This is a past event.

Abstract: Dr. Hasan will share her personal journey from growing up in India to becoming a scientist at NASA headquarters. She will discuss the history of the spherical aberration of the Hubble primary mirror and provide a glimpse of the spectacular science emerging from the Webb observatory. Additionally, she will provide an overview of some of the technological challenges in constructing the observatory. The second part of the talk will focus on specific work-life balancing challenges faced by the speaker as a scientist and mother. Finally, she will discuss her main points from a Capitol Hill briefing she gave in September 2021 to the U.S. Congressional Women's Caucus on the STEM gap and building pathways for women of color in STEM careers. Overall, this talk will provide valuable insights and inspiration for anyone interested in the intersection of science, gender, and work-life balance.

Bio: Dr. Hasan is a highly accomplished scientist at NASA, currently serving as the Program Scientist for several crucial missions, including the Nuclear Spectroscopic Array (NuSTAR), Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE), the Keck Observatory, and the Astrophysics Data Curation and Archival Research (ADCAR) program. Additionally, she serves as the Deputy Program Scientist for the James Webb Space Telescope. Beyond her primary roles, Dr. Hasan also holds several leadership positions, including Education and Communication Lead for Astrophysics and Executive Secretary of the Astrophysics Advisory Committee. Her extensive experience and broad expertise in astrophysics make her a valued member of the NASA community.