Work-Life Balance
These 10 scientists carry their curiosity outside their nine-to-fives.
Sidney Opiyo: Bringing Fisheries Science Home
The environmental scientist hopes to return to his home island in Kenya, as both scientist and photographer.
Maoya Bassiouni: Curiouser and Curiouser
Growing up, this art lover had no idea she would someday become a scientist. Today, her curiosity is helping explore the intersection of atmospheric data and immersive art.
Kuwanna Dyer-Pietras: Running Through the Rock Record
A geologist who left academia found a new way to stay connected to Earth, one ultramarathon at a time.
Jill Pelto: Glacier Monitoring as a Lifelong Muse
Jill Pelto turned her childhood fascination with glaciers into a busy life creating data-art.
Jess Atkin: Space Biologist Enriches Soil and the Lives of Fellow Veterans
This biologist—also a rancher and Air Force veteran—finds solace in horses as she studies how to grow plants on the Moon.
Danielle Ignace: Bringing One’s Whole Self to Science and Beyond
As a scientist, mentor, artist, advocate, and more, Ignace wears many hats. The key to balancing it all is to integrate the varied aspects of her life.
Daniel Pastor-Galán: Studying Ancient Earth, with a Little Help from His Friends
This rock lover carries his musical inspirations with him as he peers far back in geologic time.
Elizabeth Cottrell: From Collecting Rocks to Curating the National Rock Collection
Research geologist Elizabeth Cotrell turned a love of science into a career at one of the nation’s most important geological resources.
Chet Udell: A Passion for Instrumentation Creates a New Path
A love for experimental music helped Chet Udell forge a unique career developing new musical and scientific instruments.
Kelsey Young: “Copy, Moon Joy”
She came to NASA with the goal of making planetary science front and center of the Artemis missions. She succeeded.