MARIA BUALAT

What I do from day to day changes quite a bit. Some days I attend meetings or do a lot of paperwork. Other days I work on the computer a lot, programming or running tests. Sometimes I build circuits or connect up different system parts. Some days I do a lot of reading to keep up with the latest technologies or to learn about new systems. One thing I really like about my job is that I'm constantly learning new things.

One of the most exciting things about working at NASA is the really neat projects I get to work on. For example, I recently worked on a project called SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy). SOFIA will be a 747 with a telescope on board so that the telescope can be flown up above most of the earth's atmosphere. This will allow astronomers to see things that they cannot see from the earth's surface. Then I worked on developing microphones that use fiber optic cables and lasers to sense sound. Right now I'm working on a robot that we'd like to send to Mars to learn if there ever was any life there.

I was always good at math and science in grade school and high school. When I got to college, I learned that there were people much better at math and science than I was, but I stuck with it and learned enough to be able to complete my engineering degree.

I never felt pressured not to go into a math-and-science-based field. No one was ever anything but encouraging when I decided to go into engineering. I went to a Catholic all-girl high school which offered the higher level math classes (e.g. AP Calculus) and all the sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Physiology). All of us were encouraged to go to college and those of us who were interested in the sciences were definately encouraged to continue.

Since everyone was so supportive when I was growing up, I really didn't have too many obstacles to overcome. One, however, was that my parents really couldn't afford to send me to college, so I had to get scholarships, grants, and loans, and I worked to help pay my way through school.

I think life in school would have been a little easier for me if I had developed better study habits when I was younger. The earlier you start practicing good study habits, the better.

I have quite a few hobbies, most of which have to do with arts and crafts. I'm taking ceramics and painting classes at the local community college after work. I like to knit and sew and do needlepoint. I also make jewelry, mostly bracelets, using an indian bead loom. I try to ride my bike in to work whenever I can and I sometimes go riding on weekends. I really enjoy going hiking and camping and when I get the chance, I like to go snorkeling.

When I was in the eighth grade, I was reading the newspaper and I saw an article entitled, "Women Engineers at NASA." At the time I was very much interested in outer space and science fiction. I didn't know what an engineer was, but the fact that there were some at NASA drew my attention. So I looked up what an engineer was, and the dictionary said something about how an engineer applied math and science to solve problems and to make useful things for people. I liked math and science, so I thought, "That's the career for me!"

Questions Answered

Archived web-chats with Maria:

• Web chat 1/14/97
• Web chat 10/17/96