Share your Science: A Collection of Stories from Scientists: Recent Episodes
StoryCorps
“Share your science” is a new story collection from scientists at the NASA Ames Research Center. The Ames Science Directorate comprises of researchers from the Earth, Space, and Biosciences Divisions. We are sharing this collection to showcase the breadth of fascinating research and to capture personal stories, challenges, discussions about diversity, science communication, and special moments scientists would like to share along their journey. Our aim is to foster a welcoming space and inspire everyone who loves science and enjoys learning about the people behind great discoveries!
Alicia Hoffman is a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. She is studying air quality and how to model the chemistry that impacts our air, using the Community Multi-scale Air Quality Model — developed by the Environmental Protection Agency. Prior to attending UW Madison, she worked with Dr. Don Blake at the University of California – Irvine studying landfill emissions for her Master of Science (M.S). She earned her Bachelor of Science (B.S) in Chemistry and Anthropology from Beloit College. Over the summer, Alicia joins the SaSa (Student Airborne Science Activation) program as a graduate student mentor for the first undergraduate cohort, all students from SaSa come from minority-serving institutions. More information about SaSa can be found at nasa.gov/sasa.
Stephanie Marie Ortiz Rosario is an undergraduate student and Physics major from the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez. Over the summer, Stephanie will be participating at SaSa, the Student Airborne Science Activation, summer program. SaSa is hosting 25 early-career undergraduates (first- and second-year students) from Minority Serving Institutions over the 8-week summer research experience.
David Moore is a first-year graduate student at UCLA. He is studying tropical cyclones, also known as typhoons or hurricanes, on Earth. In his graduate research work, David is researching how to bridge the gap between planetary atmospheres and meteorology on other worlds -- looking at the development of tropical cyclones on terrestrial and aqua-covered exoplanets. Can tropical cyclones happen on exoplanets, too? And if so, what would they look like?
Over the summer, David is a graduate student mentor for the SaSa, Student Airborne Science Activation, summer program. SaSa is hosting 25 early-career undergraduates (first- and second-year students) from Minority Serving Institutions that are part of the 8-week summer research experience.
Jonathan Hale is one of 25 students in the new Student Airborne Science Activation (SaSa) program at the NASA Ames Research Center. Students at SaSa are undergraduates from minority-serving institutions, competitively selected across the United States. Over the course of 8-weeks, the students will gain a hands-on research experience in all components of a scientific research campaign, including flying onboard the NASA P-3 research aircraft to collect land, ocean, and atmospheric measurements. In this conversation, Jonathan discusses his double major (!) engineering journey and what he most looks forward to in the program and in his future career in aerospace engineering.
Kennedi White is one of 25 students starting in the new Student Airborne Science Activation (SaSa) program at the NASA Ames Research Center. Students at SaSa are undergraduates from minority-serving institutions, competitively selected across the United States. Over the course of 8-weeks, the students will gain a hands-on research experience in all components of a scientific research campaign, including flying onboard the NASA P-3 research aircraft to collect land, ocean, and atmospheric measurements. In this conversation, Kennedi discusses her science journey and what she most looks forward to in the program and in her career.
Dr. Jared Broddrick is a systems biologist who is passionate about solar system exploration and NASA’s Human Research Program. Broddrick participated in the Human Exploration Research Analog where he lived in a 600-square-foot box with three other researchers for 45 days. This mission was designed to serve as an analog for the rigors of real space exploration missions.
As a mission scientist Dr. Yasaman Shirazi sends rodent research experiments to the space station. In her role she noticed how much of a gap there was when working with engineers and scientists. Engineers thought scientists make everything difficult. Scientists thought engineers ruin experiments. Dr. Shirazi has helped facilitate the two disciplines working together to make anything and everything work.
At 5 years old Liz Pane knew she had to go to space camp. As the years went on she continued to develop her passion through education and internships and finally landed at NASA Ames. Liz is a scientist, engineer, science communicator, and project manager who has developed and managed over 25 space biology, non-rodent payloads (cells, tissues, microorganisms) that she and her team have sent to the International Space Station.
In this interview, Senior Engineer Alok Shrestha discusses his career path as both engineer and scientist, now working for the Airborne Science Facility at NASA Ames. He also discussed how his background helped aid the 2015 earthquake recovery in Nepal, using his expertise to analyze high-resolution commercial satellite photos to help guide relief work on the ground.
Next Generation Sequencing Scientist Dr. Lovorka Degoricija works on NASA's GeneLab Project where she studies biology that changes in the environment of space. She extracts DNA from spaceflight samples that have been returned to Earth and processes them so sequencing techniques can read the data.
Dr. Laura Iraci is a research scientist in the Earth Sciences Division at NASA Ames, where she leads a group focusing on air and where human pollution goes. In this interview, we discuss her early interest in high school chemistry ("turning stinky chemicals into nice smelling ones") paving the way towards studying atmospheric science -- i.e. gases and their chemical reactions in the atmosphere.
NASA Atmospheric Scientist Dr. Caroline Dang analyzes particles in the atmosphere and compares them with particles collected from flight observations to better understand aerosols in Earth's atmosphere and how they interact with clouds and radiation.
Ryan Scott followed a nontraditional path to NASA Ames Research Center. From his passions for social justice and rugby to his start in exercise physiology and teaching college anatomy, Ryan is a biological research scientist. He works to get bio-specimens from spaceflight missions into a bio-repository at NASA Ames. From here, the research community has free access to these data in order to maximize science from surplus samples.
From a childhood filled with archeology lessons from his dad, to graduate studies measuring gases from active volcanoes, and then designing early warning systems to detect volcanic activity, Dr. Florian Schwandner's life goal has been to make a difference in people's lives.
As a theoretical planetary scientist, Dr. Natasha Batalha does not work in a lab or stare down the eye of a telescope. Natasha's work involves taking basic physical concepts and folding them into computer programs that help us predict a planet's climate or atmosphere.
Trained as a cell and development biologist, Dr. Sigrid Reinsch works on spaceflight experiments with frogs, zebrafish, and tardigrades in order to understand the biology of the effects of the space environment on these organisms.
Dr. Mary Beth Wilhelm is a research space scientist at NASA Ames Research Centre. In this interview, Mary Beth talks about lab hopping, visiting five continents in five months, winning the Ames Early Career Researcher Award, and her hopes for the future. We also discuss the astrobiology research that has taken her to some of the coldest and driest places on Earth.
Listen in as NASA biologist Niki Parenteau describes her science journey from farmer's daughter to studying life forms in the lab and mentoring students, to designing biology experiments for astronomers searching for life outside Earth's solar system.
Interested in building an instrument to fly to Mars? Listen in as Dr. Dave Blake - race car engine builder, biologist, geologist, and spacecraft instrument designer extraordinaire - describes his science journey.
An astrobiologist, a bioinformation, and a microbial ecologist are just a few of the passions that make up Parag Vaishampayan's science journey. At NASA's Ames Research Center, Parag is space biology portfolio scientist.
Dr. David Des Marais is a senior space scientist at NASA Ames Research Center. In this interview, we talk about his research into the role of carbon on Earth and in space, what Mars could teach us about life on Earth, and the excitement of watching the Mars rovers land. Finally, we discuss how space exploration brings people together, uniting curiosity and science.
Dr. Rama Nemani, Senior Earth Scientist at the NASA Ames Research Center, works on ecological forecasting. In this interview, we discuss how Rama’s career trajectory moved from farming to supercomputing, NASA Earth Exchange (NEX), the difference between simulation modeling and data analysis, and what’s hiding in the woods in Montana.
Dr. Diana Gentry, a research scientist at NASA Ames Research Center, studies aerobiology (microbes in clouds), biodiversity, biomaterials, and biological systems. Diana describes herself as at the nexus of both science and engineering where she speaks both languages and translates back and forth, helping scientists and engineers better understand what is required for a successful mission.
Dr. Matthew Johnson's research is in atmospheric chemistry, a branch of atmospheric science, which looks at the composition and chemistry of Earth's atmosphere, such as aerosols and trace gas emissions, and how particles may impact human health. Dr. Johnson's research interest is in combining remotely-sensed, modeling, and "in situ" (meaning locally, or on-site) data to evaluate aerosol and trace gas emissions, transport, chemical transformation, and deposition.
In this interview, we discuss Dr Johnson's science journey from his early days living along the coast in North Carolina to now working as a scientist at NASA Ames, and his recent scientific publication using remote sensing data from NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory, estimating carbon dioxide emissions during the 2018 Kilauea volcanic eruption.
Dr. Dan Whitt studies currents and the circulation of nutrients in ocean ecosystems. Dan describes his Ph.D. research on internal waves ‒ oscillations found where the ocean is stratified by density ‒ and compares this effect to an expertly-poured Arnold Palmer. The drink should form two layers, as the iced tea is less dense than sugary lemonade: “wobble the glass and you will see the interface slosh and overturn and mix the tea and the lemonade together ‒ this is what’s going on in the ocean interiors.” In this interview, we discuss how Dan got into oceanography, how modelling can help us predict the effects of climate change, and starting work at NASA Ames Research Center during a pandemic.
Dr. Ella Sciamma-O’Brien is a research scientist in laboratory astrophysics and planetary science. As a member of the Astrophysics and Astrochemistry Laboratory at NASA Ames Research Center, Dr. Sciamma-O’Brien has been working on the Titan Haze Simulation (THS) experiment, developed on the NASA Ames Cosmic Simulation Chamber (COSmiC). In this interview, we chatted about Ella’s incredible journey in engineering and physics, applying as an astronaut at the European Space Agency, and her love for science and studying other worlds.
Dr. Naseem Rangwala is an astrophysicist and project scientist for the SOFIA mission. SOFIA, or the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, is a modified Boeing 747 airplane carrying a large telescope. SOFIA observes the universe through long infrared wavelengths. As project scientist, Dr. Rangwala is responsible for managing the impactful science of the observatory. In this interview, we discuss what makes SOFIA’s research so unique, Naseem's science journey, and why space science resonates so well in the general public.
Dr. Charles Gatebe's research focus is on clouds aerosols, ecosystem structure and function, albedo, and feedbacks to climate. In this interview, we chat about his science journey pursuing science, starting with his interest in studying Kenya’s air pollution, and how his research eventually led him to NASA.
Dr. Chris Potter is a Research Scientist in Earth Science at the NASA Ames Research Center. In this interview, we discuss his research that is part of the collective project, the rapid response and novel research in earth science, which explores connections between COVID-19 and the environment. We also chat about field campaigns and working as a scientist at NASA Ames.
Dr. Tori Hoehler is a scientist at NASA Ames, with a background in chemistry and oceanography. He now studies the interaction of microbial communities with their environment, with an emphasis on the habitability of environments beyond Earth and the detectability of any life that may reside there.
Christina Lim is an Experiment Support Scientist with the Cell Science Project and the Biospecimen Sharing Program at Paragon-Tech, who work with NASA Ames. She is also a passionate science communicator and has worked in public outreach and education. In this interview, we chat a bit about her research and what advice she would give to scientists curious about becoming science advocates, or in their early-career stages in science.
In this interview, Dr. Meloe S. Kacenelenbogen discusses her expertise in ‘aerosols,’ suspended particles in the atmosphere. These small particulates can affect air quality and human health and can also impact the Earth’s radiation balance. We also discuss why she decided to move from fluid mechanics to environmental science, challenges and opportunities she has encountered, and how studying atmospheric science can help inform us about the Earth's health and shifting climate.
Dr. Egle Cekanaviciute is a Principal Investigator and Research Scientist in the Radiation Biophysics Laboratory at the NASA Ames Research Center. She is also one of the Course Directors for STAR (Spaceflight Technologies, Application and Research), an intensive training course that trains the investigators working in space biology, preparing them for spaceflight experiments. In this interview, we talk about Egle's research in Space Biosciences, and her inspiring journey moving from Lithuania to America to study neuroscience at Harvard University.
Dr. Penny Boston is a woman of many talents! A notable academic with a background in microbiology and geology, Penny has investigated microbial life in the lab and in the field as a speleologist -- someone who studies cave science. Most recently, Penny was Director of NASA's Astrobiology Institute at the Ames Research Center. In this interview, we talk about her career in astrobiology, why studying subsurface microbiology in extreme underground conditions may be our best bet searching for life on other worlds, and the case for being flexible if considering a career in STEM. With apologies for the slight overlap, due to connectivity issues
Dr. David Smith is a microbiologist at the NASA Ames Research Center. David led the design, construction, and validation of two NASA Balloon Program payloads carrying biology experiments (E-MIST and MARSBOx) as well as the use of a bio-aerosol collector on NASA’s C-20A aircraft. In this interview we delve discuss David's science journey, working across the Agency at Kennedy, Ames, and on detail at HQ, as well as, the importance for scientists to be communicators and overcoming imposter syndrome.
Vince Ambrosia is a Senior Research Scientist at NASA Ames, Adjunct Faculty Member in the Department of Applied Environmental Sciences, College of Science, California State University – Monterey Bay, and also serves as the NASA Applied Science Program, Associate Program Manager for Wildfire at NASA HQ. In the interview, Vince shares his career in science over the last 40 years and the portfolio of projects related to Earth Observations for wildfire application developments. We also discuss the August 2020 California wildfires through the focal point of research and how wildfires have changed over the last 20 years.
How will we search for life beyond Earth? If we do find life, what are the implications? As an Astrobiologist, Dr. Alfonso Davila travels to 'planetary analogue environments' that are remarkably similar to areas on other planets -- Chile's Atacama Desert is the driest place on Earth, and an analog for Mars' rugged, arid terrain. Alfonso also discusses his science journey, challenges, mentorship, and science communication.
AnnaClaire Marley is a summer intern at NASA's Ames Research Center investigating snowpack variability in the Navajo Nation. She recently graduated from UC Santa Barbera with a Master’s in Environmental Science and Management studying climate change and environmental data analysis. In this conversation, we discuss her background, research interests, and experiences working with snowpack monitoring and modeling in collaboration with the Navajo Nation Department of Water Resources.
Dr. Ved Chirayath is both director and lead research scientist for NASA’s Laboratory for Advanced Sensing (LAS) at NASA Ames in Mountain View, California. His research is focused on inventing new instruments and technologies to map the ocean and planetary bodies. Dr. Chirayath is also the chair emeritus of the NASA Ames LGBTQ+ advisory group and serves as a Special Emphasis Program Manager for NASA HQ’s Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity. In this interview with Ved, we explore his research background and experience, as well as discuss outreach, inclusion, and engagement with underrepresented groups in STEM at NASA.
Dr. Amber McCullum is an Applied Research Scientist for the Bay Area Environmental Research Institute (BAERI) at NASA Ames who is currently co-developing a drought tool with the Navajo Nation Department of Water Resources that includes remote sensing and ground-based data. She is also a coordinator for NASA’s Indigenous People’s Capacity Building Initiative (IP), which is led by Dr. Cindy Schmidt. The goals of the IP centers around community, listening, and relationship building. One of the primary objectives is to provide remote sensing trainings to the indigenous community through a focus on place-based approaches. The IP also seeks to increase indigenous representation and knowledge systems at NASA. In this interview with Amber, we discuss her experiences associated with this work, including project outcomes and further connections with the Navajo Nation.