Carl Goodwin

Gamilaroi man
Master of Artificial Intelligence student
2024 National Indigenous Space Academy intern
Faculty of Information Technology, Monash University

Carl Goodwin, a proud Gamilaroi man, has always been captivated by space. So when the opportunity arose to intern at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a global leader in robotic space exploration, it was too good to miss.

The Lab’s mission also married well with his interests in artificial intelligence which led him to study Monash’s Master of AI – a course that blends creativity, cutting-edge technology and expertise on the latest trends shaping the world.

I watch heaps of space documentaries and read a lot of articles about it, so I’m really excited to intern at JPL and work in an area I have a genuine passion for. At the Lab, I’ll be part of the Earth Surface and Mineral Dust Source Investigation Mission (EMIT), helping to boost our understanding of Earth’s environment by analysing data captured aboard the International Space Station.

Carl believes that the National Indigenous Space Academy (NISA) is a crucial platform for boosting the visibility and voices of Indigenous peoples in STEM, fields they are notoriously underrepresented in. It’s a rare chance to discover how diverse, exciting and cross-cutting careers in science, technology, engineering and medicine can be.

One of the aspects Carl is most excited about is connecting with the other NISA interns and alumni who hail from across the country, representing different mobs and universities.

He’s also looking forward to the bootcamp where he’ll learn from academics across Monash University’s STEM faculties to prepare him for his journey.

I want future Indigenous STEM students like me to know there are so many incredible opportunities and support out there – you just have to reach for them. I would never have imagined I’d be interning at a NASA institution, but here I am!

Getting the most out of Monash

Carl’s academic journey at Monash has been nothing short of rewarding.

A highlight of his time has been working on MiniZinc, research software that was nominated as a finalist for the prestigious 2024 Australian Museum Eureka Prize Award.

Widely used in a range of sectors, MiniZinc is an innovative modelling language that allows organisations to easily solve optimisation problems using state-of-the-art algorithms – without the need for a PhD.

Carl’s coursework has also been super hands-on, involving extensive coding in Python, MiniZinc, FlatZinc and constraint modelling, as well as studies in AI fundamentals, mathematics, probability, statistics and project management.

Beyond the exceptional tutors and topics, his peers have been incredibly supportive, providing a collaborative environment to exchange ideas and knowledge freely.

Why AI?

Carl’s choice to study AI stemmed from his love for mathematics. But even though his course has enjoyably been maths-intensive, he has also had the chance to explore the creative applications of AI which has been a welcome and refreshing pivot.

Having started his AI journey in the second semester of 2023, Carl is still in the early stages of his research project. He is excited about the NISA experience, which he hopes will help refine his direction and generate new ideas.

Carl’s journey is a testament to the power of passion, perseverance and the importance of representation in STEM fields. His story is an inspiration to many, showing that with the right opportunities and support, even the sky isn’t the limit.