Bakkum Selected for Zero-Gravity Research Program

Amber Bakkum, Upper School science teacher at University School of Milwaukee, has been selected as one of just 12 teachers nationwide to participate in the Space for Teachers Program, a NASA-supported initiative that gives educators the opportunity to conduct real scientific research—in zero gravity.

Bakkum received the news that she had been chosen for the prestigious program in late September via email. “I was thrilled,” she said. “I love teaching science, but opportunities to actually do science are rare. This lets me scratch that itch—and bring the experience straight back to my students.”

A Path That Started Years Ago

Bakkum first learned about the program in 2023 after attending a Wisconsin Space Grant conference at UW–Milwaukee, paid for with funds from the USM Wright Family Distinguished Faculty award that she won in 2023. The conference connected her with her former college advisor at Carthage College and with a local teacher who had just completed the program. “She told me, ‘Amber, you should apply.’ At first I wasn’t sure I had enough experience, but the idea stuck.”

This past summer, Bakkum submitted her application and highlighted how she would use space research to enrich science learning at USM and beyond. Outreach is a core requirement of the NASA-aligned program. “NASA has always cared deeply about inspiring students and communities,” she said. “Sharing the excitement of science is something I’ve always been passionate about.”

Her proposal detailed not only how the project could enhance learning in her own classroom, but also how she could expand STEM outreach through USM’s Parent University event, local partnerships with MSOE and UWM, and broader community engagement.

As part of the experience, Bakkum attended an in-person training this November in Austin, Texas, where she met the full cohort of participating teachers. The group is intentionally diverse, representing a range of grade levels and subjects. “It’s not just physics teachers—there are arts teachers, music teachers, biology teachers. I’m really excited to hear everyone’s ideas,” she said.

What She’ll Study in Zero Gravity

As part of the program, Bakkum will design a small-scale research project to be flown aboard a commercial zero-gravity aircraft—a plane that climbs and dives in steep parabolas, creating 20 seconds of weightlessness at a time. The flight, currently scheduled for May 2026, will provide about 30 rounds of microgravity for data collection.

Her project focuses on UV-activated resins, materials commonly used for repairs. On Earth, these resins can form bubbles during the curing process due to buoyancy—bubbles that could weaken the material. In zero gravity, there is no buoyancy. “So the question is: What happens to the bubbles? Do we get fewer defects? Could this create stronger materials for use in spacecraft or satellites?”

Bakkum will cure the resin samples during the short windows of weightlessness, then bring them back to USM. “The plan is to involve students in the strength testing,” she said. Using compression, impact, torsion, and other tests—some built with equipment she learned to construct through national materials science workshops—students will help analyze how microgravity affects material strength.

She is also exploring ways to automate parts of the experiment using microcontrollers so that the resin cures at the precise moment gravity disappears.

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience—For Students, Too

While Bakkum has flown on a zero-gravity aircraft twice before—during college internships with NASA—this will be her first time designing her own experiment. Even after experiencing the famous “vomit comet,” she says the thrill hasn’t worn off.

“Floating is unlike anything else,” she said. “It feels like the moment you crest the top of a roller coaster—but stretched out for 20 seconds at a time.”

More than anything, she’s excited about what the experience will mean for USM students. “I hope this is the beginning of something much bigger,” she shared. “I want to bring more space science, more hands-on exploration, and more real research opportunities to our school.”

Funding for Bakkum’s participation is provided by the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium.