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Photo illustration: by The Cut; Photo: NASA/Bill Ingalls
Dr. Kate Calvin always imagined NASA as a place where people came together to solve big problems. When she was a child, “it seemed really cool to me,” she says. “Now I am a part of it,” she realizes. “It got even better.” She received her Ph.D. She graduated from Stanford University and worked as a geoscientist at the Joint Institute for Global Change. Examined Before landing at NASA as principal scientist and senior climate advisor, he studied the interactions between land, energy, water, and climate. Currently, she is working on issues such as mitigation. climate change, return astronauts to the moonand looking for traces of life It’s far away from Earth.
Calvin too co-chair Member of Working Group 3 of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. A group of hundreds of scientists around the world who review the latest research and inform the rest of the world. How gloomy is the forecast for Earth?. As part of that, she helps Create the IPCC blockbuster report Learn more about the causes of the climate crisis, the dangers ahead, and what you can do to prevent damage. “It’s easy to feel overwhelmed” about the climate crisis, Calvin says, but “someone once told me that science is hope, and I’m really committed to that.”
Although she has co-authored more books than ever before, 150 papers As a scientist, Calvin believes her time at NASA made her a better science communicator. She wants to help people better understand and navigate the world by explaining science. “Things like the James Webb Space Telescope show us the beauty of the universe. Mars rovers show us what humans can do if we put our mind to it,” she said. say. “So we can not only answer questions, but also inspire the next generation of scientists.” Calvin lives in Washington, DC. Here’s how she accomplishes it.
On how she ended up at NASA:
I’m not someone who knew since I was a child what I wanted to be when I grew up. I liked being outside. I did a lot of hiking. I also really liked mathematics. When I went to college, I majored in math and computer science, but I still didn’t really know what I wanted to do. So I entered graduate school and began researching climate change. Climate change was a way to apply my technical skills to something I really care about: our planet. All those elements came together a few years ago when I had the opportunity to come to NASA and work on climate and science more generally.
About her morning routine:
I’m a morning person, so that’s when I’m most productive. I start work immediately after waking up. I always look through my emails first to see if there are any unexpected things that could impact my day. I also drink coffee all the time, but I’m one of those people who doesn’t drink coffee the same way every day. When I have time, I like reading the news while drinking coffee, and I try to read a variety of news sources.
What is her working day like:
Every day is different so I do different activities depending on what’s going on. I often spend time talking with NASA scientists about their work and with people outside of NASA about what we’re doing. I’m talking with NASA leadership to make sure they have the most up-to-date information. You may also participate in presentations, which are a true showcase of teamwork. The launch is seen before it is heard or felt. Watching this will help you learn physics.
As a good advice:
One of the best pieces of advice I got came from a professor in graduate school. He said he just takes advantage of the best opportunities when they come. You don’t need to know where you’re going in the long run, and you don’t need to plan far in advance. You just have to look at your options and follow the life they lead you to. I’ll go anywhere.
About underrated leadership skills:
It’s important to be aware of your teammates and their role in making things happen. We want to make sure our team members are recognized for their contributions, no matter how big or small. I’m sure I’m not the only one aware of their success. When I talk to other leadership people, I make sure they know who on the team has contributed. I am a strong believer in always appreciating people. People should feel valued for what they do, even if they’re just doing their job.
About the people who helped her get the job done:
NASA is all about teams, and we have a great support system within NASA. I have a great team in my office that helps me organize and stay informed about scientific research. I interact with the scientists and engineers on each mission, especially as launch approaches and the first data come back. I get their insight into the science and it really helps me prepare to communicate it more widely. We also have a great communications team that makes sure I’m ready for any external engagement and helps people meaningfully engage with our information.
I also have great friends and family that I rely on very much. I have a lot of female friends who are committed to climate and the environment and live in the DC area. It’s great to share stories with them after a long day.
About the ritual that grounds her:
I make sure to go outside every day. At various points in my life, that meant running or cycling. Even if the weather isn’t nice, I go for long winding walks around Washington DC. It helps clear my mind and gives me a chance to look at the world around me and appreciate the earth we live on.
When rewinding:
I’m a big believer in work-life balance and separating work from non-work. As I said earlier, I go for a walk. That’s one way I break up. I don’t check my email at all after 8pm. I often listen to music, read books, or watch TV to relax. There are two programs I’ve been watching recently. One is best chef, I started watching reruns of ugly betty.i saw barbie I saw the movie a while ago and started looking for what else America Ferrera had done. ugly betty.
On staying motivated to fight climate change:
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed. You see it on the news, you experience it where you live. Last year was record-breaking heat, and we saw wildfire smoke in places we had never seen it before. We have also seen floods, droughts and heatwaves. I can understand that it’s hard for people to read about it, watch it, and live it.
Someone once said that science is hope, and that’s exactly what I’m focusing on. There are many scientists at NASA and around the world who study climate. We understand our planet better than ever before, and we continue to learn more every day. So I focus on the hope that science brings and the people who practice and use it.
About her future ambitions:
15 years ago, I was focused on research. I did present my research to other scientists, but I didn’t talk much to the media or the public. Over time, I realized how important it is to spread the word about science. That’s a big part of my job, and I focus on making science accessible. Science can be very scary, so I want to break down those barriers and make people feel comfortable asking questions. If we can help people understand the world around them, we can help them prepare for the future.
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