The Space Show Presents KATHRYN BOLISH, WEX Foundation, Friday, 11-21-25

Brief Summary:

The program focused on discussing the WEX Foundation’s educational programs, particularly their space STEM initiatives for K-12 students through their LCATS program, which provides free education and mentorship in space-related topics. The discussion covered the foundation’s approach to teaching mathematics and programming, as well as their collaboration with NASA and other aerospace companies to develop student projects and curriculum. The conversation concluded with an exploration of the program’s impact on student engagement and academic performance, while addressing challenges related to the COVID pandemic, funding, and policy issues in public education.

Detailed Summary:

David, John Jossy, and Kathryn Bolish, our guest from the WEX Foundation, discussed the WEX Foundation, its projects, and its namesake, Judge Waldo Jimenez. Kathryn explained the power outages at her office causing WIFI issues for this broadcast. We lost audio and video with our guest a few times during the program but were fortunate that we were able to reconnect with a minor delay. We do apologize for the audio/video issues during this discussion.

Kathryn discussed her passion for mathematics and her plans to pursue a PhD at UTSA. John Jossy and I welcomed Dr. Ajay Kothari to the meeting and others as they joined us. I provided a formal introduction for Kathryn Bolish, a mathematician pursuing a PhD, who discussed her passion for mathematics and its applications in space travel. They explored the disconnect between theoretical and numerical mathematics in education, with Kathryn highlighting the importance of teaching math theory and logic from an early age to improve understanding and reduce remedial needs. Before commencing with the full program, I announced upcoming guests and program changes, including a fundraising campaign after Thanksgiving which is essential for supporting The Space Show for 2026.

Kathryn discussed the importance of teaching propositional logic and set theory to students early on to help them understand math as a tool rather than a monster. She explained how WEX Foundation provides free space STEM education to K-12 students, focusing on lunar exploration. The program, called LCATS, accepts 30-40 students annually for a three-year commitment, meeting bi-weekly Saturdays at San Antonio area universities. Kathryn emphasized the need for teachers to understand basic programming and math theory to effectively teach these subjects. The discussion also touched on the challenges of AI in education, with Kathryn advocating for using AI as a tool for learning rather than for cheating. David inquired about the program’s impact on students’ general academic performance, including students not in a WEX program but in the class with a WEX student. Kathryn replied that it has led to increased interest and engagement in STEM subjects among participating students.

Kathryn explained that the WEX Foundation’s LCATS program, which was piloted by NASA in 2017, faced challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic and staff changes in 2020. She emphasized the importance of ensuring that the program’s content remains relevant to the space industry and highlighted the need to find suitable locations and teachers willing to conduct classes on Saturdays. Kathryn also discussed the foundation’s approach to connecting young students with space industry experts, noting that while the experts may initially seem intimidating, the students often view their feedback as valuable learning opportunities. She mentioned that the foundation plans to finalize a comprehensive LCATS curriculum by May 2026, which will then be used to expand the program to other regions.

Kathryn discussed the benefits of exposing students to industry challenges, noting that while some SMEs may be harsh, the experience helps build student confidence. She shared an example of a student project that led to a 3D printer prototype for lunar construction, now displayed at a museum. David raised concerns about magical thinking among graduate students and asked how Kathryn addresses it with young minds, to which she responded that embracing the “magic” of unknown possibilities is crucial for innovation, drawing parallels to historical achievements like the moon landing.

The meeting discussed the NASA-funded New Worlds program, which trains pre-service educators in lunar habitat design. Kathryn explained that the program teaches students about lunar lava tubes and challenges them to design habitat systems. Ajay raised concerns about landing on the lunar surface, suggesting that the program could help address this issue by developing solutions for landing on uneven terrain. Marshall inquired about the transition from Earth-based biospheres to lunar habitats, and Kathryn mentioned that the program partners with experts in this field to provide students with relevant constraints and knowledge. The conversation ended with a reminder that the show had a strict 60-minute time limit.

Kathryn explained that her parent company, Astroport, evaluates student proposals for space-related projects by assessing their feasibility for terrestrial demonstrations before advancing to lunar applications. She noted that while Astroport works with major aerospace companies like Boeing and SpaceX, WEX focuses on space STEM education and collaborates with these organizations through mentorship and partnerships. Kathryn also mentioned that WEX operates from the same building as Astroport and occasionally hosts engineers to help students brainstorm solutions for their projects, while acknowledging the challenges of addressing policy and regulation issues in their curriculum.

Kathryn explained that WEX Foundation’s space education programs are structured to be self-sustaining and low-cost, allowing them to continue operations despite NASA’s education budget cuts. She clarified that while students can propose their own ideas for lunar projects, the program focuses on teaching established concepts like lava tube habitation and letting students develop their own solutions. The discussion concluded with Ajay offering to share a paper about space exploration with Kathryn, who expressed gratitude for the collaborative spirit among the participants.

This program featured a discussion with Kathryn from the WEX Foundation, who shared insights about her math-focused educational programs in San Antonio. She explained how her mathematical background supports her work in program management and curriculum development, despite not directly using advanced math in her current role. The conversation highlighted the diversity of her student cohorts and the collaborative nature of her programs, which bring together students of different ages and backgrounds. The discussion concluded with questions about the demographics of her students and plans for program expansion, as well as a brief conversation about the challenges of public education and the role of money in society.

Special thanks to our sponsors:Northrup Grumman, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Helix Space in Luxembourg, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, Astrox Corporation, Dr. Haym Benaroya of Rutgers University, The Space Settlement Progress Blog by John Jossy, The Atlantis Project, and Artless Entertainment

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