sparked as a first-grader when she drew a picture of an astronaut standing on the moon. This childhood dream became a reality when she was selected by NASA as an astronaut candidate in 2013. After initially being rejected for the 2009 class, she persevered and was eventually chosen.
Meir served aboard the International Space Station (ISS) from September 2019 through April 2020. During this mission, she participated with Christina Koch in the first-ever all-female spacewalks, marking a historic milestone for women in space exploration.
In addition to her ISS mission, Meir has engaged in various preparatory and simulation missions, including a NASA underwater habitat mission in 2002 and the European Space Agency’s 2016 CAVES mission, which simulated space exploration challenges.
Jessica Meir has also been selected for NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon and eventually enable human exploration of Mars. Her scientific background and spaceflight experience make her a key figure in this next phase of human space exploration.
Scripps Oceanography, where Meir studied, offers unparalleled education and training for the next generation of scientific and environmental leaders. The institution operates a fleet of four oceanographic research vessels and welcomes 500,000 visitors each year at Birch Aquarium at Scripps.
Meir will share her experiences and advice with the Class of 2022 at the All Campus Commencement Ceremony on June 11 at RIMAC Field. The ceremony will be livestreamed on UC San Diego’s Commencement website.
Meir's accomplishments have been praised by UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla, who stated that her work embodies the spirit of UC San Diego. Other Scripps alumni, such as Megan McArthur, Kate Rubins, and Deniz Burnham, have also made significant contributions in the field of space exploration.
Summary of key points:
- Jessica Meir, a UC San Diego alumna, will serve as the keynote speaker at the 2022 All Campus Commencement Ceremony.
- Meir studied marine biology at UC San Diego and earned her Ph.D. from Scripps Institution of Oceanography in 2009.
- She was selected as an astronaut candidate in 2013 after reapplying.
- Meir served aboard the ISS from September 2019 through April 2020, where she participated in the first all-female spacewalks.
- She has also been selected for NASA's Artemis program.
- Scripps Oceanography is one of the world's most important centers for global earth science research and education.
- The All Campus Commencement ceremony will be held on June 11 at RIMAC Field.
Jessica Meir's keynote speech at the 2022 All Campus Commencement Ceremony will narrate her journey from marine biology research at Scripps Institution of Oceanography to her groundbreaking space explorations as a NASA astronaut. Amidst her developments in space-and-astronomy, Meir leverages the technology she acquired in oceanographic research to contribute to NASA's Artemis program, which seeks to resume moon expeditions and enable human exploration of Mars.
