Scilence 52 Planetary Science & BEING BRAVE

THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL EPISODE!!!  MY LAST EPISODE OF SERIES 1!!!  AND WHAT BETTER WYA TO CELEBRATE IT, THAN WITH A PROF. OF PLANETARY SCIENCE!!

This week, my amazing woman in STEM, is proud of being a science geek.  Her father was a professor in engineering and so pulled some strings to get her to study STEM at university.  In her day, science wasn’t offered to girls at school, so she had to play catch up, in physics at university. 

My guest was driven by pure curiosity.  Her first view of the planets was through a telescope that her father built.  Today she is a professor in Planetary Science.  Her only regret is that her parents didn’t live to see her academic success. 

Women made up 5% of her physics class at university.  She claims that the key to her academic success was due to standing  up for herself and knowing her boundaries.  She is doesn't take nonsense from anyone.  Before she mastered this, she had to fake it to make it. 

Its hard to comprehend this a women this eminent could also suffer from Imposter syndrome.  She believes it is fundamental to take things on that excite you, but also being able to admit when you're scared and doubtful about your abilities.  She discusses the importance of getting on well with others and protecting your team.  She got where she is today by saying yes to things that you don’t think you can do; being honest about her capabilities and being willing to step into the unknown and accept advice.  She shares the importance of quiet time for oneself.  STEM is a stepping stone to self-discovery and failure can be a success if you learn why you failed. 

The juggling act of family is not easy, and has affected the roles people have chosen within academia; but .  maternity / paternity rules have got better.  We are on a strong upward curve with that.  STEM should permeate through society in many ways, as a society, we just have to get out of a constrained mindset.  

All this and more on Scilence!