I’m Jackson Osborn!
Working on the Arctic sea ice was a wild experience that reminded me that Earth is a powerful living spirit that is in a constant state of flux. As a researcher it was our job to listen to the story that the Arctic offered in the form of data.
My name is Jackson Osborn, I am from Colorado. I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Colorado Denver in May 2017. I am currently an Engineer for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Physical Sciences Laboratory (NOAA PSL). I design and develop environmental measurement instrumentation to measure physical properties of the Earth System and deploy instruments to the field.
I am inspired by the resilience of the Arctic and the life it sustains.
Polar exploration requires extreme patience and diligence. Every detail must be carefully planned and considered. For example, the MOSAiC Expedition took 12 years to plan!
I was a participant of the Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC). I participated on Leg 4 of MOSAiC as a member of Team Atmosphere. My job was to set up and maintain some of the meteorological instrumentation sites.
I really enjoy developing instruments. There is something about realizing an idea and making it come to life. It is even more of a treat to see the equipment in action in the field. I hope that some day my work will take me back to the Arctic or even Antarctica. As some would say, I have been bitten by the 'Polar bug'.
At an Indigenous STEM camp
I am an enrolled member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Being indigenous has provided me with the reverence for the environment for which I am researching. I grew up in Denver, Colorado and I did not have a direct connection to my tribal community. It wasn't until I was in college that I started to question my identity and my indigenous roots. I have since been in the process of learning my culture and healing by teaching my son.
My hobbies include: snowboarding, skateboarding, tinkering with electronics, techno-art. I love being outdoors. My chosen profession is connected to my love for tinkering and fuels my passion for engineering. I enjoy applying this passion to interactive techno-art projects that also serve as outreach tools for future engineers and scientists.
My son inspires me to continue striving to become the best version of myself.
In Native culture we often think about how our actions during our lifetime affect the generations that come after.
I hope that my actions can continue to heal our family from past trauma and provide inspiration for generations to come.
Getting here was not easy by any means but my hard work is paying off and it has been totally worth it.
Coming from a high school dropout, if I can do it, you can do it!
During the MOSAiC Expedition, it was reaffirmed to me how connected we are to our environment. We are all related! Working on the Arctic sea ice was a wild experience that reminded me that Earth is a powerful living spirit that is in a constant state of flux. This impermanence is what makes the Arctic so unique. As a researcher it was our job to listen to the story that the Arctic offered in the form of data. There were lessons that I took away such as the importance of being adaptable to changes and enjoying the little moments in life as they will soon come to pass.
For someone that wants to pursue engineering, I would say follow those dreams. Getting here was not easy by any means but my hard work is paying off and it has been totally worth it. When I started studying engineering, I had no idea that I would be doing any of the work I am currently involved in or where this work would take me. Coming from a high school dropout, if I can do it, you can do it!
