Exploring the Cosmos with Janelle Wellons: How Art Inspires Science

When aerospace engineer Janelle Wellons arrived at Taipei American School, she brought with her a sense of awe, wonder, and possibility that quickly spread across campus. From October 21 to 23, the Lead Operations Mission Engineer at ispace in Japan inspired students, parents, and faculty to see how creativity and curiosity drive innovation in every field that asks big questions. 

Her visit, supported by a PTA Programs Grant, was designed to encourage students across all divisions to think boldly and to understand that exploration, whether in science or in life, begins with imagination and courage. 

A Mission Grounded in Curiosity 

Janelle began her visit with a Parent Coffee. Introducing the session, Middle School Dean of Student Life Garrett Hayes said, “We’re thrilled to welcome Janelle to TAS. Her visit is about more than rockets and robots. It’s about the human side of discovery: curiosity, resilience, and learning through mistakes.” 

Speaking to a full audience of TAS parents, Janelle shared her story from a curious child in New Jersey with no family background in STEM to earning her degree at MIT and becoming a flight director on missions to the Moon. She reflected on the value of learning through challenges and reminded parents that discovery is rarely a straight path. 

She encouraged parents to protect their children’s imagination. “Let them be curious,” she said. “Encourage them to read, play, and experiment. That’s how creativity begins, and it’s what we rely on most when we’re solving hard problems in space.” 

Across the Divisions: Learning Through Exploration 

After connecting with parents, Janelle turned her attention to the heart of her visit, the students themselves. Over three days, she met with more than 400 students across the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools. Each division was treated to its own opening keynote, held in the Guy Lott Auditorium, titled “Chasing Stars and Defying Gravity.” 

 Janelle’s time on campus extended far beyond the stage. In the Middle School, she led a hands-on workshop at the Harmony Theater, where students in Grades 6 to 8 participated in a “Martian Delayed Communication Challenge.” Through this simulation, they explored the real-life challenges of space missions and discovered how strategy and teamwork enable exploration across vast distances. After school, she met with the Tiger Bots Robotics Team in the Tech Cube to discuss innovation, problem-solving, and persistence in technical fields. 

In the Upper School, Janelle joined AP Environmental Science classes and used smaller drop-in lunch sessions and break times for conversations. Before leaving, she made time to share her reflections on how the school’s creative learning environment mirrors the spirit of discovery found in space research. 

The Art of Exploring the Cosmos 

Her visit concluded with a final keynote in the Harmony Theater, where parents, students, and employees filled the seats as Janelle shared how art and creativity shape the future of science and technology. Introducing the event, Garrett Hayes reflected on the impact of her visit: 

“Janelle has shown us that exploration is as much about imagination, perseverance, and purpose as it is about science. Through her visit, she reminded us what it means to live our school’s mission—to pursue knowledge with curiosity, act with integrity, and engage with the world as thoughtful global citizens.” 

Through vivid storytelling and powerful imagery, Janelle described how inspiration from the arts has helped engineers solve complex problems, from origami-inspired starshade designs for telescopes to coded parachutes used in Mars missions to spacesuits designed by women engineers for women astronauts. 

She also spoke about her early work on NASA’s Cassini Mission to Saturn, where she helped operate cameras that captured some of the most iconic images of the planet and its rings. “When the final signal from Cassini disappeared, I realized that spacecraft represent more than technology,” she said. “They represent people coming together to make the impossible possible.” 

Her closing message to students and families was clear: “Creativity pushes the boundaries of humanity. We don’t go alone—we go together.”

Conversations That Matter 

Between keynotes and class visits, Janelle made time for quiet, meaningful moments with students who asked honest questions about failure, balance, and self-confidence. One Upper School student asked, “What do you do when you’re overwhelmed?” 

Janelle smiled and replied, “I take a step back and remember that being good enough is enough. In spaceflight, perfection is often the enemy of progress.” 

Reflecting on her time at TAS, she added, “This week reminded me to keep my own sense of childlike wonder. TAS students are full of potential, and their creativity and curiosity are the same qualities that drive exploration in my field.” 

Reflections of Our Mission 

Janelle Wellons’s visit embodied Taipei American School’s mission to cultivate an enduring commitment to learning, personal well-being, and service while modeling the Schoolwide Learning Outcomes that define a TAS education: critical and creative thinking, collaboration, well-being, and global citizenship. 

The atmosphere during her final keynote reflected just how deeply her message resonated. From the youngest student to the most seasoned educator, the audience remained fully engaged until her very last word. Her infectious spirit and passion for exploration filled the room, leaving a sense of wonder that lingered long after the applause ended. 

Even after three packed days on campus, Janelle stayed to meet individually with community members, answering questions, signing programs, and taking photos with students and families who lined up to thank her for sharing her story. Her warmth and generosity of spirit captured exactly what she had urged students to embody: curiosity, courage, and kindness in equal measure. 

In her closing remarks, Middle School Science Teacher Kristen DePasse reflected on the week’s significance: 

“Through her stories and her work, Janelle has shown us what it means to live our school’s mission, to pursue knowledge with curiosity, to act with integrity and compassion, and to engage with the world as thoughtful global citizens.” 

Special thanks go to Middle School faculty members Garrett Hayes and Kristen DePass for their thoughtful planning and coordination, which made this extraordinary visit possible. Demonstrating our Schoolwide Learning Outcomes in action, Upper School faculty member Anisha Vinod collaborated with Garrett and Kristen to make this a truly whole-school experience. She facilitated small-group sessions that allowed Upper School students to engage in deeper conversations with Janelle about life’s big questions, including, “How do you find your motivation when you’ve lost it?” 

TAS also extends its gratitude to the PTA Programs team, whose support and vision make opportunities like this possible. This visit would not have happened without their commitment to TAS values and their courage to invest in experiences that bring world-class expertise and inspiration to the entire community. 

Thank you, Janelle, for inspiring us all to keep exploring and for reminding our community that curiosity and creativity can carry us anywhere, even to the stars.