Miriam Rodon-Naveira
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dr. Miriam Rodón-Naveira; PH. D., is a Puerto Rican scientist. She was the first Hispanic woman to hold the Deputy Directorship for the Environmental Sciences Division within the National Exposure Research Laboratory. She is now responsible for developing, coordinating and maintaining research and educational activities in support of NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center mission. She holds a doctorate in Biology-Aquatic Microbial Ecology.
Contents |
[edit] Early years
Rodón-Naveira was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. There she was raised and received both her primary and secondary education. After she graduated from high school she continued her academic education at Georgetown University, Washington D.C. where she earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology. She then went on to earn her Ph.D. in Biology-Aquatic Microbial Ecology at the same university.
In 1990, Rodón-Naveira worked with the United States Environmental Protection Agency as Biologist, Project Officer, and Environmental Research Scientist. In 1995, she became the first woman minority Branch Chief within the National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL) and in 1998, the first Hispanic woman to hold the Deputy Directorship for the Environmental Sciences Division (ESD) within the NERL.[1]
[edit] Career at NASA
In December 2000, NASA offered Rodón-Naveira the position of Earth Science Remote Sensing Scientist at Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. Her responsibilities included coordinating and conducting research to enhance collaboration between Directorates within DFRC, NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, California, universities, Indian tribes and other governments and international entities; all in support of the integrated use of remote sensing instruments.
Rodón-Naveira was Involved with the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) developmental activities within NASA DFRC Aerospace Projects Directorate. As Science Lead, she was responsible for developing collaborative partnership with the scientific community for the potential use of UAVs as unique science platforms in long-duration, long-range and high hazards missions.
Rodón-Naveira is currently the Senior Physical Sciences Technical Manager, responsible for developing, coordinating and maintaining research and educational activities in support of NASA DFRC mission. [2]
[edit] Personal life
Rodón-Naveira, who is married and has a daughter and a son, constantly participates in institutional career days providing information to students on careers related to science, engineering and technology; as well as participates in NASA educational workshops giving talks and hands-on demonstration projects, such as the Earth-to-space linkup, to schools in the area of aeronautics and earth science.
The Earth-to-space linkup is part of a weeklong training workshop for teachers from schools chosen for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Explorer School program. The workshop's goal was to help math and science teachers inspire the next generation of scientists and explorers of space. According to Rodón-Naveira:
"What better way than to have our teachers who are currently going through the workshop with us ... be able to ask questions of our astronauts in the International Space Station?" [3]
