From Mars rovers to next-generation space telescopes, female scientists, engineers and technicians around the globe are actively pushing the boundaries of space discovery.
Students of all ages are invited to meet and learn about the exciting work of these talented women during the third Women in Space Exploration (WiSE) Talks series, that kicks off Monday and continues through Wednesday. The virtual event is free and open for anyone to attend.
The WiSE series will feature leading engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) who work with robotic explorers on Mars, and an outreach scientist at the Space Science Telescope Institute who will share the exciting mission of the James Webb Space Telescope. The speakers will answer questions and offer guidance to students interested in STEM careers.
Speakers include Keri Bean, deputy leader planner for the Mars Curiosity Rover at NASA JPL; Kelly Lepo, education and outreach scientist at the Space Telescope Science Institute; and Jenna Cadwallader, flight technician at NASA JPL.
Bean grew up learning everything she could about the weather on Earth. Then in college, she discovered you could study the weather on other planets. In this talk, slated for Monday, learn how she went from studying Martian weather to driving Mars rovers.
Lepo works to support outreach efforts for the James Webb Space Telescope. She will discuss infrared astronomy, the big questions that Webb will help answer, and what to expect as we wait for Webb’s first science images this summer during her talk set for Tuesday.
Cadwallader is a Jill of all trades who attended a trade school for aviation maintenance and landed her dream job building robots for space exploration. In this talk, set for Wednesday, find out how she worked her way up to become the primary drill bit technician for NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover.
The talks will broadcast live via Zoom at 10 a.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Each one-hour session will include a presentation and Q&A. During the Q&As, young women will be given priority to ask questions.
Hosted by the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems (PISCES), an aerospace agency at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, this event provides a window into the personal and professional lives of women working in space careers through live presentations and extended Q&As. The series is made possible with support from the Hawaii Science and Technology Museum.
For more information or to register, visit pacificspacecenter.com/wisetalks.