Nicole Willett

Nicole Willett is the Director of Education Programs for The Mars Society and has been the driving force behind its educational initiatives since 2012. With a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Science in Astronomy, Nicole has been a passionate advocate for human exploration of Mars since she first read the November 1988 National Geographic article titled Mission to Mars. Shortly after, she discovered Dr. Robert Zubrin's Mars Direct concept, which solidified her commitment to Mars advocacy.

Nicole plays a key role in promoting science and space education. She maintains The Mars Society's educational website, regularly writes for the Society's blog, The Red Planet Pen, and contributes articles to Marspedia.org and other online magazines.

She has spearheaded engineering design competitions for high school students worldwide, aiming to inspire the next generation of space explorers. The annual Mission to Mars Engineering Design Competition challenges students aged 13–19 to design an 18-month Mars surface mission, working alongside NASA scientists and aerospace engineers.

In addition to her ongoing projects, Nicole is developing a comprehensive Mars curriculum for K-12 students and collaborates with educators, organizations, and students on various global initiatives to advance space and science education.