How a 23-year-old became one of the top STEM innovators in the world

[Oct. 5, 2020: Chelsea Frisbie]

A lifetime of love for the great beyond and wanting to understand the mysteries of the universe led Elizabeth Gabler to this moment.

"I’ve had little astronomy moments growing up. I’ve got a photo of me when I was about four looking at Mars through a teeny tiny telescope," said Gabler. "I like understanding how things work and mysteries and wanting answers to all my questions. Space we know almost nothing about so I want to help discover more, learn how it works."

Gabler was recently named part of The Mars Generation's "24 Under 24" list and is considered one of the top young STEM innovators in the world.

When she was younger, Gabler posed some tough questions to the Placerville Community Observatory.

"He looks at me and goes, ‘You should become a docent.’ So I did, and it’s been nine years," said Gabler.

That internship experience led her to an internship then job at Aerojet Rocketdyne and Gabler was part of NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test team — as the youngest DART team member ever.

She's set to start a new job soon with McClellan Nuclear Research Center, a company that collaborates with NASA, SpaceX and the U.S. Department of Defense.

Gabler's has a longterm goal to eventually work for NASA: "I would like to put other people on the rocket. I’d like to be in the control room or building everything to make it happen."

But she also understands the importance of giving back and creating opportunities for young minds, just like she had. She hopes to have her own space science education program to get others excited about the cosmos.

"I had other people inspire me and I kind of want to pay that back. If I could get any other kids inspired the way I was, then I’m going to do it," Gabler said.

This Brighter Side of News post courtesy of WLWT 5.

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