In Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare asks, “What’s in a name?” suggesting that a name alone does not define who someone will become.

But for one Missouri S&T student who has spent years chasing opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), his name may have been more fitting than anyone could have predicted.

Chase Stem, a senior in aerospace engineering from Columbia, Missouri, is a member of the university’s world-champion Mars Rover Design Team and now serves as CEO of the student-run volunteer organization that designs and builds new competition-ready rovers each year.

“It’s fair to say I’ve always been passionate about chasing STEM, even before I understood what the acronym STEM meant,” Stem says. “I’ve always been intrigued by space exploration and the technology that pushes the boundaries of what we once thought was possible. That’s really what led me to major in aerospace engineering and join the Mars Rover Design Team.”

A graduate of Hickman High School in Columbia, Stem says his interest began with a fascination with spacecraft and science fiction. A longtime Star Wars fan, he became interested in how engineers design systems capable of exploring beyond Earth.

“Wanting to explore beyond our world is part of human nature,” he says. “I want to be part of the work that makes that possible and helps develop the materials and systems that keep spacecraft safe and able to operate.”

As CEO of the S&T team, which competes annually at the University Rover Challenge at the Mars Desert Research Station in Utah, Stem oversees all aspects of the organization, from technical coordination and design progress to outreach and public relations.

The group includes more than 100 students from engineering and science majors and operates much like a small engineering company, with specialized sub-teams responsible for different parts of the rover.

“We follow a one-year design cycle,” Stem says. “We start by designing systems and putting them through reviews, then move into manufacturing, assembly and finally testing to see how our ideas translate into real-world performance. It mirrors industry work, and there’s a real sense of urgency.”

Stem says the rover’s competition tasks are designed to reflect real Mars mission challenges, which makes the work all-the-more meaningful.

“We complete tasks similar to robotic arm operations and soil analysis, just like what a rover might do on Mars,” he says.

One of the most exciting moments each year, according to Stem, is the rover reveal, when months of design and manufacturing become visible.

This year’s reveal is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, March 7 in Missouri S&T’s Innovation Lab, where the team will introduce both the new rover and its name. Stem says the team will apply the lessons learned from last year’s design to the new rover, and it will have significant differences.

“We never want to show up with the exact same rover,” he says. “Every year is about improving and pushing the design further while building on past successes.”

Stem says his experiences on the design team closely reflect the theme of this year’s Engineers Week, which is “Transform Your Future.”

“Being part of this team has transformed my future,” he says. “It has helped me grow professionally and personally, and now, as a team leader, I get the opportunity to help other students grow the same way.”

The philosophy is summed up in a phrase often said by members of the Mars Rover Design Team.

“We always say we’re not just building a rover,” Stem says. “We’re building people.”

About Missouri S&T

Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) is a STEM-focused research university of over 7,000 students located in Rolla, Missouri. Part of the four-campus University of Missouri System, Missouri S&T offers over 100 degrees in 40 areas of study and is among the nation’s top public universities for salary impact, according to the Wall Street Journal. For more information about Missouri S&T, visit www.mst.edu.