Q&A Session with Tina Herrera

Q: What do you find the most rewarding in this kind of work?

A: What I find rewarding is very much related to what I find inspiring 
   about my work.  Being able to combine my interests in engineering, 
   materials, medicine, and human beings makes this an ideal area to work 
   in.  Knowing that this work will ultimately lead to a better 
   understanding of living tissues (i.e. how to keep bone healthy and 
   strong, how to best treat a patient when something goes wrong) makes it 
   rewarding. Additionally, everyday is different and everyday presents a 
   new challenge.


Q: What are some of the ways you overcame obstacles to believe in yourself?
            
A: I would have to say that confidence in yourself and yourabilities is a 
   continual process. There was a time when I wasn't very confident at all. 
   In order to gain that belief, I would put myself in situations where I 
   knew I wasn't comfortable with my ability to succeeded. I did the best I 
   could and when it was all over I realized that everything turned out 
   okay.  Maybe I didn't do things perfectly, but I took that opportunity to 
   see how to improve the next time.   As you do things and see that you 
   can, your confidence builds.


Q: Can you describe a problem you are working to solve i.e. an example of
   an actual project?

A: One of the research projects involves developing a technique to 
   noninvasively measure mechanical and geometric properties of bone. These 
   parameters are important for understanding and predicting what will 
   happen to a bone when a force is applied to the body; i.e. will it break?  
   We use bone density scans, similar to an X-ray, to measure the amount 
   and distribution of the mineral within the bone.  From that data, we  
   calculate the properties of the bone at specific sites using a 
   computer algorithm.  Using this information we can compare structural 
   differences between bones and determine how a specific loading condition  
   (i.e. weightlessness) may effect the development of the bone.


Q: How do you balance free time with your work, especially with lab work or
   experiments which may last into late shifts?

A: Finding and maintaining a balance can be tricky. As with anything, 
   though, it comes down to priorities.  You have to know what your goals 
   are, what you value, and where your limits are.  In reality, I found that 
   maintaining the right balance is much easier now than it was in school.  
   Its rare that I have to work late or on weekends.  But when I need to, I 
   do.  It takes being organized so that you get as much done during working 
   hours as possible.


Q: How do you get people to experience weightlessness?

A: NASA scientists have several means of simulating weightlessness. For
   animal studies, we use a technique called hind limb suspension.  This is 
   only used on rats.  Their lower body is attached to a harness which is 
   above their front quarters.  Since the back limbs are in a state of 
   unloading or disuse we see similar effects as in weightlessness.  You  
   asked about people though... for studies that look at physiologic 
   changes, we do something similar. People are placed in a bed rest facility 
   for a long period of time.  Here their heads are tilted downwards so that 
   their feet are inclined slightly above their heads.  This results in 
   effects similar to weightlessness...i.e. legs are not under typical loading 
   due to normal use like walking, the heart doesn't have to pump as hard to 
   get blood to the brain, etc.  In my lab we are developing another tool with
   the VA hospital to simulate  "weightlessness".  This is a pressure chamber 
   that is sealed around a person's waist and air is pumped into
   it. The person is then lifted up by the pressure of the air inside the
   chamber. Finally, at Johnson Space Center in Houston they use KC135 
   flights for actual periods of microgravity. The plane does dives and 
   climbs repeatedly at steep angles...the effect is similar to a roller coaster
   where you are thrown out of your seat for a few seconds at the top of the 
   hill.  The flights do the same thing on a larger scale, and the periods of 
   being in the air lasts longer... about 30 seconds.


Q: Although I am very interested in math and science (except dissections),
   it still doesn't come easily to me.  Why do you think this may be?
          
A: It could be the way it is presented. As I mentioned in our last
   communication not everyone learns the same way.  Math and Science 
   typically is not presented in a way that is comfortable for everyone's 
   learning style. Also, for some reason you may be making it harder than 
   it is. This may not be a conscious thing but may be evident in your approach.
   In some ways this is all a big vicious cycle...for example, a subject isn't 
   approached in a way that is comfortable for a student, then the student 
   starts to think they can't do it, and then because they've set up this 
   mental block, they can't do it very easily.  I don't know if this is what's 
   happening for you, but it is a possibility.

   I would like to suggest a few things you can try to overcome this. 
   Try to form study groups with others in your class, or even have a study 
   partner.  It helps a lot to struggle through problems together; it'll 
   help all involve to learn the subject better.  Also, a study group will 
   help you find that you are not alone in this. You might want to pick up a 
   copy of Dr. Sheila Tobias' book, Overcoming Math Anxiety.  Another thing 
   to try is to do more problems than the instructor requires.  Do the 
   problems in the text until you've done them all or you get 
   bored...Practice makes perfect.

   Just remember, YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT TO DO, IT ALL DEPENDS ON HOW
   HARD YOU WANT TO WORK.


Q: What are some ideas you have for us about improving female enrollment in
   math and science classes and careers.

A: First of all, I think that if more young women were made aware of the 
   vast array of fields available to them with math and science backgrounds, 
   they would be attracted to it.  There are so many things you can do 
   with a science/math education. Not only does it give you flexibility and 
   marketability in this increasingly technological world, but it also 
   provides an avenue to a higher paying career. Secondly, I think math 
   and science education, itself, needs to be more accommodating to 
   women. Studies have shown that, for whatever reason, women learn, work,
   interact and express themselves differently than men. Generally speaking, 
   science and math courses are presented in a way that is more conducive to 
   a typically male learning style.  If females are to feel comfortable in 
   that learning environment, courses need to be taught to "speak"to both. 
   It would help if there were more women on college faculties. Another 
   idea is to encourage female students to form study groups. Since there are 
   so few women in math and science courses, it is important that they find 
   each other for support and encouragement.


Q: What is your opinions on whether we should push for all female math 
   classes?

A: I believe its worth a shot as long as whomever teaches it recognizes and
   respects the differences between male and female students.  Dr. Sheila 
   Tobias has done a lot of research on this and has written several 
   books.  One that comes to mind is "Overcoming Math Anxiety".  Here she 
   discusses some of the differences and points out some of the short 
   comings of typical math courses. You might be interested in reading it.

   As a graduate student at UC Davis, I was a teaching assistant in a 
   course for freshman and sophomore women engineering students.  It was 
   a hands-on, experiential learning class to find out how different 
   machines work.  The feedback of the students was VERY positive and the 
   experience proved worthwhile.  It was felt that since their courses 
   are mostly male - male instructors, male TAs, male students - being in a 
   class of only women validated their experiences as women and provided an 
   opportunity to learn and express themselves in a way that was more 
   comfortable.  Most of the students from this course have completed 
   their educations in engineering and are confident about their career 
   choice.


Q: If for some reason you could not continue to work in your present job,
   what job would you choose?
           
A: I would continue to work as a mechanical engineer, in biomechanics.
   There are plenty of opportunities in industry for those interested 
   designing products for medicine and rehabilitation. Not to mention, 
   there is a need for designing every consumer product with the 
   human-machine interface in mind.


Q: What are the biggest drawbacks?

A: Drawbacks are few.  I think the biggest drawback is that sometimes 
   research doesn't move fast enough.  Sometimes the process is slow and 
   that can be very frustrating.


Q: What college(s) did you attend?

A: I received a Bachelor of Science degree from UC Berkeley and a Master
   of Science from UC Davis.