Month: November 2024

The first words spoken by Tara Roanhorse at her NASA internship were in Navajo: “Yá’át’ééh shík’éí dóó shídiné’é, shí ei Tara Roanhorse dashijiní. Bítsiigha’ Łichí’í Diné’é Bilagáaná níshłǫ́ǫ, Tsi’naajinii  báshíshchíín. Áádóó índá Bítsiigha’ Łichí’í Diné’é Bilagáaná  eí dashicheii, áádóó Tó Dích’íi’nii dashínálí. Ákót’éego Diné níshłį́į dóó Kimberling City, Missouri hóólyéédę́ę́’ naashá. Ákót’éego nihich’į’ ádééhósiszįįd dooleeł dííshjį́. Ahéhee’!” A traditional greeting, “Hello my friends and my relations, my name is Tara Roanhorse. I am of Irish heritage, born for the black streak wooded people. My maternal grandfather is of Irish heritage and my paternal grandfather is of the bitter water people. I am from Kimberling City, Missouri. In this way, I am a Navajo woman. Thank you!”

As an intern in NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement, Tara is responsible for helping to reach audiences via social media to get NASA STEM resources into as many hands as possible and ensure potential interns know there is space for them at NASA. Since the beginning, she’s been led by her Native heritage; as a Diné woman, she’s familiar with what it means to feel like an outsider. “Indigenous people and women aren’t very represented in STEM spaces, so it felt like a long shot when I applied,” said Roanhorse. “Aside from my time at my Tribal University, I’m often the only Indigenous person in the room.”

As a STEM Communications intern, Tara shares that her work “includes writing blogs about current and former interns, creating content for the Internships social media accounts and providing support for the NASA STEM social media accounts, and supporting wherever I can with helping to create engaging and informative content across my team. I really enjoy being able to create things that help put STEM in people’s hands in a way that they can understand.There are so many great resources out there for kids, adults, tribes, and schools that haven’t traditionally been so accessible, so my personal goal is to help everyone be able to access the work that’s being done.”

Although now a familiar face at NASA, Tara had her doubts: “Growing up I was always interested in science and technology but wasn’t always the best at practicing it, but I was good at explaining things to people! That’s why, when I returned to get my college education in my early twenties, I knew STEM communications was something that I wanted to do,” said Roanhorse.

NASA’s missions are strengthened by the diversity of worldviews of its workforce. According to Tara, “my heritage and culture have provided a different lens through which to see the work that’s being done. My tribe has a holistic and ordered worldview; everything is interrelated and enfolded into the whole.”

Now having led campaigns that have reached audiences in the tens of millions, and supported collaborations with the likes of Megan Thee Stallion, Roanhorse shares some of her advice for others: “Be willing to try something new and scary. Every day, I get the chance to do something different, expanding my knowledge in the best possible ways. And while imposter syndrome is so real, you were meant for great things–you are your ancestor’s wildest dreams come true. No one else has the experiences, outlook, or ideas as you. You are unique, and you have something to contribute to the world and to NASA’s missions.”

If you’re interested in carving your own path like Tara, consider applying for NASA’s internship program at intern.nasa.gov.

Evan T. Flatt/NASA Headquarters

As a summer intern at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, Nora Lowe played a role in supporting NASA’s upcoming flagship mission, the Nancy Grace Roman Telescope. This project is a NASA observatory designed to investigate inquiries about dark energy, exoplanets, and infrared astrophysics. Lowe was tasked with assisting in the reporting and publicizing of the telescope’s developmental milestones. Her responsibilities included copywriting stories, social media writing, and editing.

“I was lucky enough to stumble upon NASA Goddard’s Science Journalism, Multimedia, and Social Media Internships through the NASA STEM Gateway website,” Lowe recalled. “The role description explained that interns will gain on-the-job experience with a leading team of writers and multimedia producers to create and share content from NASA’s science missions. It was perfectly suited to my career goals.”

Lowe’s internship was not her first experience with NASA. As a high school sophomore, Lowe applied to a NASA-sponsored competition to name the Mars rover later named Perseverance. She named her submission after an animal known for its resilience and ability to survive environmental extremes, which she felt was fitting for a Mars Rover. While her submission was not chosen, she was grateful for the chance to interact with the agency at a young age.

“It progressed past some rounds of review, but was not selected, which I’m ultimately grateful for, because it doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. The engineers ultimately etched the 155 semifinalist essays onto silicon chips to launch up with the rover, so my words ended up on the Red Planet nonetheless! That was my first interaction with NASA, and it was so formative that I vowed it wouldn’t be my last.”

Navigating the complexities of interviewing subject matter experts proved to be a challenge for Lowe, especially within the NASA environment. Lowe turned to her mentors, Science Writer Ashley Balzer and Social Media Lead Courtney Lee, for help. Their expert guidance played a crucial role in easing Lowe’s nerves and enhancing her ability to engage effectively with NASA’s scientific elite.

“Having one-on-one conversations with acclaimed scientists was honestly intimidating,” Lowe said. “It took careful practice, such as conducting several mock interviews with my mentors to feel more at ease when doing the real thing.”

Benefiting from her practice with her mentors, Lowe reflects on some of her favorite pieces. She produced a piece for “Conversations with Goddard” focused on Melissa Harris, a propulsion engineer working on the Roman telescope. Additionally, she authored several articles highlighting the science within NASA.

“I am especially proud of my article on the handheld spectrometer because of the sheer number of logistics I orchestrated,” she said. “Drafting that article felt like completing a 1,000-piece puzzle. I conducted interviews with seven subjects, the most I’ve done for a single story to date.”

Lowe’s internship served as a pivotal moment for her professional journey. She reflects on the wealth of skills she acquired during her session that paved the way for her to grow as a science writer and a young professional.

“I adopted the concept of ‘familiar novelty,’ as cohort guest speakers and authors Howard Mansfield and Sy Montgomery put it. It’s a delicate balance emphasizing the new and exciting parts of a story while using techniques like analogies to make it understandable or familiar to the reader.”

At NASA, Lowe uncovered a new direction for her future, sparking a passion for government and public work in science communication. Her time at the agency proved transformative, solidifying her career ambitions, and illustrating the profound impact of bridging scientific knowledge with the public.

“This opportunity was a powerful way to solidify my ambitions and aspirations, as well as to demonstrate how working in this field benefits society,” Lowe said. “Everyone deserves to be empowered with an understanding of how the world works, and I admire NASA’s fantastic science writers, who act as vital liaisons between scientists and the general public, for helping make that possible.”

Gracie Glover/NASA Headquarters