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Wednesday, March 27, 2019 FEATURES
www.elvaq.com
Filipino Fiesta This two-day event will give an insight to the vibrant culture of the Philippines By Gabby Duga Staff Writer
Women in STEM Spotlight: Dominique Butler An astronomy student discusses her story of tenacity and inspiration NASA Courtesy Photo
STEM: Girl Scout troop 2612 members from Tulsa, OK take photos of one another with Google Glass at the White House Science Fair Tuesday, May 27, 2014. Avery Dodson, 6; Natalie Hurley, 8; Miriam Schaffer, 8; Claire Winton, 8; and Lucy Claire Sharp, 8 participated in the Junior FIRST Lego League’s Disaster Blaster Challenge
By Marian Sahakyan Editor-in-Chief
could take what I was learning in Astronomy and communicate it to our culture, my career path became clear.
To further encourage women’s involvement and interest in the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Architecture, Math) arena, Glendale College’s annual Maker Faire will host a “Women in STEAM” speaker series, during which multiple females will speak of their experiences. Dominique Butler, one of the panelists at the event, is a full-time student, pursuing a career in astronomy and communications. She hopes to one day become a space science communicator within the popular culture. In addition, she is actively involved in educational outreach with numerous organizations and schools. She finds inspiration in the fact that she gets to choose her own path and form a career like no other, bridging the gap between pop culture and sciences. To understand what makes a woman scientist, El Vaquero asked a few questions in regards to Butler’s encounters and participation in the field. Here are her responses:
Q: What has been the greatest challenge in your work? What about the greatest triumph?
Q: How did you get into your current career?
A: Everyday for me is different. I’m preparing to transfer to Harvard Extension School to finish my degree online this summer, so my schedule is more open to fill with the work I do as a NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador. I go and speak to kids in schools all over Los Angeles about NASA and space exploration. They’re obsessed with black holes and of course,
A: I got really lucky, it sort of all fell into place once I went back to college. I changed my major to Astronomy, and decided early on that I wouldn’t be going into research. Most of my friends work in entertainment, so once I realized that I
A: The greatest challenge has actually been figuring out how to manage school, an Ambassadorship with NASA, and then finding ways to work and communicate space science to whatever platform I’m given. Creating a career as a space science communicator has been something I’ve had to figure out as I go along, and has constantly surprised me. I’m working towards having a space science children’s show, so each step of the way has been filled with successes and failures, or lessons learned. To be honest, my biggest triumph is still being on the path to finishing my education and creating my dream career. Every little success along the way is a triumph to me, it hasn’t been easy but I feel really lucky to be doing this work. Q: What does the average day look like for you?
aliens. I recently completed an internship at the Human Rights Watch advocating for children’s rights. Children deserve the best of everything we have, so my work revolves around finding a way to make sure I’m bringing that to light. Q: Can you give your top three tips for students entering STEM? A: Know that you belong here and your perspective is needed. Don’t let anyone tell you or make you feel otherwise. Get a good tutor. Eat, sleep, drink lots of water and surround yourself with people who support you and believe in you. Q: Is there anything you want us to know about you in particular?
Growing up in a Filipino household in America, my mom always cooks a lot of savory and delicious Filipino food, from breakfast until supper. Filipino food reminds us of our homeland and its rich heritage, which we have carried over with us to share with the those living in the United States. This year, Glendale Community College’s Filipino “Phamilya” Club partnered up with Filipino-American faculty and administrators to host the college’s third annual Filipino Fiesta. The event will be spread out between April 2 and April 3, showcasing the culture’s flavorful and vibrant spirit. To set the tone of a Filipino fiesta, lively music will play, with a jeepney parked up front. During the main part of the party, various delicacies and desserts from different parts of the Philippines will be offered to guests. A Filipino favorite, lechons-- roasted pig -- will also be offered, for everyone to taste the scrumptiousness and crispiness of the dish. In addition, the organizers will welcome a panel of Filipino-American entrepreneurs, business owners and individuals working in the private sector, who will share their experiences and success stories with the rest of the college. We hope to see everyone at the Fiesta!
A: At this point, I’m refusing to take no for an answer. There is more than one way to get to where you want to be, and realizing that my path isn’t going to look like anyone else’s has been liberating. I’ve learned that everything I’ve perceived as a setback has actually always worked to my advantage. I feel really thankful to be able to combine my love for Astronomy, the opportunity to work with children, and my passion for social justice into my education and career. As for something not too many people know about me, if I could come back in another lifetime, I’d be a Quantum Physicist. I can’t think of any job cooler than that.
Gabby Duga can be reached at nduga808@student.glendale.edu.
Marian Sahakyan can be reached at manehsahakyan@gmail.com.
James Ojano-Simonsson Courtesy Photo