>>> HELLO.
>> HI, EVERYONE.
>> HI!
>> I'M OJ TUCKER.
>> BRITNEY SIMMS.
>> JENNIFER SCOTT WILLIAMS, BORN
IN OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA.
>> I'M SHAWNE AN ASSISTANCE
ENGINEER IN PASADENA.
>> I'M NORMAN PHELPS, AND I LIVE
IN OR ORLANDO, FLORIDA AND WORK
HERE AT THE KENNEDY SPACE
CENTER.
>> I'M THE CHIEF TECHNOLOGY GIST
IN FLORIDA, AND I'VE KNOWN SINCE
7 YEARS OLD, I WANTED TO WORK
FOR NASA.
>> LAUNCH OPERATIONS AND
INTEGRATION ENGINEER.
>> I'M DR. LYNNAE QUICK.
I'M A PLANETARY SCIENTIST, AND I
STUDY THE PLANETS AND MOONS IN
OUR SOLAR SYSTEM.
>> I'M CURRENTLY AT NASA GODDARD
SPACE FLIGHT CENTER WORKING AS A
SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST.
>> I'M BILL, FROM SAN ANTONIO,
TEXAS, AND I WORK AS A LAUNCH
TRAJECTORY ANALYST AT THE
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER.
>> AND I'M BRE HILL, AND I'M A
PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST AT
NASA HEADQUARTERS AND YOUR HOST
FOR TODAY'S EPISODE OF "NASA
SCIENCE LIVE," AND WE ARE
THRILLED FOR YOU TO JOIN US
TODAY AS WE CELEBRATE BLACK
HISTORY MONTH.
BEHIND EVERY NASA SUCCESS STORY,
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE
IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE, AND TODAY,
NOT ONLY ARE WE CELEBRATING THE
CONTRIBUTIONS OF
AFRICAN-AMERICAN TRAILBLAZERS,
BUT THOSE FOLLOWING IN THEIR
FOOTSTEPS, HELPING NASA TO REACH
NEW HEIGHTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF
ALL HUMAN KIND.
SPEAKERS LIKE MARY JACKSON,
CATHERINE JOHNSON, BUFORD, AND
RAY PAVED THE WAY FOR
GENERATIONS OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS
IN STEM CAREERS, AND WHILE THEY
MAY HAVE BEEN THE FIRST, THEY
CERTAINLY WILL NOT BE THE LAST.
WHILE SPEAKING OF THE NEXT
GENERATION OF BLACKS IN STEMS,
WE ARE HERE WITH DAISHA
WILLIAMS, JPL ENGINEER,
EDUCATOR, AND CREATORMENT THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, I'M
HAPPY TO BE HERE.
>> TELL US WHAT YOU DO AND WHAT
INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME AN
ENGINEER?
>> AN AN STRIEL ENGINEER WORKING
TO CREATE A SAFER PROCESS TO
TRAIN TECHNICIANS THROUGHOUT THE
COVID-19 PANDEMIC, AND WHAT
INSPIRED ME TO BE AN ENGINEER
WAS IT INITIALLY STARTED WITH A
CONVERSATION WITH MY MOM.
SHE ASKED ME, WHAT I WANTED TO
BE WHEN I GREW UP, AND SHE LED
ME DOWN THE PATH OF ENGINEERING,
AND I ALWAYS HAD A KNACK FOR
LEARNING HOW THINGS WORKED AND I
WAS JUST ALWAYS CURIOUS ABOUT
THE WORLD AROUND ME, AND SO HERE
I AM.
>> SO WHAT DOES AN INDUSTRIAL
ENGINEER DO?
WHAT MADE YOU PURSUE THAT FIELD?
>> GOOD QUESTION.
SO AN INDUSTRIAL ENGINEER IS
SOMEONE WHO LOOKS AT COMPLEX
PROCESSES AND TRIES TO OPTIMIZE
IT OR MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT.
THE REASON I WENT DOWN THIS PATH
IS BECAUSE I'M A PEOPLE PERSON.
INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING ALLOWS
YOU TO DIP YOUR TOE IN BOTH
ENGINEERING AND THE BUSINESS
WORLD.
I GET AN OVERARCHING
UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THINGS ARE
BUILT AND THE DIFFICULTY THAT
COMES WITH IT, BUT I'M ALSO
LOOKING AT HOW CAN WE MAKE THIS
THE FASTEST WAY POSSIBLE?
HOW CAN WE MAKE IT -- HOW CAN WE
NOT OVERSPEND AND BE
RESOURCEFUL?
I LOVE BEING THE MIDDLE PERSON
IN BETWEEN THOSE TWO AREAS.
>> OKAY.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT, BUT
THE WORD ON THE INTERNET IS THAT
YOU WERE DOING SOME COOL
OUTREACH.
IT YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THAT?
>> YES, BRE.
SO I RAP ABOUT MATH AND SCIENCE.
I WANT TO CREATE A MORE FUN AND
RELATABLE LEARNING EXPERIENCE
FOR STUDENTS SO I'M MAKING DOPE
MUSIC ABOUT STEM TOPICS.
>> LET'S CHECK OUT A FEW OF YOUR
CLIPS.
♪ ENERGY AND FORCE MATHEMATICS
♪ STUDYING THE BIG BANG
♪ OBSERVING SOMETHING AND IT MAY
BE NOTHING ♪
♪ OKAY.
OKAY ♪ SOLVE FROM THE LEFT
TO THE RIGHT ♪
♪ COMPONENTS MULTIPLY
♪ DIVIDE, ADD, AND SUBTRACT AND
RUN IT BACK ♪
♪ I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU HOW TO
DO THIS ♪
♪ HOW TO CONVERT UNITS
♪ SCHOLARS RAISE YOUR HANDS
♪ WE'RE TOO BUSY SCHOOLING
♪ WE GOT TO GET THESE GRADES
♪ A DEGREE WE ARE PURSUING
♪
>> OKAY.
SO WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I WAS IN
SCHOOL AND NEEDED MATH
MENTORSHIP!
THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS FOR THE
KIDS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO DO THIS
KIND OF WORK OUTSIDE OF YOUR
JOB?
>> OH, SO GROWING UP, MATH AND
SCIENCE CLASSES WERE VERY HARD
FOR ME, BUT AS I GREW IN THE
FIELD, I REALIZED IT WAS LESS
ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT WERE
PRESENTED, AND IT WAS MORE SO
THE LANGUAGE THAT IT WAS TAUGHT
TO ME IN.
I COULDN'T NECESSARILY
UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE WORDS THAT
THEY WERE USING BECAUSE I WAS
NOT ALWAYS TAUGHT BY PEOPLE WHO
UNDERSTOOD ME OR HAD THE SAME
BACKGROUND AS ME SO I'M TRYING
TO BUILD THAT BRIDGE WHERE I'M
CREATING MORE RELATABLE LEARNING
RESOURCES.
>> NOW, YOU KNOW THAT DIVERSE
REPRESENTATION IN STEM IS
IMPORTANT.
CAN YOU TELL US WHY IT IS
IMPORTANT TO YOU?
>> DIVERSE REPRESENTATION IS
IMPORTANT BECAUSE OF
OPPORTUNITY.
IT IS NOT ABOUT FORCING EVERYONE
TO GO INTO A STEM CAREER.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE KNOW
THAT IT'S AN ACTUAL OPTION.
A LOT OF TYPES TIMES I'M TELLINS
WHERE I WORK AND WHAT I DO, AND
SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT
NASA IS.
I FEEL EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE
LAUNCHES, TO EXPERIENCE THE
WONDERS OF SPACE EXPLORATION,
AND SO THAT'S WHY DIVERSITY IS
úIM.
>> WELL, THAT IS WONDERFUL!
NOW, WE KNOW MANY OF YOU AT HOME
HAVE QUESTIONS TO ASK.
WE WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN IN
THE CONVERSATION.
PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO SEND
YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT WRITING IN
THE COMMENT BOX WHEREVER YOU ARE
STREAMING AND USING #ASKNASA ON
SOCIAL MEDIA.
DAISHA WILL ANSWER ALL YOUR
QUESTIONS AT THE END OF THE
SHOW.
PLEASE STAY TUNED.
WE'LL SEE YOU IN A BIT, DAISHA.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> THANK YOU.
JUST LIKE DAISHA, WE HAVE MANY
AMAZING PEOPLE WORKING ACROSS
THE AGENCY 24/7 TO HELP US
ACHIEVE THINGS BEYOND
IMAGINATION.
LIKE GETTING TO MARS.
LET'S HEAD OVER TO COOPER, JPL
SCIENTIST, HELPING PROTECT MARS
FROM EARTH'S BACTERIA WHEN THE
NASA PERSEVERANCE ROVER LANDS ON
THE RED PLANET FEBRUARY 18th.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK.
>> IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT
WE SEND A ROVER THAT'S CLEAN AND
WE MAKE SURE IT DOES NOT
CONTAMINATE MARS.
I PROTECT MARS FROM EARTH
BACTERIA.
THIS IS SLATED TO GO TO MARS,
COLLECT SAMPLES SO EVENTUALLY WE
CAN BRING SAMPLES BACK TO EARTH
AND DETERMINE FOR THE FIRST
TIME, DID LIFE EXIST ON MARS?
THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE CAN
BUILD THAT'S STERILE SO WE TAKE
SWABS AND WIPES OF THE
SPACECRAFT AS IT IS BEING BUILT,
PUT IN AN OVEN, PUT IN VARIOUS
CHAMBERS AND CLEANING ROOMS TO
MAINTAIN A LEVEL OF CLEANLINESS.
IF WE FIND SOMETHING ON MARS, WE
HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS
SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY CAME
FROM MARS AND NOT SOMETHING THAT
HITCHED A RIDE.
THIS IS WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS.
>> OH.
THIS IS COOL.
>> AND IN THIS LAB, WE LOOK
SPECIFICALLY AT SPORES.
SPORES ARE THE MICROORGANISMS
THAT CAN ACTUALLY SURVIVED IF IT
MADE IT ON THE SPACECRAFT, THE
JOURNEY THROUGH SPACE, THE
VACUUM, AND IT IS VERY HUMBLING
TO BE A PART OF THIS BIG PROJECT
BECAUSE THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF
PEOPLE THAT HAVE TO COME
TOGETHER AND BUILD A SPACECRAFT.
THERE'S NO ONE PERSON THAT CAN
SAY, I DID THIS, I MADE THIS
HAPPEN.
IT'S ALWAYS A YES.
I OWE IT ALL TO CARL SAGMOS AND
WATCHING THE COSMOS.
IT WAS THE START OF MY PASSION
OF SCIENCE EDUCATION.
WE ARE CITIZENS OF THE UNIVERSE.
WE HAVE TO BE GOOD AMBASSADORS
AS WE EXPLORE OTHER PLANETS AND
OTHER MOONS, AND SO IT IS THE
RIGHT THING TO DO P TO DO.
>> WE ARE NOW JOINED BY
DR. CHARLES NORTON, ASSOCIATE
CHIEF TECHNOLOGY AT JPL AND
FORMER SPECIAL ADVISER FOR SMALL
SATELLITE MISSIONS AT NASA
HEADQUARTERS.
CHARLES, THANK YOU FOR JOINING
US TODAY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, BRE, IT IS
REALLY GREAT TO SEE YOU.
>> IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU.
SIR, CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT YOURSELF AND WHAT MADE
YOU BECOME INTERESTED IN SCIENCE
AND SPACE?
>> YES.
WELL, REALLY, BRE, I SEE MYSELF
AS A PRODUCT OF THE SPACE AGE.
I'M ACTUALLY ORIGINALLY FROM
LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK, AND MY
MOTHER THERE WAS A MATHEMATICS
TEACHER, BUT MY DAD ACTUALLY
WORKED ON THE LUNAR EXCURSION
MODULE IN BETH PAGE SO EVEN
THOUGH, SADLY, HE PASSED AWAY
NOT LONG AFTER I WAS BORN, I'M
SURE THEY BOTH HAD A BIG
INFLUENCE ON MY DECISION TO
STUDY SCIENCE ENGINEERING AND GO
INTO THIS FIELD.
>> THAT IS FANTASTIC.
NOW, BEFORE YOU WERE THE CHIEF
TECHNOLOGIST, YOU WERE AN
ADVISER FOR SMALL SATELLITE
MISSIONS.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THAT MEANS?
>> YES, EXACTLY.
SO I SPENT A COUPLE OF YEARS AT
NASA HEADQUARTERS, AND IN THAT
ROLE, I WAS REALLY RESPONSIBLE
FOR HELPING THE AGENCY
UNDERSTAND AND LOOK AT HOW SMALL
SATELLITES COULD PROVIDE AND
INNOVATIVE APPROACH TOWARDS A
DISCOVERY AND EARTH,
ASTROPHYSICS AND PLANETARY
SCIENCE AS WELL AS ROLES SMALL
SATELLITES HAVE TO IMPACT
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT.
THESE SMALL SATELLITES, THEY ARE
REALLY QUITE AMAZING.
YOU KNOW, THEY ARE AS SMALL AS 1
KILOGRAM AND 10 CENTIMETERS ON
THE SIDE, HOLD THEM IN YOUR
HAND, AND OTHERS CAN ACTUALLY BE
THE SIZE OF A SMALL
REFRIGERATOR, AND THEY REALLY
ARE DISRUPTIVE INNOVATION
ALLOWING US TO INCREASE OUR SIZE
RETURN, AND DIVERSITY OF
MISSIONS WE CAN PERFORM, AND THE
RATE AND SPEED IN WHICH WE CAN
DEVELOP AND LAUNCH AND FLY THESE
MISSIONS, AND THEY ARE ALSO
INSPIRING THE COMMUNITY TO THINK
ABOUT NEW OBSERVATION TECHNIQUES
TO HELP IMPROVE OUR
UNDERSTANDING OF NOT JUST EARTH,
BUT THE UNIVERSE AROUND US.
>> HUH, NOW, HOW CAN THE USE OF
SMALL SATELLITES GIVE MORE
PEOPLE, INCLUDING
AFRICAN-AMERICANS, ACCESS TO
MORE -- TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
THEIR PLANET AND SPACE?
>> YEAH.
THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
WELL, YOU KNOW, THESE SMALL
SATELLITES REALLY STARTED OUT IN
UNIVERSITIES AS A TRAINING
MECHANISM TO HELP STUDENTS AND
OTHERS LEARN ABOUT SPACE AND HOW
TO DEVELOP THESE MISSIONS
THROUGH A HANDS-ON APPROACH.
AGAIN, SO, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE
IMPORTANT WAYS IN WHICH THESE
SMALL SATELLITES ADDRESS THAT
QUESTION IS TO HELP DEMOCRACY
SPACE.
REALLY, NEARLY ANYONE NOW AT THE
UNIVERSITY OR OTHER INSTITUTIONS
CAN PARTICIPATE IN DEVELOPING
THESE MISSIONS AND ADVANCING OUR
KNOWLEDGE OF THE PLANTS IN SPACE
AND WORLD AROUND US, AND THE
COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE DEVELOPING
THESE SMALL MISSIONS ARE REALLY
JUST VERY WELCOMING AND
SUPPORTIVE, AND THEY ARE ALWAYS
LOOKING TO GROW NOT JUST THE
NUMBER OF MISSIONS, BUT ALSO THE
NUMBER OF AND VARIETY AND
DIVERSITY OF PEOPLE THAT ARE
INVOLVED.
>> CAN YOU SHARE WHY
REPRESENTATION IN THE STEM FIELD
IS SO IMPORTANT IN THE BLACK
COMMUNITY?
>> IT REALLY IS VERY IMPORTANT.
YOU KNOW, I REALLY SEE IT AS
ANOTHER AVENUE TO SORT OF
SHOWCASE THE WEALTH AND
IMAGINATION AND CREATIVITY THAT
THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY
HAS.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN THIS IN
OTHER AREAS THROUGH MUSIC AND
ART AND DANCE AND POETRY, AND
SO, REALLY, IT IS JUST ESSENTIAL
FOR THE BROAD COMMUNITY NOW TO
SEE THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT
AFRICAN-AMERICANS ARE MAKING AND
HAVE MADE, BOTH IN THE PAST AND
PRESENT, AND NOW THAT YOU KNOW
WE'RE RECOGNIZING AND
CELEBRATING THE CONTRIBUTIONS
MORE DIRECTLY, IT'S REALLY
HAVING A POSITIVE IMPACT IN
GROWING OUR PRESENCE IN STEM.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, JUST REALLY
PROUD TO BE A PART OF THE
COMMUNITY AND HELP ADVANCE THIS
CAUSE.
>> CHARLES, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR YOUR INSIGHT.
WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK WITH BETH
CHARLES AND DAISHA TO ANSWER
YOUR QUESTIONS AT HOME.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION ASKING
QUESTIONS USING #ASKNASA IN THE
COMMENT BOX ANYWHERE ON SOCIAL
MEDIA.
BEFORE WE ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS,
LET'S MEET RENEE HORTON, AN
ENGINEER AT NASA'S ASSEMBLY
FACILITY IN NEW ORLEANS.
SHE'S MAKING HISTORY, PREPARING
ASTRONAUTS FOR THE FIRST JOURNEY
TO THE MOON.
>> WE ALL WANT TO GO BACK TO THE
MOON.
GETTING US BACK TO THE MOON IN
THIS GENERATION SPARKS A WHOLE
NEW GENERATION OF EXPLORERS.
HI, MY NAME IS DR. KAY RENEE
HORTON, AND I'M BOOTS ON THE
GROUND FOR SLS.
WE WELD THE LIQUID HYDRATION
TANKS AND IT IS THE LARGEST
WELDING TOOL IN THE WORLD,
STANDS 170 FEET TALL AND
DIAMETER OF 26.7 FEET.
AS A QUALITY ENGINEER, WE MAKE
SURE THEY MEET REQUIREMENTS THEY
HAVE TO MEET.
THEY DO AN ULTRASOUND TO MAKE
SURE THERE'S NO DEFECTS IN THE
WELD, TO GET UP AND PULL UP NEWS
ARTICLES AND TALKING ABOUT WHAT
YOU DO AT WORK IS AMAZING FOR
ME.
I REALLY LOVE THE DETECTIVE
NOVELS, AND I'M AN AVID READER
AND WRITE CHILDREN'S BOOKS IN MY
SPARE TIME.
THEY ARE ABOUT DR. H. EXPLORING
THE UNIVERSE.
EACH DAY, I WALK IN THE FACTORY,
I KNOW I'M PUTTING FOOTPRINTS IN
HISTORY, AND THAT'S A PRETTY BIG
DEAL FOR ME.
>> AS YOU'VE SEEN, THERE ARE
MANY PEOPLE WORKING ON AMAZING
THINGS HERE AT NASA.
FOR THOSE WATCHING AT HOME A
PART OF THE EQUIPMENT, WELCOME
HERE, CHARLES AND DAISHA, WHAT
KIND OF ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR
THOSE LOOKING TO FOLLOW YOUR
FOOTSTEPS.
CHARLES, WHY DON'T I START WITH
YOU?
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO
THAT?
>> YES, BRE.
I THINK FROM MY EXPERIENCE, I
THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO
BUILD MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS
WITH COLLEAGUES.
THERE'S SO MUCH PEOPLE CAN LEARN
FROM EACH OTHER, AND FOR
INDIVIDUALS, ALWAYS BE WILLING
TO SHARE THEIR EXPERTISE AND
KNOWLEDGE AND, OF COURSE, YOU
KNOW, THESE DAYS, YOU KNOW, ORAL
AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION SKILLS
ARE SO IMPORTANT IN
COMMUNICATING AND CONVEYING YOUR
IDEAS.
YOU KNOW, IT IS AN IMPORTANT
STRENGTH TO CONTINUOUSLY
DEVELOP.
>> AND DAISHA, DO YOU HAVE ANY
THOUGHTS TO ADD?
>> IMREA.
MY ADVICE IS TO JUST GO FOR IT.
DON'T BE AFRAID OR BACK DOWN
FROM CHALLENGES.
KNOW THAT YOU BELONG, AND
THERE'S SPACE FOR YOU IN ANY
PLACE THAT YOU WANT TO BE,
ESPECIALLY HERE AT NASA.
>> THANK YOU, GUYS, SO MUCH FOR
THE ADVICE, AND NOW WE HAVE SOME
WORDS OF WISDOM FROM PEOPLE ALL
ACROSS NASA.
>> MY ADVICE TO ANYONE WHO WANTS
TO PURSUE A CAREER IN STEM --
>> BE CURIOUS ABOUT THE WORLD
AROUND YOU.
>> NEVER GIVE UP.
>> BELIEVE YOU CAN DO ANYTHING
YOU WANT TO DO.
>> WORK HARD.
>> PERSEVERANCE IS THE KEY.
>> BE WILLING TO PUT IN THE TIME
AND EFFORT IT TAKES TO GET THE
KNOWLEDGE AND TRAINING THAT YOU
NEED.
>> MAKE SURE YOU PUT YOUR BEST
FOOT FORWARD.
>> DO YOUR BEST.
>> FIND YOUR PATH.
>> FIND A MENTOR.
>> ASK QUESTIONS WHATEVER YOU
HAVE THEM.
>> THEY GIVE GREAT ADVICE, IT
MIGHT NOT BE WHAT YOU WANT TO
HERE HEAR, BUT IT'S FOR YOUR OWN
GOOD.
>> DON'T LET ANYONE DISTRACT YOU
FROM MEETING YOUR GOALS IN LIFE.
>> DON'T BE AFRAID TO TRY AND
FAIL SOMETIMES, BUT IF YOU FAIL,
LEARN FROM IT, AND USE THAT
KNOWLEDGE TO FIND THE PATH TO
SUCCESS.
>> I WOULD NOT BE WHERE I AM
TODAY IF NOT FOR HAVING SUCH
GREAT MENTORING BEGINNING IN
HIGH SCHOOL AND GOING ON
THROUGHOUT GRADUATE SCHOOL, AND
OBTAINING MY Ph.D..
>> AND CONTINUING TO CHALLENGE
YOURSELF.
>> TAKE A LOT OF MATH AND
SCIENCE.
>> AND FIND WAYS TO INTEGRATE
MATH AND SCIENCE IN YOUR
EVERYDAY PLAY TIME, IN YOUR
ADVENTURES, AND EXTRACURRICULAR
ACTIVITIES.
>> SEEK OUT OPPORTUNITIES THAT
WILL LEAD YOU ALONG THIS PATH
AND NEVER GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAM.
>> PURSUE THEIR DREAMS.
>> GO FOR THE DREAM OF YOURS.
>> DREAM BIG, AGENT ON IT, AND
HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE YOU HERE AT
NASA.
ARE >>> SO LET'S JUMP INTO OUR
QUESTIONS.
OUR FIRST QUESTION IS FROM XX
GAMER 519XX ON YouTube.
HE ASKS, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU
GIVE TO THOSE ASPIRING TO WORK
AT NASA ONE DAY?
CHARLES, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO
FIRST?
>> YEAH, I THINK FOR THOSE
LOOKING TO WORK AT NASA, YOU
KNOW, THERE'S MANY INTERNSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE ACROSS
THE AGENCY, AND MY ADVICE IS
THAT'S A GREAT FIRST STEP TO
UNDERSTAND THE AGENCY AND FOR
THE AGENCY TO UNDERSTAND YOU AND
TO FIND A GOOD WAY OF HAVING A
MATCH WITH YOUR INTEREST AND
THOSE OF THE AGENCY.
>> AND DAISHA, DO YOU HAVE ANY
ADVICE TO GIVE XXGAMEER519XX.
>> YES.
I AGREE WITH WHAT WAS SAID.
I WAS PERSONALLY AN INTERN AT
JPL, AND SO THAT IS TRUE, BUT
BEFORE I GOT THE INTERNSHIP, MY
BEGINNING YEARS IN COLLEGE, I
MADE SURE I GOT A LOT OF
EXPERIENCE BEFORE, YOU KNOW, I
EVEN SUBMITTED.
I WANTED TO BE PREPARED FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY, AND SO DO WHATEVER
YOU CAN DO TO GAIN EXPERIENCE IN
THE FIELD THAT YOU WANT TO, AND
SO CREATE YOUR OWN PROJECTS, GO
INTO THE CLASSES THAT ARE
TALKING ABOUT OR TEACHING ABOUT
THE ROLE YOU WANT TO GO INTO.
>> THANK YOU.
ANGELA ON FACEBOOK ASKS, HOW CAN
I JOIN NASA PROJECTS?
CHARLES, DO YOU HAVE ANY
SUGGESTIONS?
>> WELL, OH, SURE, WELL, OF
COURSE, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE MANY
WAYS.
ONE WAY IS TO BE EMPLOYED BY
NASA, AND THEN IDENTIFYING A
PROJECT OF INTEREST YOU WANT TO
WORK WITH, BUT I WOULD SAY
EQUALLY IMPORTANT, IF YOU HAPPEN
TO BE AT A UNIVERSITY OR MAYBE
EVEN AT A COMPANY WOULD BE TO
SEEK OUT THE PRINCIPAL
INVESTIGATOR FOR A MISSION OR
ANY OF THE KEY TEAM MEMBERS AND
JUST COMMUNICATE YOUR INTERESTS
AND BACKGROUND.
I'M SURE IN MANY MECHANISMS AND
IN MANY WAYS, THEY COULD FIND AN
APPROPRIATE WAY TO HELP YOU
CONTRIBUTE TO THE MISSION.
>> AND, DAISHA, HOW ABOUT YOUR
ANSWER?
>> YES.
SO AT MY UNIVERSITY, WE HAVE
MULTIPLE TEAMS THAT WORK ON
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES WHERE
WE ARE SUBMITTING PROPOSALS AND
EXAMPLES FOR DIFFERENT MISSIONS
THAT WE HAVE GOING ON, AND SO I
KNOW THAT WE HAVE A MARS ROVER
TEAM AT MY SCHOOL, AND DIFFERENT
PROJECTS LIKE THAT THAT CAN GET
YOU, YOU KNOW, WORKING ON NASA
THINGS BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY GET
EMPLOYED BY NASA.
>> MARYANN ON FACEBOOK ASKS,
WHAT CAN MEMBERS OF THE
NON-BLACK INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF
COLOR COMMUNITY ASK TO DO TO
ADDRESS INEQUALITY IN INDUSTRIES
OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LIKE
NASA AS MEMBERS OF THE LAY
PUBLIC?
DAISHA?
>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
A LOT OF TIMES, I FOUND -- I'VE
FOUND IT WHEN I COME IN CONTACT
WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT BLACK,
AND THEY ARE WELCOMING IN CLASS.
THAT'S SUPER IMPORTANT.
THEY ARE WELCOMING WHEN I COME
INTO WORK.
THAT'S SUPER IMPORTANT.
YOU HAVE CONVERSATIONS.
LET ME KNOW WHAT OPPORTUNITIES
ARE COMING UP.
I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF TIMES
THERE'S A SECRET SOCIETY WHEN IT
COMES TO STEM OPPORTUNITIES AND
JUST MAKING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES
WIDESPREAD AND KNOWN TO ALL
COMMUNITIES, I THINK, WOULD BE
VERY HELPFUL.
>> AND, CHARLES, HOW ABOUT YOU?
>> YEAH.
I WOULD AGREE WITH DAISHA.
I MEAN, I KNOW THAT WE BOTH HAVE
BEEN PARTS OF SOCIETIES LIKE
NSB, NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK
ENGINEERS, BUT THERE'S ALSO
OTHER TECHNICAL SOCIETIES FOR
MANY DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUPS,
AND THERE ARE PROFESSIONALS IN
THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN
CERTAINLY ACT AS MENTORS AND
HELP YOU REACH THAT
STEPPINGSTONE OF GETTING
INVOLVED WITH A NASA PROJECT OR
EVEN -- NOT EVEN A MISSION, BUT
THE RESEARCH AND SCIENTISTS THAT
COME ALONG WITH DATA ANALYSIS,
AND SO I WOULD DEFINITELY WORK
THROUGH THE COMMUNITY OF THE
ORGANIZATIONS.
>> NOW, THIS QUESTION IS FOR
DAISHA.
MISTY ON FACEBOOK ASKS, FEMALES
ARE STILL A MINORITY IN MOST
STEM FIELDS.
WHAT WOULD YOU TELL YOUNG LADIES
TODAY ABOUT STEM FIELDS IN ORDER
TO BUILD THEIR INTERESTS?
>> OH, JUST DON'T BE AFRAID.
I GREW UP PLAYING BASKETBALL,
WHICH IS MALE DOMINATED FIELD,
AND SO DON'T BE AFRAID, DON'T
SIT IN THE BACK OF THE CLASS,
SIT IN THE FRONT OF THE CLASS.
ASK QUESTIONS.
YOU BELONG THERE.
YOU MAY NOT KNOW THE ANSWER.
DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU'RE NOT
SMART.
IF YOU HAVE THE QUESTION, I'M
SURE A BUNCH OF OTHER PEOPLE IN
THE CLASS HAVE THAT QUESTION AS
WELL.
KNOWING THAT YOU BELONG AND
HAVING THAT CONFIDENCE I THINK
WILL GET ALL OF US WOMEN
THROUGH.
>> SO I HAVE A QUESTION FROM
SISORI ON YouTube.
CAN ANYONE WHO IS UNDERGRADUATE
WORK AS AN INTERN AT NASA?
>> YEAH --
>> CHARLES?
>> YEAH.
[LAUGHTER]
>> OKAY.
GO AHEAD.
OF COURSE, YES.
>> OKAY.
SO OUR NEXT QUESTION IS
DeSHAUN.
>> SORRY, ONE MORE TIME.
>> YEAH, I MEAN, I'VE HAD
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS MYSELF
AND EVEN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
THAT I'VE MENTORED OVER THE
YEARS.
YOU KNOW, MANY OF THEM HAVE GONE
ON TO BECOME PROFESSORS AT
UNIVERSITIES AND HAVE GONE ON TO
OTHER INSTITUTIONS.
IT'S DEFINITELY POSSIBLE.
THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO APPLY FOR
THOSE ROLES.
>> AWESOME.
NOW, DeSHAUN FROM FACEBOOK
ASKS, WHAT'S THE BEST ADVICE TO
GIVE FUTURE NASA EMPLOYEES WHEN
THEY ARE STRUGGLEING, AND HOW CN
THAT EMPLOYEE OR EMPLOYEES
SUCCEED IN LIFE?
>> MY --
>> CHARLES?
>> OH.
>> DAISHA, START IT.
>> WELL, ONE THING I DID AS A
NEW EMPLOYEE IS IF I FOUND
SOMEONE WHO WAS DOING SOMETHING
INTERESTING OR EVEN JUST SOMEONE
SITTING AND EATING LUNCH, I
WOULD ASK TO HAVE LUNCH WITH
THEM AND SIT THERE AND HAVE A
30-MINUTE INTROTO WHAT THEY WERE
DOING, AND THAT IS HOW I'VE BEEN
ABLE TO GROW IN MY CAREER IS
LEARNING ABOUT WHAT'S OUT THERE
AND JUST GETTING A LITTLE TASTE
OF PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCES.
>> AND CHARLES?
>> OH, DAISHA'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
I MEAN, I FOUND OVER MY CAREER
AT NASA THAT, YOU KNOW,
LITERALLY ANY QUESTION YOU HAVE
CAN BE ANSWERED.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO EVEN BE
SCIENCE RELATED.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MUCH
CURIOSITY IN THIS COMMUNITY
THAT, YOU KNOW, ONE COULD VERY
EASILY GET TO UNDERSTAND BETTER
HOW THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE
AGENCY'S MISSION AND TO NEVER BE
CONCERNED ABOUT THAT IF THEY
HAVE ANY STRUGGLES OR
DIFFICULTIES BY JUST SIMPLY
REACHING OUT AND TALKING WITH
YOUR COLLEAGUES.
IT COULD BE ABOUT ANY SUBJECT.
PEOPLE ARE JUST VERY WARM AND
WELCOMING HERE.
>> LEE ON YouTube ASKS, WAS
THERE A SPECIAL MOMENT OR EVENT
THAT PUSHED YOU IN THE DIRECTION
OF PURSUING THE CAREER AT NASA?
DHAS,DAISHA, CAN I START WITH Y?
>> YES.
SO WHAT PUSHED ME INTO THIS
CAREER WAS ACTUALLY BEING A PART
OF THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK
ENGINEERS.
BEFORE BEING A PART OF THIS
ORGANIZATION, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT
WORKING AT NASA JPL WAS EVEN
POSSIBLE.
GOING TO THOSE CONFERENCES AND
SEEING THAT THERE ARE
OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE, THAT'S
WHAT KIND OF PUSHED ME TO MAKE
THIS A GOAL TO WORK AT NASA.
>> AND, CHARLES?
>> YEAH.
PROBABLY DATING MYSELF A LITTLE
BIT.
IT WAS BY ACCIDENT, BUT I
REMEMBER WHEN THE NETSCAPE
NAVIGATOR BROWSER WAS FIRST
RELEASED, ONE OF THE FIRST
INTERNET BROWSERS, AND I WAS
LOOKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO
WORK IN HIGH PERFORMANCE
COMPUTING AND NASA AT THE TIME
HAD SUPER COMPUTERS AMONG THE
TOP 500 FASTEST IN THE WORLD.
I DID A SEARCH LONG BEFORE
GOOGLE WAS INVENTED, AND I FOUND
THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK
WITH JPL, AND, YOU KNOW, I HAD
PLANNED TO ACTUALLY SPEND A FEW
YEARS AT THE LAB, AND THEN GO
AHEAD AND LOOK TO BECOME A
PROFESSOR, BUT I'M STILL AT JPL
AND ENJOYING IT.
MAYBE I'LL PURSUE THAT IN
RETIREMENT SOME DAY.
>> WELL, THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE
HAVE FOR QUESTIONS TODAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US
TODAY, CHARLES AND DAISHA.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> THANK YOU, BRE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
>> AND MANY THANKS TO ALL OF YOU
WHO HAVE JOINED US FROM HOME.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT SOME OF THE AMAZING PEOPLE
FEATURED IN TODAY'S EPISODE,
PLEASE VISIT GO.NASA
GO.NASA.GOV/BLACKHISTORYMONTH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US
IN THIS EPISODE, AND WE'LL SEE
YOU NEXT TIME.
♪