No Time Like the Present — Introduce a Girl to Engineering!

This Feb. 24, on Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day, share encouragement and advice with the young people in your orbit to pursue roads — or careers — less traveled. Often, the road less traveled includes challenging STEM subjects like engineering.

Watch below as NASA Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche talks about how she discovered her path to engineering through a love of science and desire to solve complex problems.  

Links to Love (and Share):

• Facebook Live: Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day (5 p.m. CST, Feb. 24)
• Apply for a NASA internship
• Read What Made the NG-17 Launch Special for this Engineer and her Dad | NASA
• Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day: Meet Gateway’s Stephanie Buskirk Dudley
• Mary W. Jackson: NASA's First Female African American Engineer | NASA

Some Johnson team members took a moment to share their own experiences and inspiration with us on how they turned to engineering. Read on to learn from those who traveled that very path.

What inspired you to become an engineer? 

“I was inspired to become an engineer by both of my grandfathers. Growing up, as things or toys would break around the house and yard, my grandpas would just go get the tools and supplies to fix it and work until it was like new! I feel like they were always solving problems, and that they could literally do anything. One was a mechanical engineer, and the other was a civil engineer. Sometimes they even created things from scratch!

One day, my sister and I went to a circus, and we were enthralled with the people on stilts. We couldn’t stop talking about them when we got home. So, less than a week later, my grandpa made us each a pair of wooden stilts to walk around on in the driveway! As I got older and they asked for my help with things — even if it was just holding something — I felt like I was a part of making our little sphere of the world a better place. That’s what engineers do — solve problems to improve our lives. So, when it came time to choose a major, I chose engineering!”

- Molly Bannon/EX2 (Spacecraft Performance & Concept Engineering)

“I was inspired to become an engineer because I simply wanted to know how things work! If my dad was fixing something in garage, I wanted to help. What does that tool do? What does that part control? Can I take this object apart and put it back together? If I saw something on a TV show or movie, I wanted to figure out how it was done.

As I grew older, I found airplanes to be very interesting and sought out information on them, or TV shows or movies (hello, “Top Gun!”). When I was 10 years old, I watched John Glenn fly on the space shuttle and discovered that spacecraft were even cooler! Seeing John Glenn fly in space in the 90s again made me think, ‘If he can do it, I can do it!’ That was when I found that not only did I want to be an engineer, but I wanted to be an aerospace engineer. How could I learn about planes and spaceships, and how can I develop new technologies to go to distant places like Mars?”

- Becky Sewell/CK2

“Ultimately, love inspired me to become an engineer. No one in my immigrant family aspired to be an engineer. They were humble, hardworking cooks and clerks. It was always a treat whenever I had the chance to take a flight to visit family in faraway destinations. I loved being aloft in the clouds, where the struggles of being raised by a single mother in East Los Angeles were distant thoughts. 

It was loving serendipity that my aunt and cousin took me to Space Center Houston, where I tried on a Gemini helmet to ignite my love for space. I didn’t even know what an engineer was until I declared my undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering on a whim for a love for things in flight. With the struggles of being on academic probation three times and getting terminated from my first engineering-related job after six months, it took the loving support of family, educators, and community leaders to help me persevere in pursuing an engineering career to scratch that itch to solve problems for loved ones, to lean on my fascination with flight, and to explore the curiosities that are ever present in engineering endeavors.”

- Irene Chan/OP

“I would say a TV show, a movie, and an event … ‘Star Trek,’ ‘2001, a Space Odyssey,’ and the Apollo Moon landing. 

Since I can remember, I was interested in science fiction and space travel. When I was 6, my mom mentioned that there was a new TV show on about space called ‘Star Trek.’ I watched the first episode and was hooked. I thought it was the coolest show ever. This reinforced my general interest in space travel, but also gave me some frustration. After watching a number of episodes, I noticed that our current civilization was not yet at the ‘Star Trek’ level in space travel. About two to three years later, I saw ‘2001, a Space Odyssey.’ I thought this was a fantastic sci-fi movie that, while set in the future (2001), presented a possible, realistic near future for a space-faring Earth. This movie gave me more of an excitement that I could someday be part of getting mankind off our planet in a more permanent way. 

Finally, the Apollo program and the Apollo 11 lunar landing opened my eyes to the possibility of working for NASA and the U.S. space program.”

- Gerald Condon/EG5 

“As a child, I enjoyed math, and would work the problem until I got the solution. Working on math assignments was fun and never really felt like work. My mother challenged me with even more difficult problems.

Growing up on our family’s farm, there was often equipment that would break down. I worked with my dad and watched as he would dive into the problem and make a repair. Sometimes it was a temporary patch that would get the equipment back up and running until he could get a part replaced. He never gave up on a problem.

As a high school senior, I had to decide what major to pursue in college. Since I enjoyed math, I considered being a math teacher. My parents asked, ‘What do you think about being an engineer?’ I had no idea what an engineer was — had never heard of it. My dad explained it to me. I was fascinated.

When I had to decide which field of engineering, it didn’t take long. I looked up as a plane flew overhead. I said to myself, I want to work on airplanes. And that is how I decided to be an aerospace engineer.”

- Janella Youmans/OA

“My grade-school years coincided with the Voyager 1 and 2 probes’ encounters with the outer planets, the airing of the “Cosmos” TV series, and the first flights of the space shuttle. I was amazed and inspired by NASA and space exploration. From close-up photos of Jupiter and Saturn and their moons, to diagrams and specifications of spacecraft and rockets, to the history of flight and rockets … It all inspired me to learn more and follow a path into aerospace engineering. 

My sister tells me that after our family’s 1978 visit to Johnson Space Center, I tried to convince my parents to return the next day to do it all over again! That drive sustained me through years of math and science classes (and writing and humanities, too) and the ups and downs of the aerospace industry.  Now studying orbital debris for NASA — its sources, sinks, and mitigations — I continue to learn about past, present, and future spaceflight projects and how they advance and explore while using space responsibly.”

- John N. Opiela/X15-B9E, Jacobs JETS

What advice do you have for those in the Artemis Generation interested in pursuing an engineering career?

“You are already part of the Artemis Generation, and you’re never too young to get involved! There are many problems to solve, from keeping humans healthy during long-term spaceflight to understanding and providing habitable environment conditions — both on other worlds and here on Earth. Engineering provides the tools to create solutions for these challenges. You can help create the future by participating in NASA challenges, internships, citizen science, research, and other opportunities while still in school! Whether by participating on a robotics team or rocket club, or engaging in a project of your own design, seek opportunities to build and hone your skills, and keep asking questions.

- Kaitlin Lostroscio/ER7

“Expect to study hard and long. There are no shortcuts. There is a great deal to learn and, in some cases, to master. But the rewards are worth the effort. As an engineer, you will use your mind to make a contribution to society, the nation, and the world by creating ‘new things’ and maintaining/improving ‘existing things.’ Should you choose to work in the space industry, you will be part of ‘The Great Breakout,’ helping humanity to commercialize space and to leave its nest (again). You probably won’t get rich, but the job is very fulfilling.”

- Blair Nader/CK311

“Follow your dreams and your passion. Do not let anyone tell you that you cannot do it, not even yourself. You will likely hit roadblocks and challenges that test your resolve. Do not let that stop you. Look at the challenge and overcome it. Retake a class, get extra training, spend more hours on the problem, or find a new path to the same end goal. Do not be afraid to fail or to try again. Do not be afraid to put in the time and work to turn your dreams into a reality, because it is an incredible feeling when you do.”

- Kayla LaFrance/CX43  

“I always enjoyed math and the sciences in school and was fortunate to be able to participate in a week-long introduction to engineering event sponsored by a local college. The event introduced high schoolers to the variety of engineering degrees offered and showed me a path to combining my math skills and love of science.

I gravitated to electrical engineering and computer science — both of which dealt with computers, which were just expanding out into people’s homes when I was young. These fields also helped guide me into robotics research for my post-graduate degrees. Studying something I was interested in and enjoyed learning about helped in getting me through college and completing my Ph.D. I was then able to leverage off my computer skills to get my first job and, ultimately, my dream job of working in the space program.

I have now spent the past 26 years ensuring the robotic compatibility of the International Space Station equipment and science payloads and monitoring on-orbit robotic operations. For the Artemis Generation, I recommend finding a field that combines your interests and is something you enjoy so you can turn it into a lifelong career.”

- Monica Visinsky/ER3 and JE24

“This is a fantastic time to pursue an engineering career, particularly in the space program. NASA’s commercial engagement in space programs has really catalyzed progress toward human lunar missions with intent for a more permanent human presence on the Moon, as well as follow-on human Mars missions. 

Engineering taps on knowledge of physics and math, but also computer systems and programming. So, in that sense, I would recommend building a strong background in those subjects. When in college, if it is offered, I would recommend taking the engineering-oriented early coursework (e.g., physics for engineers, etc.). Also, I would recommend honing your skills in language and writing, which will help you clearly and concisely convey the formulation, results, and conclusions in your engineering analyses and will help you in writing good technical reports and papers. I would also suggest getting experience (or taking classes) in oral and written presentations. It is many times helpful to translate complex work into something more understandable to those not intimately involved in your work. 

Finally, I would suggest continuously evaluating your processes. There is good value in established systems and analysis processes, but there may be a better, more efficient way to do your work. New discoveries and/or technology may open doors to more effective methods of doing your engineering assignments. Keep an eye out for these opportunities for improvement and innovation.”

- Gerald Condon/EG5  

Yes, Your Name Could Get Out There (Reeeeeeally Out There) One Day

As told by David A. Kring, Ph.D., from the Center for Lunar Science and Exploration.

The Lunar and Planetary Institute/JSC Center for Lunar Science and Exploration team has been mapping the Artemis exploration zone near the lunar South Pole. In doing so, we encountered several unnamed craters. To facilitate scientific discussion of potential landing sites and engineering requirements for operating there, we named a small number of those craters in ways that we hope will inspire students to become interested and involved in a diverse Artemis exploration program. 

Here are a few details and a picture of three impact craters recently assigned names that were approved by the International Astronomical Union’s Task Group for Lunar Nomenclature. One of the names is relevant to NASA’s celebration of Black History Month. Two of the names are relevant to Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day. NASA assisted with the announcement of one of those craters (Henson).

Henson crater is named after Dr. Matthew Henson, a polar explorer who, with Richard Peary, was the first documented team to reach the Earth’s North Pole.

Marvin crater is named after Dr. Ursula B. Marvin, an Antarctic explorer who was also one of the original Apollo 11 sample analysts. She described the first lunar meteorite from the Moon and had innumerable other accomplishments.

Stose crater is named after Dr. Anna Jonas Stose, a pioneering American geologist who conducted field geology studies throughout the Appalachian Mountains in the early 1900s.