Reinvented Magazine Issue No. 14

REINVENTED ISSUE 14

Katya Echazarreta Redefining Boundaries in Space and on Earth

WINTER 2022

Team Credits EDITOR IN CHIEF Caeley Looney

WRITING Officer: Aparna Rajesh

FINANCE Manager: Niyati Patel

Director: Miranda Mogan

MARKETING CMO: Varija Mehta Directoe: Anika Garg Manager: Hansa Sreemanthula Amelie Tran Ella Kang Kristina Lian

Leah Marie Baluyot Shamailah Haque

DEVELOPMENT

Manager: Madeline Day Manager: Yashvi Patel

Andrea Gajic Emily Zaakkak

JoCee Holladay Lavanya Sharma Luyang Zhang Madeleine Bloomer Maggie Stoudemire

Director: Palak Mehta

Rachel Lynn Mason

Ankita Sundar

Seher Allahbachayo

Avantika Samanta

Selena Cao

Risha Bhat

Sophia Tang

Qiongran Dong Sarasi Rout Siya Goyal

VOLUNTEERS Manager: Allison Maurice Manager: Sravya Nagalakunta

Arcadia Ewell Avika Patel Brittany McFarland Chantelle Faria Jessica Paul

CCO: Niamh Murphy Director: Caroline Dinh

PUBLISHING Officer: Laura Peckyno Laurel Ferguson

Director: Megan Jacob Manager: Abhirami Rajesh Amy Loveless Anoushka Shrivastava

Grace Pfohl Isabel Powell

CREATIVE

Daniela Freire

OPERATIONS

Faith Lam

COO: Aly Trevino

Jolie Miller

Director: Divya Sharma

Maria Fernanda Sagastume

Director: Kendall Hoes

Reyna Morales Lumagui

Amanda Sherman

Rimi Chakravarti

Emma Koslow

Sydney Bowler

Erika Torkildsen Erin Mitchell Jacleen Nardiello Sharafa Mohammed Shayna Weinstein Yessenia Lopez

ASK GLORIA Gloria Kimbwala

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Madeline Eastey Madeline Chang Nithya Parepally

Reinvented Magazine

@reinventedmag

Sindhu Sivasankar

ISSN 2770-6672 2 | Team Credits

info@reinvented magazine.com

Letter from the

Editor

Dear Reader, This issue is themed around something very near and dear to my heart: space. For those of you who might not know, running Reinvented is not my full-time job. Actually, no one on the Reinvented team gets paid to work on our programs and initiatives, but that’s getting off-topic. I got my B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, and earlier this year, I earned my M.S. in Space Systems Engineering. I work full-time as an astrodynamics engineer, or a space mission analyst, supporting small satellite systems here on the Space Coast. So, I guess you could say I’m kinda passionate about all things having to do with space and space exploration.

You might notice that this magazine does tend to include a lot of space-themed articles, and that’s definitely no accident, but this is our first issue focused almost entirely on space. Our cover features the first Mexican-born woman to fly to space, Katya Echazarreta. Her story is one of true dedication and perseverance, and I hope that it inspires you, not to shy away from big dreams, the same way it did for me. Each and every one of our Everyday Changemakers in this issue both work in and are making an impact in the space sector. In this issue, you’ll also even learn how to get started in high-powered rocketry and coding with space-themed APIs. All of this content is built upon Reinvented’s first in-person event in a while: the Space Gala: A Celebration of Women in STEM. The mission of Reinvented has and will always be to empower the next generation of girls in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, but what we don’t often get a chance to do is thank all of the role models and professionals who graciously let us share their stories to inspire each and every one of you. Our Space Gala was built to recognize and give back to those changemakers, and I think we accomplished just that.

So, as you read this issue, I hope that you remember two things: 1) all of the stories of women and gender nonconforming individuals in STEM that you read in this magazine started out exactly where most of you are today: curious, excited, and searching for your passion in this vast world and 2) you should never be afraid to reach for the stars because I promise you, the sky is no longer the limit.

To Infinity & Beyond, Caeley Looney

Letter From the Editor | 3

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table of contents 7

11

21

2023 Princess Preview

Everyday Changemakers

Cell Art

25

31

39

Holiday Gift Guide

Katya Echazarreta

Apis Cor

43

48

53

Hot Nozzle Society

Girls of Steel Robotics

DIY: Space Themed Coding Tutorial

COVER STORY

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2 Princesses 0 Powertools 2 3 with

Dr. Ronda Hamm

Susie Martínez

Entomologist & Educator Pronouns: she/her

Mechanical Engineer Pronouns: she/her

@InsectDoc

@adastrasu

@InsectDoc

@susealcyone

Ronda is an entomologist and informal educator who loves insects! She whistles while she works, running her sweep net through the field to determine what insect friends and foes are present. Friends can include ladybugs, bees, and praying mantises; foes include lygus bugs, soybean loopers, and aphids. With this knowledge, she can determine how to best help the plants that grow in the forest outside her cottage. She shares her passion for science and insects with more than seven of her close friends via outreach programs and social media videos, and she often uses live arthropods (such as insects and spiders) to help others turn their fear of strange creatures into fascination. She thanks her pollinator friends for every bite of that delicious red apple and many other tasty foods. When she isn’t catching, controlling, or studying insects, Ronda enjoys travel and photography with her prince and corgi mutt.

Ayesha Iftiqhar Electrical Engineer - Robotics Pronouns: she/her @ayesha.iftiqhar Who needs a wand when you’ve got a soldering iron?

Ayesha is an electrical engineer who makes magic happen by designing circuit boards to power a brighter future.

While she hasn’t transformed a pumpkin into a carriage, she is helping to transform farming practices by engineering fruit-harvesting robots to promote sustainability. In her quest to find solutions to some of the world’s problems, she has worked on reducing water and power consumption in dishwashers and replacing gas engines in power tools with battery-powered electrical systems. On an average day, you can find Ayesha enchanting her dresses with sparkling LEDs, her jewelry with beautiful circuit boards, and her roller skates with sensors to measure her moves in the skatepark. She also enjoys teaching the secrets of electrical circuits to young makers and STEM enthusiasts through workshops, and by sharing her projects in open-source formats.

Susie Martínez began her journey as an additive manufacturing engineer at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, where her main project as part of the InSpace Manufacturing Group was putting more manufacturing capabilities on the International Space Station (ISS)! After joining the resistance, she became an Operations Controller, servicing the ISS and helping astronauts conduct science research in space. Now that she knows how to use the Force, she has transitioned into a new role as a payload developer at a commercial space company. When she isn’t training with her lightsaber, she’s inspiring others and showcasing that there is space for women in the space industry through a social media account she started, @AdAstraSu. She knows that we just have to forge our own path!

Kaylin Leas Piping LeadWoman Pronouns: she/her @WelderWoman_88 With less than 10% of skilled tradespeople being women, Kaylin is a journeyman pipe welder and fitter. As the first female Piping LeadWoman within her Amazonian island nation, she is not afraid to go into uncharted territory.

Every day is a challenge with fabricating and installing pipe components and systems. Kaylin applies her superhuman powers in addition to advanced math, such as trigonometry, to manipulate pipes around walls, ductwork, plumbing systems, and other obstructions to complete complex commercial construction projects. She is proving herself to be an emerging leader in her craft. Outside of work, she spends time helping other women in the trades by serving as an ambassador on TDIndustries’ Women’s Partner Resource group. Kaylin doesn’t need bullet proof gauntlets and a lasso to break barriers for future women on the construction site; she is determined to pave the way for other women looking to enter the skilled trades.

Asia Noelani Fee Cosmetic Chemist & STEM Content Creator Pronouns: she/her @asiafee

@NoelaniAsia

The beauty of STEM is worth fighting for! Just as Yin is to Yang, science and beauty complement one another. Asia uses her passion for both to blur the lines between traditionally masculine and feminine roles. As a Chemist, she utilizes her laboratory skills to perform analyses while simultaneously wearing a full face of makeup in the lab, unafraid to show her true identity! Her love for chemistry has led her to open her own cosmetic company, where she formulates innovative products inspired by scientific phenomena. Rather than a recipe for a perfect bride, her cosmetic formulas are designed for all genders and skin types.

Asia advocates for science by using her cosmetic platform to educate and entertain audiences worldwide, proudly showing that you can wear lipstick in the lab and still be a successful scientist!

Kristina Holzweiss Ed Tech Librarian Pronouns: she/her

Xyla Foxlin Engineer, Entrepreneur, YouTuber Pronouns: she/her @xylafoxlin

@xylafoxlin

Xyla’s never been one to stay locked up in her tower — as an engineer, she’s excited about the world beyond and determined to see it all! Every question is the start of a new adventure, and she’s not afraid to see where her curiosity takes her. With her background in mechatronics and creative technology, Xyla can combine all kinds of disciplines to come up with amazing solutions on her YouTube channel! And while a frying pan might not be her weapon of choice, she’s handy with every power tool in the shop. Whether she’s building a light-up kayak, turning a Christmas tree into a rocket, or launching a tiara into space, you never know what shenanigans Xyla will think of next. And even when she’s not making discoveries in her workshop, you know she’s still following her curiosity outdoors — whether she’s climbing mountains or flying her little plane into the sunset.

Sydney Floryanzia Chemical Engineer Pronouns: she/her

@lieberrian

@neuro.cheme.queen

@lieberrian

@neurochemequeen

In addition to being a librarian like her superhero's alter ego, Kristina is also an educational technology enrichment specialist and news production teacher. As the 2015 School Library Journal School Librarian of the Year, she teaches her students to think critically, communicate their ideas, collaborate with their peers, apply what they have learned to create projects, participate in the global community, and develop digital citizenship skills so they can become changemakers. Supporting students as they explore technology tools and access resources to research, Kristina believes that they must be empowered to speak out against the injustices of society.

As a high school educator, Kristina feels most valued as a member of a team who support all students to feel respected, valued, and welcomed regardless of their gender identity, primary language, and cultural, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds. She advocates for equity, inclusivity, and accessibility, and believes that educators are superheroes!

Kristina attributes her superpowers to the support of her husband and three children.

Tucked away in the enchanted forests of the Pacific Northwest, this princess spends her days creating medicine for the brain. Hypersomnia [a fancy word for sleeping too much ;) ] and other diseases are cured with her combination of neuroscience and chemical engineering skills. Woodland creatures like rats and ferrets help her along the way while a not-so-maleficent dragon uses the heat from fire breath to keep brain cells warm and happy.

Dragon’s breath can also be used to kill bacteria and sterilize Sydney’s science tools. Sydney and her fairy friends use their magic wands – and a laser-powered microscope – to make brain cells glow (both pink AND blue)! The goal of Sydney’s work is to deliver medicine through the blood-brain barrier, which guards the brain like the barrier of thorns that once guarded her castle. A spinning wheel’s spindle is no match for the medicines this princess will create!

Rachel Kowert, PhD Research Psychologist Pronouns: she/her @DrRachelKowert

Diana Iracheta Automation Design Engineer Pronouns: she/her @latina_engineer

@DrKowert Rachel always has her nose in a book of numbers and loves to lead adventures rather than watching the town hero do it himself. Rachel can often be found around town talking about far-off lands like Rivia and Hyrule with her laptop in her hand. Though some may not understand, her work on video games and mental health is changing the way we understand how video games can be good for our well-being. Rachel’s work in the gaming industry is breaking down barriers by showing that anyone can have a career in games, even if you come from a quiet, provincial town. When Rachel isn’t working, she loves playing video games – especially ones that let you adventure in the great wide somewhere.

Jenny Patel, PhD Biomedical Engineer Pronouns: she/her @stemwithjen @jennyppatel Okay, here’s the sitch. From building technologies like PET and CT scanners to look inside the human body to innovating devices like drug delivery systems, Jenny is working behindthe-scenes on a mission to advance the world of health and address challenging global health issues. Rather than fighting a world of crime, she helps doctors and other engineers innovate and develop medical technologies that can be used in hospitals, doctor’s offices, and even at your home to help you feel better. While on her missions, she realized she wanted to help others learn more about STEM, which led her to launch her influencer brand called STEM with Jen to make STEM accessible for everyone. You can call her, beep her anytime for STEM education and empowerment content. In her spare time, she loves to go on adventures, hiking, sewing, and drawing.

Diana might be a damsel, but she certainly is not in distress as she works to innovate the world with the use of new technology. She designs and programs robotic systems that can perform tasks that might be unsafe for mortals. With the help of robots, like Robi, she is able to do things that even Hercules can’t do, such as lifting heavy objects, building complex structures, and working in high heat or without oxygen! With a set of instructions, they are able to tell electronics and robots how and when to move. One of Diana’s favorite machines is a 3D printer. Diana has been able to design many different parts that can be tested before using them with robots. Her 3D printer helps make things that she imagines into a reality! With the help of Robi, they have been printing many things to make their and others life’s easier.

Dr. Hannah Shows Artificial Intelligence Specialist & Mathematician Pronouns: she/her @dr.hannahwillow @HannahWShows Maybe it was the excitement of a new adventure, or maybe it was the Will-O’-the-Wisps, but Hannah fell in love with math while working as a biochemist. She spent over a decade in research using computers to study life on an atomic level.

Currently, Hannah writes patents as a technical specialist.

She gets to explore new math every week – biomedical math, financial math, and even cosmetics math! She helps inventors communicate their inventions in a friendly and clear way. Many people view math the same way they would a grizzly bear… but math shouldn’t be that scary! On the surface, math may seem like all rules and logic, but a closer look reveals a world of whimsy, art, and exploration.

Hannah aims to encourage the world to be brave and try viewing math in a new light – you never know what magic you might find.

Karolina Dubiel:

The Sky's the Limit

BY MADELINE DAY

For Civil Air Patrol member and Girls in Aerospace founder Karolina Dubiel, the sky is not the limit. In fact, the sky is just the beginning. Whether it be visiting NASA’s vehicle assembly building at Cape Canaveral or watching the SpaceX starlink launch, Dubiel has experienced what few normally can in a lifetime. And in 2020, she founded the Girls in Aerospace Foundation, a non-profit that was designed to increase aerospace opportunities and share Dubiel’s love of aviation with all.

The Magic of Flight Dubiel recalls her childhood fascination with airplanes and rockets, noting that constant travel at a young age nurtured her interest in aviation: “I’d always point my fingers to the sky.”

By the time she entered her teens, Dubiel knew that she wanted to learn to fly. So at 14, Dubiel joined the U.S Air Force’s Auxiliary, the Civil Air Patrol. Formed during World War II, the U.S Air Force Auxiliary allowed civilian pilots to aid in the war effort. Today, the auxiliary is primarily used for search and rescue efforts but also includes a cadet program for those aged 12-18.

Dubiel believes that the cadet program solidified her interest 12 | Karolina Dubiel

interest in STEM by allowing her to embrace aviation. Just a year after becoming a cadet, Dubiel had the opportunity to take flight in a Cessna 172 at Boeing Field in Seattle.

She was “at the controls of the airplane and flew over places [she] grew up” in; it was a pivotal experience that eventually led to the creation of Girls in Aerospace.

Growing Girls in Aerospace When Dubiel landed in Boeing Field that day, she had an epiphany: “[I] realized not everyone could have the opportunity I just had.” Having spent her summers in Poland, Dubiel quickly recognized the difference in access to aviation training between the two countries. Her Polish friends and family did not have access to nearly as many educational and extracurricular opportunities as she did in the U.S. She wanted to change that.

Soon after her orientation flight, Dubiel founded the Girls in Aerospace Foundation, an organization that supports young women aspiring to work in the aerospace field in an effort to make the discipline more accessible. She wants Girls in Aerospace to help people realize that “aerospace is a possibility for everyone, and [that it] is for all racial and gender minorities.”

Dubiel began Girls in Aerospace with a webinar speaker series during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. From a space law webinar with policy researcher Lauren Killam to an Aerospace in College panel with women majoring in aerospace-related degrees, Girls in Aerospace was able to connect hundreds of attendees with aerospace community members. One of Dubiel’s favorite memories from Girls in Aerospace’s early days was a virtual meet and greet with former NASA astronaut Bonnie J. Dunbar.

Transitioning out of the pandemic, Dubiel created the organization’s first mentoring program, the Aerospace Connect Mentorship Program. Through their initiatives, Girls in Aerospace has connected one hundred high school girls with one hundred mentors in aerospace. The organization has already connected girls in multiple countries with STEM opportunities, but Girls in Aerospace is just getting started.

Triumphs, Challenges, and the Future Beyond outreach, Girls in Aerospace has also challenged Dubiel to grow as a person. As the head of a nonprofit, Dubiel has overcome multiple administrative obstacles.

“But my biggest challenge is my age,” she reveals.

Dubiel was recently featured in Urania, a Polish publication akin to an astronomy specialized version of Scientific American. However, rather than receiving congratulatory messages, she received a barrage of criticism. “I went on Urania’s Facebook and came across nasty and rude messages about my age and the organixation

organization’s purpose” she explains. She had faced criticism before but had never faced such ignorant messages, primarily from “older men who did not understand the necessity of the organization.” But instead of taking their comments to heart, she “re-evaluated [her] mission and thought about how to improve Girls in Aerospace." Learning to remain confident even in the face of adversity, Dubiel continued to expand her program and connect with more girls with an interest in space despite the disparaging commentary. "I know that I am supposed to be here," she says.

Dubiel’s takeaway? “Be loud…if people have the audacity to type out rude comments, [you] should have the audacity to stand up for [your]self.” Dubiel has since continued to pursue her interests in aerospace and aviation. Recently, she had the opportunity to visit a vehicle assembly building in Cape Canaveral. She also had the chance to watch the SpaceX starlink launch from 5 miles away— that’s as close as you can get! Dubiel gushes about the trip, from the Apollo-age artifacts scattered around the base to the sheer size of NASA buildings. It is clear that her passion for aerospace remains unwavered.

Currently in her senior year of high school, Dubiel hopes to “pursue a career that allows her to keep a passion for aerospace and computer science.” She emphasizes that she is keeping her career options open but is excited to continue her work with Girls in Aerospace and go where her curiosity takes her. The child once fascinated with the sky has now founded an aerospace organization that has reached over 15,000 young women, embodying what it means to work toward her dreams.

Karolina Dubiel | 13

SUPERHUMAN:

ELENI CHARITONOS

BY ISABEL POWELL

At twenty-one, Eleni Charitonos is balancing being a full-time university student and training for analog astronaut missions, an act few could accomplish.

Growing up in Cyprus, there were not many opportunities for Charitonos to become involved in space exploration or to associate herself with this broader international community. But this, of course, has not stopped her from completing missions.

“I still wanted to have a small taste of what it feels like to be an astronaut, so I started conducting these missions on Earth,” Charitonos explains. Committed, she set out to become an analog astronaut. An analog astronaut conducts experimental missions on Earth, often to “investigate how a human civilization would be able to survive on other planetary objects such as the moon or Mars.” Her training can lead her to high-altitude environments, and it sometimes even has her dangling off mountainsides.

While juggling her studies, Charitonos also founded the Glasgow University Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (GUSEDS)—the first student-led society in the United Kingdom that focuses on human civilization on Mars—and successfully organized the sixth European Space Generation Workshop. As part of this workshop, she brought over 100 delegates (80% of them were internationals, 20 experts) from around the globe to Cyprus in April of 2022 in order to spark discussions about aerospace and share opportunities in space exploration Her first analog experience brought her to the LunAres with Cypriot and international young professionals as well Research Station in Poland for 19 days and earned her the as students. honor of becoming the first Cypriot-American female Analog Astronaut. On this mission, she conducted research on water Wanting to continue sharing her passion for aerospace usage and alternative resources for plant growth. On her with second mission last year, she spent 33 days on the Mauna Loa volcano in Hawaii as a crew member for the Smart Information Flow Technologies (SIFT) Research at the HISEAS habitat. Here, she participated in extravehicular activities to perform geological fieldwork, similar to what would have been done on another planetary object.

In addition to being an analog astronaut, Charitonos is also a full-time student. Studying mathematics and statistics at the University of Glasgow, Charitonos has gracefully balanced training for and conducting analog missions on Hawaiian volcanoes, running international space conferences, and studying for her final exams. “On one of my missions,” she shares excitedly, “I had to ask for special permission to have access to my university portal so that I could watch my lectures and do my homework for university. I was supposed to be on radio silence while I was training!”

14 | Eleni Charitonos

with Cypriotic youth, Charitonos’ toured Cyprus, visiting different elementary and high schools. At each of these schools, Charitonos shared stories about her analog missions and explained how students could get involved in space.

Charitonos mentions, “I talked to elementary students, and I felt like my heart would burst out of love. At the end, all of the kids were hugging me…it’s a feeling that I can’t even explain in words. I think that was my favorite memory.”

Eleni wanted to leave the students with one important message: “The best thing you can do is not give up…If you have dedication, and you are willing to put in the work, you will get there. In one way or another, you will.”

The best thing you can do is not give up…If you have the dedication, and you are willing to put in the work, you will get there.

In one way or another, you will.

As devoted as she is, Charitonos still is still wary of burnout and the dangers of neglecting to maintain a healthy work-life balance. “This past year really pushed my limits,” Charitonos explains. While balancing her course load and organizing the European Space Generation Workshop, Charitonos often felt overwhelmed with work. She managed to accomplish it all by creating a strict schedule and being sure to incorporate necessary breaks: “I thought that I could take as much as I could find in front of me, which is basically impossible for a human to do. The biggest challenge for me was [allowing myself to take breaks]. I know my limits now, and I know how much I can take.” and scuba diving license, and she is undergoing hypoxia Still, Charitonos remains dedicated to her erudite pursuits. training as part of the International Institute of In addition to her aerospace-related endeavors, Charitonos is Astronautical Sciences astronaut training program, proving amassing knowledge in seemingly every domain imaginable! that nowhere, on or off Earth, is off-limits for her.

Already fluent in Greek and English, Charitonos is currently learning Spanish and French and eventually hopes to study It’s only a matter of time before Eleni Charitonos finds Italian, Russian, and potentially Mandarin as well. She is also herself outside of Earth’s atmosphere and in space. But in working on obtaining her pilot weeee the meantime, she is making Earth a more exciting place. sss

Eleni Charitonos | 15

Everyday Changemakers:

s o m a R a Shakir spos Cre

In Latin, the word “ingeniare” means “to devise” and the word “ingenium” means “cleverness.” A combination of the two words evolved to become the word “engineer.” As a mechanical engineer for aerospace manufacturer Pratt and Whitney, Shakira Ramos Crespo embodies both root words.

Coming from an underrepresented background, Ramos worked past numerous challenges during her collegiate and working years. Today, she is a successful engineer with a passion for outreach and supporting youth and young professionals in STEM.

Early Impressions of Engineering Ramos didn’t recognize her passion for engineering until her later high school years. Growing up without “knowing any STEM-related people,” she never envisioned a future for herself in STEM. However, when her junior year physics teacher nominated her for a pre-engineering program, she decided to “give engineering a try.” This teacher inadvertently shaped her future and academic career. “A teacher can have an impact when they recognize the potential of students,” Ramos says.

Armed with curiosity, Ramos joined the program despite having very little knowledge of what engineering entailed.

The program became her first encounter with engineering and a reason why she began to see a future for herself in the STEM field. Exploring the field with an open mind allowed her to embrace a strong STEM education, which she did when she attended Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut.

Engineering at a College level

At Trinity, Ramos majored in mechanical engineering, a field which she describes as the study of “balancing systems so mechanisms can work.” A degree in mechanical engineering would provide opportunities to work with cars, shuttles, and planes. The appeal of having a tangible product stood out to Ramos. From starting with pages of designs in a notebook to crafting an object that could fit in her hands, Ramos gained a new freedom. Engineering allowed her to understand how objects worked, and with that, gave her the power to create.

Despite her love for engineering, college was not easy for Ramos. She recalls spending “nights in the lab while [her] classmates were out having fun.” As an engineering student, her first two years were heavy in math and physics classes while her third and fourth year were filled with labs.

One of only two women in the entire program, Ramos battled imposter syndrome. As someone who just wanted to explore a field she had less exposure to, learning alongside classmates who were set on engineering from day one also contributed to her imposter syndrome.

“Some of my classmates had parents in the engineering field and grew up with regular interactions with the STEM field. So at times, I felt like an outsider,” Ramos explains.

But over time, she realized that her negative thoughts were purely internal. After spending extra time at office hours and collaborating with classmates, Ramos gradually overcame her self-doubt. “Remind yourself that you can do it, that you are smart and worthy enough,” Ramos advises.

“Your strengths and weaknesses balance each other out.”

From Classroom to Conference Room Outside of the classroom, Ramos joined professional organizations to expand her network and learn from others in the field. From the Society of Women Engineers to the National Society of Black Engineers, she found mentors who were able to aid her transition from college to industry. In fact, she had the opportunity to meet her future employers after attending an engineering conference where she was interviewed on the spot.

Transitioning to the workplace at Pratt and Whitney meant that Ramos had to adapt the skills she developed in college: “I had to learn how to pace myself while working on long-term projects and learn to work without a set daily schedule.” She learned through guidance from workplace mentors, who taught her to apply “the toolset gained in college” to solve problems faced when creating jet engines. “Don’t be afraid to speak up,” urges Ramos. “You will never get help if you don’t ask. There’s no need to be intimidated because most professionals are open to helping as long as you are eager to learn.” In addition to seeking help, Ramos emphasizes, “Don’t be afraid to be who you are.” In order to feel comfortable asking questions, “you should join a company, lab, or school where you feel accepted.”

Finding a Familia Part of feeling accepted in a workplace is finding a “family within the work group.” Joining groups such as the Hispanic Leadership Forum at Pratt and Whitney has allowed Ramos to connect with people of similar backgrounds. Having “a familia to go to after stressful days” or people to voice concerns to allows Ramos’s work-life balance to thrive.

Ramos also believes in finding a family within the STEM community. Finding mentors and reaching out to others can open up pivotal opportunities. “And once you join a workplace,” Ramos remarks, “you should turn back and help the younger generations.” Increasing representation and diversity within leadership could further motivate underrepresented youth to pursue a career in STEM, expanding the reach of STEM generation by generation.

When asked about her plans for the future, Ramos reflects that “for now, I’m at a place where I’ve found my ideal worklife balance.” In the future, Ramos hopes to “continue to work at Pratt and Whitney and continue STEM outreach.” Her most important goal? To “tell [her] story, share [her] hardships,” and empower others to speak up about their struggles and triumphs.

“You never know if something is negotiable,” says Knutston, and the only way to find out is to try. Smiling, Knutson reflects on her journey and concludes that “If I can do it, anyone else can as well.”

Shakira Ramos Crespo | 17

LAUREN SAVAGE'S

JOURNEY TO THE STARS

BY RACHEL LYNN MASON

Lauren Savage is headed for the stars. An engineer at Blue Origin's Advanced Development Programs and Human Spaceflight Graduate Researcher at Johns Hopkins, she is devoted to humanity’s trajectory to space and keeping humanity at the center of that journey. As a stress analysis and design engineer, her work revolves around humancentered design. “I never forget the reason we’re designing vehicles–to put people in them,” Savage says A lifelong learner, Savage has always been fascinated by the unknown and took inspiration from looking up at the 18 | Lauren Savage

stars. “Ever since I was a kid, I have loved space,” Savage shares enthusiastically. This initial fascination only grew as she learned more about the field, and she is now dedicated to the importance of her field. “I love how space unites people [ …] The idea of going to space ignite[s] a sense of curiosity and hope,” she says. In our conversation, Savage talked about reading academic journals in bed to unwind–a testament to the strength of her thirst for understanding. For someone with a desire to explore what is beyond humanity's grasp, reaching for the cosmos is a fulfilling pursuit.

Even after she got back on track with engineering in college, interning at American Airlines, she had a lot of growth ahead of her. She described a journey with confidence, having to build up the courage to be assertive, and the realization that growth comes from putting yourself out there a lot of the time. “Chasing what you want means that the struggle comes first,” Savage asserts.

Savage recognizes the value of self-care and maintaining a growth mindset, having faltered and come back stronger several times. In her last year of high school, she completed the arduous process of applying to the Air Force Academy and received an appointment, but she couldn’t accept it due to a serious and unexpected illness.

Though initially crushed, she was able to enroll in aerospace engineering at the University of Arlington and rediscover her passions through internships and handson experience. “Sometimes things don’t work out the way you want them to, but they work out the way they should,'' Savage says. The peace of mind she has is not in spite of her lofty aspirations, but because of them, along with years of experience challenging herself and dedication to her passions.

At the start of her career, Savage focused mostly on the aspects of projects that humans interact with, like interior spaces and control panels. Previously, Savage had worked as a design and analysis engineer at Lockheed Martin, where she was a proud member of the team that built the Dream Chaser spacecraft, a reusable system designed to carry people up to low earth orbit. She also worked with NASA and American Airlines, conducting research on space missions and working with clients from all over the world. Now in her first year at Blue Origin, she is getting to explore more vehicle engineering. She loves the company’s focus on accessible space travel as it ties into the ultimate destination she sees humanity reaching.

Outside of the industry, she is engaged in research at John Hopkins, where she is focusing on making spaceflight safe for human beings.

Being a minority in a field like aerospace engineering is tricky, but Savage advises tackling that challenge by finding mentors and being as proactive as possible. ”If you don’t ask for something, you won’t get it,” she advises.

“You have to make a point to ask for the opportunities.”

Continuing to keep people at the center of her endeavors, Savage strives to not only see the value in those opportunities, but she has also worked hard to create them for others. She has worked with Girls Inc., a nonprofit mentoring program for young women in STEM, while she was at Lockheed Martin to share the lessons she has learned in confidence and her skill knowledge, giving back to those like her and sharing the importance of selfadvocacy.

Despite her aspirations of traveling to space one day to implement a design or engineering project, she recognizes that “self-care is important.” Outside of engineering, she enjoys activities like scuba diving to recharge and stay motivated.

Whether she’s researching the biological effects of spaceflight on human health, designing the spacecraft that will take us to the stars, or sharing her knowledge and journey with others, Lauren Savage is devoted to improving the human condition by taking us to space.

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Science is Beautiful

BY ISABEL POWELL

In our bustling, blue-light-filled world, we often have to remind ourselves to take a moment and appreciate the beauty of the natural world around us. For most, this might involve a quick walk through a park or forest, listening to waves crash against the shore, or listening to the first birdsongs in the spring. However, we often neglect the inherent beauty of the world too small to see. Our lives are built by trillions of precise chemical reactions and complex biological structures, yet most of us hardly know how intricately and beautifully designed they are. From the glimmer of bioluminescent organisms to the frantic dashing of neurotransmitters, it’s worth taking a moment to appreciate just how wonderfully complicated the natural world is.

There are two factors preventing us from enjoying the intricacies of the microscopic world: its tiny size and its complexity. Selective staining methods add colors that allow us to detect distinct parts of cells or chemical compounds. Microscopes then magnify the small particles and cells, exposing us to the chaotic world of biology. They allow us to identify what we are looking at, sense movement, and learn about the inner workings of this nearly invisible world.

Pathogen: a bacterium, virus, or other microorganism that can cause disease.

The Immune System: Protecting You and Looking Good Doing It On the left and right, a vibrant macrophage is brought to life by a 3View electron microscope at the University of Queensland.

Macrophages are part of the immune system; they respond to infections by engulfing a pathogen and alerting other immune cells to the presence of an invader. On the outside of the macrophage, the colors illuminate the cell membrane and a highly structured cytoskeleton in a beautiful display. We can detect macrophages even without a microscope. For example, when a cut becomes infected, the cut may become sore and warm. This heat and pain are proof that macrophages are at work protecting you from foreign invaders!

Cell Biology and Art | 21

Brains are Beautiful For those who are intrigued by neuroscience, the image on the left will be of interest to you! Captured here is a young hippocampal neuron.

Every second, our neurons send messages, pictured here as bright, traveling sparks, to different parts of the brain. In this snapshot alone, thousands of neurons are intertwined, connecting different regions of the brain and allowing the brain to store memories and learn.

Nadia Cummins captured a simpler, yet equally as impressive display on the right. Two neurons interlace, supporting each other as they grow. Their long, sprawling axons reach out to communicate with other neurons nearby. This interconnection and growth allow us to think, act, and learn.

The neurons shown on the left were captured with confocal microscopy and illuminated with fluorescent labeling. Confocal microscopy uses a laser to magnify microscopic samples, and fluorescent labeling colors particular substances by attaching a fluorophore. The cell bodies, shown predominantly in yellow and orange, are the center of a neuron’s functions; they carry genetic information, maintain the neuron’s unique and specific structure, and provide energy for sending messages throughout the brain.

These imaging techniques can even help us detect when something is wrong. In some cases, microscopic imaging can diagnose health conditions and help people receive necessary medical care. The image at right demonstrates the striking difference between a healthy adult brain (top) and the brain of a person suffering from Alzherimers (bottom). Alzheimers is a brain disorder that slowly compromises memory and disrupts brain functioning, particularly in older people. Alzheimers is often associated with amyloid plaques, or abnormal bumps, shown below in red, which prevent messages from being properly sent through the brain.

22 | Cell Biology and Art

Chemistry is Cool X-ray crystallography is a complex and difficult process by which a researcher grows a crystal, freezes it, and shoots it with an X-ray beam. During one of her first attempts at x-ray crystallography, Furlong mistakenly waited too long and the crystal dried completely on the microscope. This accident produced this beautiful image instead! Even if you don’t end up with the results you anticipated or hoped for, you can always find something beautiful in your mistakes.

We often appreciate science for its practical applications, rather than its physical appearance.

Perhaps it’s worth taking a second to admire how wonderfully planned and spontaneously chaotic life, and the science behind it, can be. From meticulous cellular structures to beautiful chemical accidents, science is truly beautiful.

Cell Biology and Art | 23

David Goodsell makes incredibly intricate artistic representations of cells and their structure. Cellulose fibers, pictured right, make up plant cell walls and provide the organism with structure and protection.

24 | Cell Biology and Art

BY CAELEY LOONEY

pg. 27

Holiday

Gift Guide

CLOTHING 26 | Holiday Gift Guide

Space is my Happy Place Crop Hoodie $35.50 Nothing looks more stylish and chic than a well-designed crop hoodie. As such, this one won’t disappoint. It’s not just a super stylish, space-themed, crop-top hoodie, it is also super comfy due to being made from soft three-end fleece with ultra tight-knit construction. www.etsy.com/shop/AdAstraSu

JWST Carina Nebula Long-Sleeve Midi Dress $79.00 The first full-color science images from JWST are finally here. What better way is there to wear and share space than a wonderfully twirl-worthy mid-length dress with pockets?

This image is the “Cosmic Cliffs” of NGC 3324 in the Carina Nebula as imaged by NIRCam and MRI at infrared wavelengths of light. Startorialist’s site has a wide variety of designs for any space lover! https://shop.startorialist.com/

Constellations Glow-In-The-Dark Dress $70.00 Reach for the stars and twirl in this elegant, glowing, celestial dress! The wondrous night sky has inspired generations of humans to imagine what lies beyond. We made another dress as an homage to the amazing Cartographer of the Universe, Margaret Geller. She has spent her lifetime dedicated to the unthinkable task of mapping the universe to understand the patterns of galaxies we see today! https://svahausa.com/

Starting at $39.00 Observe the universe and be observed with this sparkling golden jewelry featuring the James Webb Space Telescope’s primary mirror design. This design is available as earrings, a necklace, and even holiday ornaments. http://www.sciencesocks.co/

Coding Crystal Hair Pins Starting at $9.99 Add some extra flair to your wardrobe with these STEM-themed crystal hair pins. Each design features a different word that can describe any woman in engineering, science, technology, and more! https://codingcrystals.com/

Solar System Necklace $31.00 This necklace design is based on our solar system, which is only about 4.6 billion years old (give or take). This is perfect for the scientist/astronomer in your life! In addition to space-themed jewelry, Ad Astra Boutique has a variety of other designs inspired by biology, chemistry, and math. https://adastraboutique.com/

ACCESSORIES

James Webb Space Telescope Jewelry

Holiday Gift Guide | 27

Cell Soap - Science-Inspired Cosmetics $10.00 Studying for biology has never been easier!

Alchemist Asia’s cell soap is replicated after an animal cell and its organelles (no cells or animals were harmed in the making of these)! This science inspired cosmetic shop also features a variety of other beauty products. https://www.alchemistasia.us/

Sparkle STEM Connect Subscription Box Starting at $39.99/ month The first-ever subscription box for women in STEM! Each month you will receive a curated box of practical self-care and fun lifestyle products to help you relax, grow, and connect, along with access to an online community of women in STEM, with the goal of inspiring more selfconfidence and helping you enjoy your STEM journey. http://www.sparklestemconnect.com/

Art Deco Cat Lamp Soldering Kit $19.95 Create a 3D Art Deco-like Cat Lamp with this beautifully designed soldering kit from our maker friends down under, Elkei Education. When assembled and powered on, the lamp turns on when the surroundings get dark thanks to a light sensor. https://www.adafruit.com/product/5237

28 | Holiday Gift Guide

NASA SLS Block 1 Pin $11.00 NASA’s SLS rocket! Destined to launch humans back to the moon in the coming years as part of the Artemis program, it is the culmination of many years of work. After several scrubbed launch attempts this year, we here at Reinvented think that more people might need to wear this pin at the next one for some extra good luck. https://www.launchpins.com/#/

REINVENTED MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION $32.00 Subscribe now to our one-of-a-kind print (or digital!) magazine written for girls in STEM by girls in STEM. Each issue features inspiring female and nonbinary role models in STEM along with DIY tutorials, an advice column, and the latest STEM news! https://www.reinventedmagazine.com/shop

Holiday Gift Guide | 29

GET FEATURED 1. Take a photo with your magazine copy 2. Post it on your social media 3. tag us @reinventedmagazine

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Katya Echazarreta Redefining Boundaries in Space and on Earth BY: ISABEL POWELL

Twenty-six-year-old Kat Echazarreta had unique summer vacation plans. In June, she returned from her first trip to space and became a role model and inspiration to thousands as the first Mexican-born woman in space.

Echazarreta started her journey when she was a young girl. She was always intrigued by the mysteries of science; “I’ve always been fascinated by things that I could not understand, and when I was a kid, there were two things I couldn’t understand: electricity and space,” she says. Echazarreta decided to study electrical engineering at San Diego Community College in order to continue to to support her family while pursuing her academic goals. In her college, she excelled academically, yet she doubted her own power.

Professors at school would advocate on her behalf for internships and professional opportunities, explaining that Echazarreta was an upcoming star, but Echazarreta herself struggled to recognize the strength of her own potential.

Several mentors in her life, including her mother and her professor, Dr. Rafael Alvarez, pushed her to believe in herself, recognize her strength, and know her worth. “I felt like I didn’t know enough to apply to anything".

"He [Dr. Rafael Alvarez] really was that person that was fighting for you, when you felt like you couldn’t. That was my mom too when I was younger. There are sometimes certain people in your life that believe in you so much that you start to believe in yourself.” With Dr. Alvarez’s help, Echazarreta won several scholarships that allowed her to transfer to UCLA.

d by e t a n i en fasc e nd, b a t s s y r a e d w “I’ve al not un d l u o Ic e were t r a e h h t t s , thing s a kid a and: w t I s r n e e d h n and w ldn’t u u o c I ings ace,” p s d n two th city a electri

32 | Katya Echazarreta

At UCLA, everything changed.

Overwhelmed by the rigor of courses and struggling without her support network, Echazarreta had her “first taste of failure.” Intense feelings of ineptitude and not-belonging crept in, and Echazarreta began to deprive herself of sleep and sacrificed eating healthily in order to study. But, just as it started to become too much, Echazarreta recognized that she didn’t need to struggle alone, and no grade was worth physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion.

“I would not have been able to get out of UCLA without help. I realized early on that part of the reason why I was struggling was because I tried to do everything on my own… Everything that I’m doing requires so much out of me, and there’s no way I could do what I’m doing now if I didn’t prioritize my health.” Echazarreta began reaching out to other students in her classes, eager to form study groups to learn collaboratively. She became more comfortable with reaching out to professors for help and learned to be kinder and more forgiving to herself.

Katya Echazarreta | 33

As soon as she committed to putting herself first, her grades improved dramatically. She then landed an electrical engineering internship at NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab. There, she was determined to prove that she belonged. She made herself invaluable to her team, picking up and completing essential tasks.

At the end of the internship, Echazarreta was hired to continue working for JPL upon graduation, and she continued to work there for four years. She became the Test Lead for the Europa Clipper Ground Support Equipment group, responsible for testing spacecraft simulation systems.

One day, a colleague in a JPL group chat shared a message regarding a new opportunity: becoming a Citizen Astronaut with Space for Humanity. The one catch: the deadline was that very day. Intrigued by the opportunity to travel to space, Echazarreta spontaneously applied.

34 | Katya Echazarreta

The Space for Humanity mission was designed around a psychological phenomenon referred to as “The Overview Effect”. Subtle yet profound, the Overview Effect describes the psychological shift that has been observed in astronauts who have witnessed the Earth, in all its beauty and fragility, from space and then returned to Earth.

Slowly, astronauts, who never before considered themselves humanitarians, began dedicating their lives to social causes. In 1971, Edgar Mitchell landed on the Moon and provided an early description of the Overview Effect: “You develop an instant global consciousness, a people orientation, an intense dissatisfaction with the state of the world, and a compulsion to do something about it.”

When you can seemingly reach out to grasp the entire Earth at once, nothing seems impossible. When all of the Earth’s problems are no larger than your palm, then no challenge is too overwhelming. Humanity suddenly seems fragile. Yet, at the same time, it seems unified and saveable. Space for Humanity aims to harness the awe-inspiring power of the Overview Effect to embolden change-makers and cultivate a sustainably peaceful future.

“Space for Humanity asked: If this effect could happen in people who never considered themselves humanitarians, and it made them bold enough to act, then what could happen in people who are already that way? What can happen if we take these people to space, help them have that experience, and then plant them all over the world like seeds? What kind of change can we create by making these people bolder and giving them this powerful platform?”

Echazarreta embodied the very person Space for Humanity was looking for: someone who had persevered against all odds, unrelentingly followed her dreams, and was dedicated to improving the world around her.

“I want to be known, above anything else, as a good human being. As someone who prioritizes friends, families, and the well-being of others above any financial success or recognition. That is the core of who I am.”

The exciting news arrived in April of 2019: Echazarreta was chosen out of over seven thousand applicants for the Citizen Astronaut Program and would become the first Mexican-born woman in space. Overjoyed and slightly panicked, Echazarreta used the few weeks she had before her journey to space to prepare, emotionally, mentally, and physically. Then, in June 2022, Echazarreta blasted off into space aboard Blue Origin’s NS-21 flight.

“When you’re in space, and you’re experiencing this for the first time, a lot of things are happening that will confuse you. In those first few seconds of microgravity, your mind is not able to understand that, and your body is telling you that this is not okay.

It took a good 10 seconds before my brain could understand and I could react normally.” “[The Overview Effect] is not something that you can pinpoint. You can’t say ‘oh yes, that’s what happened to me.’ It’s more of a shift in perspective and a shift in thinking. It’s so subtle and yet it's not.

Katya Echazarreta | 35

“At first, you attribute the change to the amazing, overwhelming experience, but over time, it becomes obvious. I already felt the need to help, but it made me more daring in the things that I do and the things that I try.”

On her trip to space, Echazarreta instantaneously became an inspiration to an entire generation of young girls. Fueled by dedication, determination, and resilience, she had left the confines of Earth and traveled where only a few hundred people have been before. Yet, as she touched back down to Earth, Echazarreta felt uneasy. Even with a strong network of support and the proper resources, it is still incredibly difficult to become an engineer or astronaut.

Without a support system, it is nearly impossible. Although Echazarreta had lived in the United States for most of her life, she was deeply familiar with the disparities in opportunities for students between the U.S. and Mexico. “It didn’t sit right with me telling people to dream big, knowing that many of these opportunities do not exist in Mexico.”

Driven by the courage and determination that only a once-in-a-lifetime experience like bursting through the atmosphere can provide, Echazarreta decided to start a foundation in Mexico to help provide these opportunities to thousands of children. It wasn’t enough to inspire them to follow their dreams; she wanted to ensure they actually could.

36 | Katya Echazarreta

For thousands of young girls in Latin America, seeing Echazarreta, a young female astronaut who looked like them instills much-need confidence and a sense of belonging. The power of images cannot be understated. As a role model for an entire generation, Echazarreta is beginning to normalize confident, powerful, and unique Hispanic women in STEM. Through social media and television outreach, Echazarreta is beginning to spread this important image. Known as Electric Echazarreta, she shares her love of electricity on “Mission Unstoppable.” On “Netflix IRL,” she uses experimentation to teach science while debunking movie scenes.

With decades ahead of her, Echazarreta’s future shines bright. She will undoubtedly continue to increase equity in science education in Mexico and inspire an entire generation of female Hispanic astronauts and engineers. To them, she leaves one message: “The journey is hard. When we understand that, we are actually able to do it. Lots of people believe that if something is hard for them, then they aren’t good enough to do it, and that’s not true. Recognizing that something is hard work and committing to doing it anyway is where success comes from. Learn to love the challenge.”

I want all the little girls watching to see someone who looks like them doing these things, making them look really cool, really fun, without having to sacrifice who they are, what they want to be, and what they want to look like in their careers.

Katya Echazarreta | 37

Sponsor Reinvented The success of our programs would not be possible without the support of our sponsors and partners. 2023 will be no different. Reinvented Inc. is offering companies, organizations, and individuals with a wide variety of sponsorship opportunities that support all of our program: Princesses with Powertools Teacher Care Packages Reinvented Magazine One-for-One Program 2024 Calendars Reinvented Space Gala Review our 2023 Sponsor Guide and reach out to us when you're ready to help us empower girls in STEM!

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Construction in the Next Great Frontier BY: LUYANG ZHANG

Q&A with

apis cor

B

uilding a home isn’t easy. The process of installing the house’s frame, electricity, plumbing, insulation, flooring, and drywall takes around seven months, according to the US Census Bureau. Apis Cor, a construction company based in Florida, has tapped into a creative strategy that promises to streamline construction: building using industrial-scale 3D printers. One of the company’s printers, nicknamed Frank, is capable of finishing the frame of a 2,000-square-foot home in as little as 40 hours.

In 2019, Apis Cor took on construction beyond Earth and became a finalist in NASA’s 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge. During the challenge, the Apis Cor team developed technology with the potential to autonomously 3D print housing using materials found in its surrounding environment, whether in space or in locations on Earth with limited construction materials. Now, Apis Cor’s vision of affordable, efficient, and readily accessible housing — on Earth or otherwise — continues to be a driving force for their work. Join us for our conversation with Anna Cheniuntai, CEO and co-founder of Apis Cor, about her story, work, and vision for Apis Cor. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

What’s the Apis Cor origin story? What drew you to 3D printing technology and what made you realize that you wanted to make a company surrounding this kind of technology?

I always wanted to be an entrepreneur. I decided to study Space Physics as a university student because it was something fundamental, very interesting, and inspiring.

One year before graduation, I met my future co-founder of Apis Cor, Nick. At the time, he had his own business building industrial machinery. Factories would come to Nick and ask him to build machines to do specific tasks because they could not find a solution on the market, and Nick would custom-build machines to meet their requirements. I joined him and started helping with the operational side of the business and learned a lot about the industry.

Then, we secured a massive contract to manufacture and deploy the ground navigation system for visitors of the Olympic Games in 2014. Nick and I were responsible for millions of visitors finding their way around the Olympic Games and not getting lost. We had to develop the routes and design, fabricate, and deploy about 5,000 signages. It was an extremely hard project to complete within a short period of time. To make matters worse, construction sites where we were to deploy the signs were not completed on Games

time due to labor shortages and generally outdated construction processes.

Fortunately, we were able to successfully deliver the project, and we learned how outdated the construction industry was while developing it. This inspired us to invest our time and money into changing the construction industry. Nick combined his knowledge in robotics, industrial machines, and construction to invent the revolutionary design of one of the most well-recognized construction 3D printers today.

We launched Apis Cor, and I officially became the entrepreneur I always wanted to be.

What motivated you to join the NASA 3D Printed Habitat Challenge and how was your participation a formative experience for developing your tech?

The Challenge was centered around autonomous 3D printing construction technology that, in the future, can be used on the moon and Mars to build shelters for the first to arrive. One of the main challenges was to 3D print a habitat element in a fully autonomous way with minimal human intervention. Intervention more than 30 minutes total would strike you out of the competition. It reflects the real challenge of building in space, where robots will have to be fully autonomous with remote operation from Earth. This exp

Apis Cor | 41

experience helped us find ways to improve the process and technology.

In what ways has working with 3D printing influenced your beliefs on construction and how have these beliefs manifested in Apis Cor’s values and mission?

I have always believed in what we do from the beginning, but what made the biggest impact was seeing how our technology can be scaled. This was brought to my attention when we loaded our robots onto a flatbed trailer in Boston and drove across the country for the next construction project. There was no need for cranes, pallet jacks, or forklifts. We simply used a joystick to drive the robot from the shop and straight through the doors. That was the moment I realized Apis Cor technology is for everyone — it was easy to transport, deploy, and use. Our mission is to make this emerging technology accessible and available for everyone to use while being economically feasible.

What was the reason for the expansion of Apis Cor’s work to construction beyond Earth?

We see autonomous construction on other planets as a natural continuation of our work here on Earth.

Autonomous construction is the only way to build on other planets. At Apis Cor, we are striving to make construction 3D printing as autonomous as possible so individuals with various skill sets will be able to easily use the technology to battle the housing crisis worldwide. It would be a shame to lose this knowledge and limit its application solely on Earth.

We've gained an immense amount of experience in construction automation and robotics. We can use the experience we have gained to pursue more ambitious goals and challenges. I love to say that you should target the moon because even if you miss it you will end up among the stars.

You have a pretty awesome dual background in business and space physics. How has your role as co-founder encouraged you to adapt and grow in either area of expertise?

In a startup, you have to wear many different hats. You have 42 | Apis Cor

to step into the role of an owner, salesperson, leader, business developer, or even an engineer. This is something that significantly changed my mindset and encouraged me to grow and learn more about various fields. My background in space physics helped me to quickly understand engineering solutions and fabrication processes and apply common sense to solve problems and build strategies. I believe that studying STEM disciplines helps students develop critical thinking skills, which can be applied to any career path.

What is the most rewarding part of leading Apis Cor? It feels incredibly inspiring when you see a bold concept of technology and equipment that has never existed before become a reality and work successfully to implement physical and tangible things, like full-scale houses.

What excites you most about the direction Apis Cor and its technology are going in?

I am very excited that we have the opportunity to expand the construction industry by building homes more quickly and increasing productivity and efficiency. I am excited to reach new generations and encourage them to become involved in the industry. We need more individuals working in the construction industry. The majority of millennials are no longer interested in labor-intensive, physically demanding work. Our construction robots are changing not only the construction industry but the landscape of the workforce as well.

Reshaping and disrupting have been central to Apis Cor’s mission from the beginning, whether in the housing or the construction industry as a whole. There's no doubt that they’ll bring this same innovative spirit to the next stop: space. exp

Burning Up Barriers: Hot Nozzle Society & Jenna Kay Foertsch BY: ISABEL POWELL

Influencer.

Business Advisor.

NASA employee.

Rocket Engineer.

And only 25.

Jenna Kay Foertsch’s career path has been unconventional, to say the least. Starting as an influential Tumblr blogger at 12, Foertsch has long advocated for equity and representation in STEM. Then, as a teenager, Foertsch became deeply involved in start-ups. She worked with early-stage companies, including an ethical clothing company, multiple robotics-based startups, and a Meme coloring book, to build business plans. Driven by her creativity, Foertsch learned to identify unique and exciting business opportunities and had an uncanny ability to grow successful companies: “Engineers see creativity in a certain way. Artists see creativity in a different, particular way. When you marry the two, that’s when the best stuff happens.”

After being introduced to robotics in her high school, Foertsch studied Business and Marketing Education at the University of Minnesota and pursued engineering as her “cute little side hobby.” During college, she explored her interests (or “obsessions'', as she calls them) through internships and by working with start-ups. Later, she was invited to travel to DC as part of a grass roots group and to meet with Congressional staff about NASA’s budget.

In DC, she fell in love with the idea of space exploration and how NASA technology can be used on Earth. She began working with NASA as a public affairs intern shortly after.

“My very first day as an intern, I pulled up to the gates. There was the huge sign that said ‘NASA Johnson Space Center’ and there was this massive building with a Saturn V, and I remember thinking, ‘Oh my God, I made it.’”

"Anything I can do to move the needle is progress"

From Senior Meme Researcher to NASA, Foertsch’s career had shifted dramatically. And she wouldn’t change a thing. “If you had asked me five years ago what I wanted to do, there is a 0% chance that I would have said [working at] ‘NASA’... Trust that you will get where you need to go with time. Keep an open mind. Keep saying ‘yes.’”

Last spring, Foertsch found herself surrounded by fellow space enthusiasts, as one of her friends wanted to earn his rocketry certification. Despite knowing absolutely nothing about rockets, her friends convinced her to earn her L1 certification, and she started building rockets in her garage. As soon as she experienced the thrill of a launch, she thought to herself, “Oh no 44 | Hot Nozzle Society

no, this is about to be a thing.” Her new obsession started consuming every second of her free time.

Within a few months, she decided to host an event in the Mojave desert for fellow rocket enthusiasts.

From there, the Hot Nozzle Society was born. Hot Nozzle Society brings together space and engineering enthusiasts and helps expand their rocketry knowledge. So far, they have created a comprehensive guide to high-power rocketry that helps beginners earn their L1 certification, the first step towards becoming a rocketry expert, and are currently working to found a Booster’s club to support their initiatives.

One of the primary missions of the Hot Nozzle Society is to address issues of inequitable access for women, people of color, and people of lower socioeconomic status in the aerospace and engineering industries. The organization aims to make rocketry more accessible to people who love space and want to learn more but may have been discouraged from joining a local rocketry club. With hundreds of attendees and a 70-person team of organizers, the Hot Nozzle Society had erupted into a movement that wants to break down the barriers within rocketry and aerospace engineering. “Rocketry is the beginning of [a] pipeline that goes into aerospace engineering. So if I want to make the industry better, this is the place to start.” Still, dissolving such ingrained barriers and increasing accessibility, particularly to an event that takes place in the middle of the desert, is not an easy challenge.

“It’s really hard to make something truly accessible.

Rocketry is an expensive hobby. Most STEM hobbies are really expensive, and that excludes a lot of people.

Anything I can do to move the needle is progress.”

Still, Foertsch managed to make an incredibly inclusive and welcoming event. “I had multiple people tell me that it was the best weekend of their [lives]. I could not handle it. Many people told me that, before this, they had never been in a space where everyone wanted to help them succeed and where they felt comfortable enough to unapologetically be [themselve[themselves]. That’s a crazy thing to be able to give to people.”

Continuing to inspire people to pursue their passions, Foertsch reflects on the flexible and everchanging nature of her ambitions: “I was never someone who 100% knew what they wanted to do. Be patient with yourself and your growth. A lot of people expect an ‘aha’ moment where they instantly know what to do. That might not happen, and that’s okay.

I’m doing something that I’m passionate about and surrounded by people [who] support me. That’s enough. That’s a pretty great place to be.”

On top of all of her amazing accomplishments, Foertsch is an authentic, compassionate, and hilarious human being. Not many people are trying to populate a spreadsheet of every sushi place in Houston to figure out which one is the best or reward themself with a Squishmallow when they accomplish something big in their career. Even fewer people would accidentally have TikTok go off in NASA Mission Control or have to charge a rover at a Sonic because it ran out of battery. To meet someone as unapologetically iconic as Foertsch is an experience everyone should be lucky enough to have.

From Tumblr to NASA to Hot Nozzle Society, Foertsch’s career path has been anything but predictable or traditional. One can only imagine where the next 25 years will lead her.

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Getting Started WITH

High-Powered Rocketry WHAT IS ROCKETRY? Rocketry is the practice of designing, building, and flying rockets. The field of rocketry involves many different disciplines of science and engineering, such as aerodynamics, thermodynamics, chemistry, and more. Understanding these fields is important as you get further in rocket design, but you don’t need to be a scientist or engineer to make a rocket fly!

Fundamentally, a rocket is a self-contained vehicle that expels some of its mass to produce through. In high-power rocketry, most rockets have the basic components shown in the images below.

All rockets need a motor or engine to produce thrust, which is generated by burning propellant or rocket fuel. The motor is typically located at the bottom of the rocket. The primary tube of the rocket is called the body tube or airframe; it holds the motor and all other components of the rocket. Fins and a nose cone are attached to the body tube to make the rocket aerodynamically stable, and a parachute is stored inside the body tube to allow the rocket to land safely. Many rockets include other components to achieve different goals, but most will include at least these five basic components.

46 | Hot Nozzle Society

FORCES OF FLIGHT When a rocket is flying, it experiences forces that push on the rocket in multiple directions. These forces are called thrust, drag, and weight.

Thrust from the rocket motor pushes the rocket off the ground and into the sky.

Drag is created by the air flowing around the rocket and increases when a surface is rough. Weight is the force created by the rocket being pulled to Earth by gravity.

The picture here also shows the location of two important points on a rocket: the Center of Gravity (CG) and the Center of Pressure (CP). The CG of a rocket is the location of its average weight, which you can measure by balancing the rocket lengthwise. Thrust and drag act at the CP of a rocket, which can be found using a simulation. The rocket’s CP is similar to the CG, but it measures the average location of the pressure forces instead of the average location of gravitational forces.

A rocket’s stability margin is found by measuring the distance between the CG and CP and dividing by the rocket’s diameter. For stable flight, your rocket should have a stability margin of 1.0 - 2.0, and the CP must be behind the CG. Stability can be altered in several ways. If you increase your fin size, add more fins, or move your fin afts, the CP moves aft. If you increase the weight of the nose, the CG moves forward.

PHASES OF FLIGHT High-power rocket flights have very defined stages from their launch to their recovery. When you see your first launch, these steps will be incredibly clear! Each stage is associated with different interactions happening between rocket components. The figure here shows a typical flight profile for a single-stage rocket.

Want to learn more about high-power rocketry? Check out this online guide made by HNS and SEDS.

Hot Nozzle Society | 47

GIRLS OF STEEL:

N R E D O M DAY ROSIE

THE

RIVETERS BY: LUYANG ZHANG

48 | Girls of Steel Robotics

We Can Do It! These assured words are in a dark blue bubble, the lettering bolded and white. A woman wearing a collared work shirt and donning a spotted bandana overlays the words. Her arm is flexed, and her eyes are striking — stoic, determined, confident.

She is Rosie the Riveter, the subject of an art piece born as part of a United States campaign to encourage women to fill the gaps in the workforce left by men traveling to fight overseas in World War II. But Rosie’s confidence and poise in rallying women workers far outlasted this original purpose and is now an allegory for gender equality, female independence, and women in the workforce. So, Rosie was the natural choice for the emblem of Girls of Steel Robotics, an all-girls For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST®) competition program founded in 2010 and based at the Field Robotics Center at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Girls of Steel aims to combat the “leaky STEM pipeline,” the concept that underrepresented genders in STEM are historically neglected the resources, support, and opportunities in STEM and correspondingly less likely to choose or thrive in STEM fields — and as such, the program contains teams encompassing age groups from kindergarten to twelfth grade.

The youngest Girls of Steel, students in kindergarten to third grade and fourth to eighth grades, are eligible for the co-ed FIRST® LEGO® League Explore (FLL Explore) teams and the FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge teams (FLL Challenge), respectively. Eighth and newly joined ninth graders are delegated into the all-girls FIRST® Tech Challenge (FTC) teams, and the all-girls FIRST® Robotics Challenge (FRC) team is composed of high schoolers, including ninth graders who have previously participated in a Girls of Steel FTC team.

This Girls of Steel “program pyramid” nurtures and retains girls in STEM, each program acting as a stepping stone to funnel younger girls who are interested in coding and robotics towards programs ge

geared for older, more experienced members. Many members of the program have been involved at multiple levels. They have built a cohesive skillset that draws on experience in all competitive levels, from developing rudimentary programming skills in Scratch-like applications and working with LEGO® robots in the FLL teams, all the way to conceptualizing and building a full-scale, 120-pound robot for FIRST® regionals and World Championship competitions and working on a 2021-2022 LemelsonMIT InvenTeam for BuzzBand (a wearable fitness device designed for youth with autism) as part of the FRC team.

“The most important thing is that the top of the pyramid wouldn’t exist without the bottom of the pyramid,” says FRC team member and Student Support Director Mia Maurizio, who previously participated in FTC. “That’s why our FLL teams are so important for the entire team — it’s our responsibility to encourage the younger generations of girls in STEM so when they get to our age, they can still be excited about it.”

Part of maintaining the program’s pyramid involves establishing a community that nurtures young girls in STEM outside of the program’s membership.

the progra m pyramid

1 FRC 2 FTC 4 FLL Challenge 9 FLL Explore Girls of Steel Robotics | 49

@girlsofsteelrobotics @TheGirlsofSteel

“Everyone on the team does outreach; it’s part of the culture in Girls of Steel,” explains FRC member and Business Project Manager, Ashley Wei. “We have the opportunity to be part of this cool community, and that’s something we want to pass on to other people.”

Outreach and mentorship events have included construction-themed Hackathons that teach children how to build and program LEGO® robots and code their own games on Scratch; “Rosie Talks,” in which FRC members and women in professional STEM fields share advice for navigating co-ed STEM spaces; and the Chassis Project, a program in which Girls of Steel team members teach community members how to build their own robots. “We definitely want everyone to learn about robots, but it’s also about the teamwork that goes into it. We focus on emphasizing teamwork and kindness first, and learning about robots will fall into place,” Maurizio says.

Within the organization itself, Girls of Steel is structured to encourage team members to expose themselves to as many different leadership and managerial opportunities as possible. Not only are

50 | Girls of Steel Robotics

the FLL teams mentored by girls from the FTC and FRC teams, additional leadership roles within FRC teams, divided into Business and Technical teams, help ensure the quality of every aspect of their work, from robotics to finance and outreach.

Of course, Girls of Steel’s emphasis on developing intrapersonal skills and community engagement has not come at the expense of performance in the competitive sphere. During the 2021-2022 competitive season, the FRC theme was Rapid React. That year, teams were asked to create robots that transported cargo into hubs of differing heights. Overcoming challenges from social distancing recommendations due to COVID, the Girls of Steel team met remotely during the beginning of the FRC build season to plan their robot using computer-aided design (CAD) software before coming together to build their robot in a three-week period.

Throughout their competitive season, the Girls of Steel garnered the esteemed Regional Chairman's Award and the Regional Engineering Inspiration

Award for their excellence in embodying FIRST® values and advancing community appreciation for engineering, both of which qualified them for the World Championship in Houston.

The competition space has also been a significant setting for growth for many members. Wei recalls a time in the 2022 competitive year in which they and their teammates made the decision to redesign aspects of their robot in a four-day window between competitions, shifting the team’s placement from around the bottom ten into the top twenty teams.

“As the programmer, I had to get together with the mechanical and electrical students and really figure out how we wanted to change the robot to get it to improve before our next competition. We had such a short time period, so it required a lot of communication and teamwork and decisive action. It was something that I took a lot of leadership in, whichI’m very proud of,” says Wei. Coordinating robotics teams, planning outreach events, mentoring younger students — the breadth of management and technical skills each Girls of Steel member possesses makes them not only incredibly competent engineers but also deeply well-rounded individuals. It’s the kind of development that has made the Girls of Steel role models in the FIRST® community.

“At Worlds, elementary school girls in FLL came up to us and told us that they’ve always wanted to meet the Girls of Steel,” recalls FTC member and Technical Project Manager Samhita Gudapati. “It’s amazing to

know that our team has inspired other girls across the country to pursue STEM and be confident with it.”

“And they’re not famous because their robot is the best — they’re famous because they are the best.

Everyone loves meeting the girls at competition and is so inspired by them — I think that’s even better,” added Sarah Withee, a Girls of Steel mentor. “As a software engineer, I see the gender imbalance constantly. I was often the only woman in my programming classes in college and often the only woman on teams at work. One of the important things I see is giving the girls the confidence to lead, but also not think their ideas are bad or they need to apologize [for them]. Society tends to tell women and girls they're not as good or as capable as men and boys, so I see the importance in reminding them they are and pushing them to make their ideas successful.”

Even more importantly, Girls of Steel strives to ensure that members are having fun with STEM. “I genuinely love this team,” Maurizio says. “I’ve met such amazing people, and it’s kind of insane to think about how I go to an after-school activity with some friends and get to do a little bit of changing lives on the side.”

In a number of group pictures, the FRC team members are dressed in plaid, wearing red bandanas and proudly flexing an arm, like the woman in the Girls of Steel emblem. Each one of them is beaming, confident, and excited about their work, truly as determined to make their mark on the world as Rosie the Riveter.

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SPACE API PROJECT Hello, Mission Cadets! This next mission briefing explains the creation of a webpage that will hold information taken from NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) and other space-based APIs (Application Programming Interface). The core part of this mission involves using JavaScript to import data from APIs provided

by NASA and Open Notify in order to create a couple of applets. This includes the Astronomy Picture of the Day, Mars Rover Images, and two additional stretch goals.

?

WHAT IS AN API? An API, or Application Programming Interface, can be thought of as a set of properties or methods on an object that provide access to specific functionality or data. Essentially, it allows applications to talk to each other and share information.

GETTING STARTED 1. Create your free Codecraft account by logging in at https://code.cr/kg8 2. Go to the course to see all the missions. You can continue on the course or follow along here in this article. https://code.cr/space-api-project 3. Find the first lesson (Getting Started with APIs) 4. Go to the project template 5. Click the Clone button at the top of the page to open the Clone Project modal window 6. In the Clone Project modal window, click the Clone button to confirm that you want to clone this project

CREATE:

Once you have done this, you will be taken to your copy of the project and are ready to continue!

NASA ASTRONOMY PHOTO OF THE DAY APPLET You are going to use the JavaScript method fetch to retrieve the JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) results from our end point. Trust us, Cadets, you can do this! Follow these Mission steps and learn as you go. In the ‘Editor’ section of your web project, find the box of code that is marked JS. This is where you will add all of your JavaScript code. Navigate to the bottom of the existing code in your JS section and add the following code exactly as shown.

This code block creates a fetch() request to https://app.codecraftworks.com/api/proxies/nasa/apod.

54 | DIY: Space Themed Coding Tutorial

In other words, it is asking for the API to send the data available on this endpoint. The fetch request method returns a Promise object, meaning that it is an asynchronous operation, and once it is complete, or fails, it will update this object. The then() method takes this Promise object that was returned and allows you to run a function against the data that was sent back. This is called promise chaining. The data that was returned is a Response object. To get the data you need from this Response object, you will return the results of the Response.json() method on the variable storing the Response object (response). You are now going to use promise chaining again to call the next function on the JSON data being returned by using the then() method. You can use your console to ensure your data is working as intended by placing the line console.log(data); inside the function that grabs the JSON data. To get to your browser’s console, open your developer tools in your browser by pressing Ctrl+Shift+I (or Command+Option+I on Apple) and then click the Console tab.

The data should look similar to this:

This last section uses the information provided by the JSON object. JSON is a file format that uses readable text to store and transmit data that consists of value pairs and arrays.

Using this data, you can pull information from the response to display on your webpage. In the example above, the keys title, date, hdurl, and explanation are going to be used by the webpage by assigning them to elements in the DOM, or Document Object Model.

DIY: Space Themed Coding Tutorial | 55

You are going to use the document.getElementById() method to find the elements in the DOM by their unique id attribute. Next, we will assign the text inside of those elements to the text from the JSON data. For the image, we will assign the src, or source, attribute to make the photo show up on the web page. Add the following code to the JS section of your project editor, on a new line between console.log(data); and the ending bracket, parenthesis, and semicolon });. With this update, the JavaScript code that you’ve added should now look like this:

CREATE: MARS ROVER APPLET Now that your first mission with an API was a success, it is time to move on to the second mission. This API will take user defined date values and return an image from the Curiosity Rover on the date specified. The end result will look like this:

Much like the APOD Mission, you will use the information provided by the Mars Rover API to update HTML elements. On a new line below the JavaScript code you wrote earlier, add the following code at the bottom of your project’s JS section.

This API will be called through a button, you must create a function that will retrieve data based on the date provided. Upon clicking the submit button, your program will call the API through a fetch method and add the user provided date to the query. Take note of the variable in-between the fetch call and the function declaration named earthDate. As your mission asks you to create a form that accepts user-defined inputs, it is important to declare a variable that holds the value of the date that the user provides.

Once the function submitEarthDate() is implemented, you can now enter a date in the date field and hit submit to query the API.

56 | DIY: Space Themed Coding Tutorial

!

SAVE YOUR WORK Congratulations! You’ve finished adding content to your webpage! Make sure you save your progress so far! Click on the Save button in the upper left corner of the page.

You should see this pop-up when your project saves:

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED Great job, Mission Cadets! This ends the current mission. Mission command has decided that you are ready to advance to the next level. You are now tasked with completing two additional missions. In the first mission you will implement Bootstrap for greater control over design and style. This is followed by a final API mission. The mission briefings can be accessed below. If you can complete these additional missions you will have earned the title of Mission Developer!

+

GLOSSARY

ADDITIONAL MISSIONS 1. Add Bootstrap to Your Application https://code.cr/8pr 2. Who Is In Space? https://code.cr/e1n

> > > > > >

[NASA]: National Aeronautics and Space Administration [APOD]: Astronomy Picture of the Day [API]: Application Programming Interface [HTML]: Hypertext Markup Language [CSS]: Cascading Style Sheets [JSON]: JavaScript Object Notation DIY: Space Themed Coding Tutorial | 57

OPPORTUNITY

BOARD

Women in Technology Global Conference Where: Virtual When: May 9 - 12, 2023 What: The WomenTech community invites tech leaders, engineers, and product managers together to allow women to network and learn about new skills and ideas from their peers.

The Connectory What: Managed by the National Girls Collaborative Project, The Connectory is the largest and most comprehensive directory of youth-serving STEAM providers across the United States. You can visit the site, input your zip code, and find quality local and online STEAM opportunities.

Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day Where: Everywhere When: February 23, 2023 What: Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day is a time when volunteers and educators act as role models, facilitate engineering activities, and demonstrate to young girls how engineers change our world.

58 | Opportunities Board

Last Mile Education Fund What: The Last Mile Education Fund collaborates with investors and partners to fill critical financial gaps for post-secondary students pursuing tech and engineering degrees. Emergency mini grants are available to students, up to $599 per student per each calendar year to help them overcome short-term obstacles to their academic progress.

WE Local 2023 Conferences Where: Various Locations When: February - May 2023 What: WE Local conferences take place around the world and are organized by SWE to bring together participants in all stages of their collegiate and professional journey. The conferences create space for engineers and partners to connect through professional development sessions, inspirational speakers, networking opportunities, and more.

AIAA SciTech Forum and Exposition Where: National Harbor, MD & Online When: January 23 - 27, 2023 What: The SciTech Forum was created to support aerospace professionals and aerospace companies,and they aim to support and encourage the next generation of aerospace engineers. At this exposition, participants will be able to find aerospace, engineering and science content.

Conferences for Undergraduate Women in Physics (CUWiP) Where: Various Universities in the U.S. & Canada When: January 20-22, 2023 What: The goal of APS CUWiP is to help undergraduate women continue in physics by providing them with the opportunity to experience a professional conference, information about graduate school and professions in physics, and access to other women in physics of all ages whom they can share ideas with.

Opportunities Board | 59

SK

ASK GLORIA

What's the best way to be a role model for younger girls?

The best way to be a good role model for younger girls is to be yourself and encourage them to do the same. Girls are often told that they can’t do something or shouldn’t like something, and they aren’t told to pursue their interest as much as younger boys. Sometimes younger girls need a role model that is just doing the thing they were told the girls don’t do. Fly the rockets, dissect the frogs, build the computer, wear a dress with dragons, or jeans in the mud. We would be in a better place if young girls were told that they could be and do anything they wanted just like everyone else. No limits!!

How do you best prepare yourself for the day? Do you have a morning or evening ritual you love?

I recently heard of this technique that I am trying to implement. In the morning, write down one must-do, one nice-to-do, and one do-for-you item. Then, try to get one of them done throughout the day. Sometimes we make a list and the lists are overwhelming but this approach allows you to have more wiggle room in the day. For me, my one must-do is usually yoga or meditation at the end of the day.

If you could have dinner with one fabulous woman in STEM (living or dead), who would it be and why?

If I could have dinner with any STEM woman it would be Katherine Johnson. She was a brilliant woman and I would love to hear her talk about her experiences as a groundbreaker and how she managed the mental challenges during her time at NASA. Hidden Figures reminded me that women have been in STEM for a long time, faced the same challenges, and overcame many obstacles. It’s a nice reminder that I am not the only person going through a tough time, and hopefully, I will get through difficult situations with some wisdom to inspire the next generation.

How can I deal with burnout during my junior year of high school?

There is a lot of pressure during your junior year to try and prepare for college applications. One thing I like to encourage people to do during any stage of life when they are feeling burned out is try something new. Take a new class, join a new club, go out for a new sport. Put something new in your schedule that helps shake up the routine.

What’s your favorite book? How has it influenced or inspired you? would say that the most influential book for me was probably The Secret. I really enjoy the message that you can use the power of positive thinking to achieve anything you can imagine in life. Personally, I think this is always a good reminder for me to not put limits on myself and to not limit what someone else can do. I generally apply The Secret as taking steps in the direction that I want to go, rather than thinking I could never do x, y , or z. A positive attitude can take you far in life and thinking about what needs to be true in order for it to happen is a great way to break down something that seems impossible into something that is definitely possible.

60 | Ask Gloria

A

What are some study tips you have for students that get distracted easily?

How do you deal with a lack of motivation for studying that continues for a long period of time?

I once had a class in college that I did horrible at. So bad I actually had to take it twice. The first time, I would go to the library and study and it just was no fun. The second time, I had to find a way to make studying enjoyable for me. I realized I enjoyed studying in groups, so I went to every group session and found a study team. I got bored reading the chapter, but I loved doing the experiments and watching experiments on YouTube. I had to find the way that I enjoyed learning and apply it to the subject. Sometimes it can be hard to study when the topic or the teacher are not interesting, but if you know the way you like to learn, you can usually find a learning resource around the topic that makes studying a little easier. Also, remember sometimes you just need to pass the class to move forward and that is okay too.

How do I make sure I get the best possible experience as an intern?

The secret to a great intern experience is talking to other people about their previous intern experience: what company, what team, what did they do, how they were compensated, and what their overall experience was like. Find out about the interview process, when they applied, and other important information. This is one helpful step in having a great internship. Another tip is to be very clear with what you want out of the internship. Do you want a great name on your resume? Maybe you want to be part of a great team or build something useful in the world. The clearer of a direction you have, the more you can get out of your internship.

Lastly, remember that your internship is just a step in a direction, and you can always pivot if you want to or continue to move towards your goal. A great tip for all interns is before you leave, have your manager write down what you did in your internship for your resume, and ask for a recommendation from them on LinkedIn. It will make looking for your next role a lot easier.

How do you know when it’s time to move on from a position that’s no longer bringing joy or motivation?

GLORIA

A great studying tip for everyone is to break your studying time into small increments and schedule breaks. If you want to study for an hour, try a break with 15 minutes for studying and 5 minutes for a mental break. The first 15 minutes, look up the correct answers for questions you got wrong, then take a break. The next 15 minutes, maybe try flash cards or homework questions, then take another 5 minute break, and lastly, try answering the questions in the book with another 5 minute break following. You can finish with a video from YouTube about the topic you were studying. The trick to being successful at this is to use a timer and put your phone on Do Not Disturb. The time goes pretty fast and you can be much more productive. Also, make it a habit to study your most difficult subject daily. The extra time and attention you give it will help you in the long run.

Life is too short to not enjoy something about your position.You might not love everything about your position, but usually you like your team, the challenge, the role, or the company. Once you start to dread coming into work, it is usually time to find another role. Doing this can usually be kind of tricky. If you like the company and just don’t like the team, manager, or role, then you can see if there is something else within the organization to transfer to; if it is just a bad experience overall, then I usually say let the role propel you in the direction of something bigger and better. If you can manage it, don’t quit until you have the new role. You can always take a break between your job once the other position is secured.

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Issue 14 Winter 2022