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Meet: Liza Alderete
Education Technology and Multimedia Manager
As a member of the External Affairs Division, I am
responsible for production of multimedia teaching materials in aeronautics.
We have just completed production of an interactive, multimedia aeronautics
curriculum for grades 5-8 entitled Exploring Aeronautics. The
objective of the curriculum is to stir young people's imagination and
fuel their enthusiasm to study science, mathematics and technology using
fundamental themes of aeronautics. We are currently working on multimedia
projects for the Wright Flyer and the Federal Aviation Administration.
I am also responsible for the NASA Ames American
Indian Educational Outreach in the eleven Western states, and for development
of teacher education programs and workshops, such as NEW. These activities give me the
opportunity to travel to interesting places and meet with teachers, students
and administrators. I also represent NASA at educational events throughout
the country such as Science Bowl, and teacher conferences involving math,
science and technology.
In addition to my duties at NASA I am also a doctoral
student in the Stanford University School of Education where my program
area is curriculum and teacher education in science. My research area
of interest is borrowing from different cosmologies to create new ways
of teaching science to young students (K-6). Inherent in my research is
the belief that what we call science is a system - not a set of distinct
disciplines - of which a basic understanding is fundamental to our well-being
and should be taught along with the 3 R's in the earliest grades. If students
are intrigued by the wonders of our world and the universe at a young
age, then many of them will naturally seek further knowledge as they grow
older within our traditional science structure.
My Career
I spent the first part of my career working
in the Vertical Motion Simulator
at Ames. I was responsible for the development of the computer generated
out-the-window scenes in the simulator cockpits and for the Head-Up and
Head Down displays. One of my favorite projects was working on the design
of the Head-Up displays for the Space Shuttle. Working with database designers,
programmers and engineers to provide adequate visual cueing for the pilots
in the out-the-window scenes was also a great challenge.
As my responsibilities grew, I worked more and more
in the management of the graphics facilities instead of the day-to-day
development. I missed working in the lab on individual projects, but being
in management gave me the opportunity to specify, select and acquire new
graphics systems and to work to ensure that the objectives of the simulation
programs were met. After many years in flight simuation management I decided
to investigate a whole new set of aeronautics facilities - the wind tunnels. I worked with the programmers,
engineers and technicians who are responsible for the software and instrumentation
that is used for the wind tunnel tests. One of the most interesting projects
was entering into the day-to-day life of wind tunnel testing to discover
how it could be done more efficiently.
After spending over 20 years in the technical world
of aeronautics I decided that it was time to try something new and I began
to investigate the world of education. For several years, outside of my
day job, I taught math, tutored high school students and coached junior
volleyball - so it was natural for me to want to make the link between
what I did during the day and what I did in the evening! I took a year-long
leave-of-absence from NASA and earned a Master's Degree in Education at
Stanford as well as my secondary teaching credential in math and computer
science. Upon returning to NASA I moved to the Education Office where
I am today.
Career Preparation
As a youngster I liked to do all kinds of
puzzles (and still do!) and I loved airplanes. My first airplane ride was
at the age of seven weeks! I can still remember my parents driving my sister
and I to San Francisco Airport to see the first Boeing 747. Probably my
biggest influence towards my career was my Dad. He worked for NASA for over
40 years. One of his later projects was instrumenting the tiles of the Space
Shuttle so they could be tested in a wind tunnel. A wonderful memory of
mine is going to Dryden Flight Research Center to see the first landing
of the Space Shuttle. We got to stand alongside the runway with other NASA
employees who had worked on the project. Everyone, especially my Dad, was
very quiet when the voice communication with the astronauts was lost as
the Shuttle descended through the atmosphere. Everyone was anxious that
the new tiles worked as planned to shield the Shuttle from the intense heat
of reentry. When the voice of Commander Young broke the silence a gigantic
cheer went up from the crowd! This was followed by the two huge sonic booms
that mark the Shuttles flight over the runway and into its landing pattern.
After experiences like these, who wouldn't want to work for NASA?
Advice
While earning my undergraduate degree in
Electrical Engineering/Computer Science at the University of California
at Santa Barbara, I had the opportunity to work as a junior programmer
at NASA. This was an invaluable experience and I recommend that any students
interested in a technical career try to get as much experience as possible
while they are in college.
Even though I majored in EE/CS, I wasn't a nerd and
enjoyed all of the aspects of university life. I mastered the art of studying
on the beach and also played intercollegiate volleyball. Another piece
of advice is to not get so focused on any one area that you lose sight
of what else life has to offer! Particularly while you are a student,
investigate many different ideas and participate in lots of different
actitivties. You will eventually discover what you enjoy and where you
want your career to start!
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