Why working at NASA is amazing | Michelle Thaller | Big Think

TL;DR

NASA scientist Michelle Thaller discusses her varied responsibilities, including managing communications, promoting scientific discoveries, and collaborating with other scientists.

Transcript

Michelle Thaller: Hey Eleya, thank you for asking me about my day. What do I do at NASA. One of the things that I love about being a scientist is that I don’t really have a typical day; I do lots of different things. So for example, one of my duties at NASA is thinking about the communications, thinking about all of our websites and our Twitter acc... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧑‍🔬 NASA scientist Michelle Thaller has diverse responsibilities, including managing communications and promoting scientific discoveries.
• 💁 NASA has numerous active science missions, and each one contributes valuable information and discoveries.
• ❓ Sharing scientific discoveries through publications and collaborations is crucial for advancing scientific knowledge.
• 👨‍🔬 Thaller occasionally engages in scientific research herself, using telescopes worldwide.
• 💦 Collaboration is a key component of Thaller's work, as scientists work together to innovate and advance their respective fields.
• 👨‍🚀 Thaller also mentions the training process for astronauts, who practice in water to simulate the weightlessness of space.
• 😃 Despite the routine aspects of her job, Thaller finds joy in the brilliant moments and working with passionate individuals.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are some different responsibilities that Michelle Thaller has as a NASA scientist?

As a NASA scientist, Michelle Thaller manages communications, oversees websites and social media accounts, promotes scientific discoveries, engages in scientific research, and collaborates with other scientists.

Q: How does Thaller ensure that information from NASA missions reaches the public?

Thaller manages the different information coming from NASA missions and finds ways to effectively communicate it to the public through channels like websites, social media, and press releases. She also tracks the public's engagement and feedback.

Q: Does Thaller engage in any scientific research herself?

Though her role primarily involves managing communications, Thaller occasionally conducts scientific research. She uses telescopes around the world, including the Hubble Space Telescope and those in Australia, South America, and Arizona.

Q: How does collaboration play a role in Thaller's work?

Collaboration is essential in science, and Thaller frequently attends meetings, discusses strategy with peers, and works with other scientists to make new discoveries and advance scientific understanding. She plans follow-up research and funding for new spacecraft.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Michelle Thaller has a diverse range of responsibilities as a NASA scientist, including managing communications, overseeing websites and social media accounts, and promoting scientific discoveries.

• NASA has over 100 active science missions, and Thaller ensures that information and discoveries from these missions reach the public.

• Thaller also engages in scientific research, travels to telescopes worldwide, and collaborates with other scientists to advance knowledge in the field.