[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 5 - 12:33:54 ]
Hello to our early arriving chat participants! Today's Black History Month chat with Laurie Marshall from NASA Dryden Flight Research Center will begin in just under 30 minutes. Be sure you have read Laurie's profile at http://quest.nasa.gov/women/bios/lm.html to prepare your questions.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 6 - 12:35:01 ]
Today's chat will be MODERATED to help Laurie keep up with our questions. This means we will post a few questions in the chat room at a time for Laurie to answer.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 7 - 12:35:43 ]
DON'T WORRY if you don't see your questions immediately during moderation. We will post new questions in the chat room every few minutes, and as Laurie answers those ahead of you.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 8 - 12:37:26 ]
At the conclusion of today's chat, we ask that you share your thoughts with us. Be sure to visit our QuestChat Information Center (http://quest.nasa.gov/qchats) and select "Surveys/Feedback" to send your comments to us. We look forward to hearing from you today!

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 9 - 12:59:32 ]
Hello and welcome to today's Black History Month chat with Laurie Marshall from NASA Dryden Flight Research Center!

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 10 - 12:59:51 ]
During the last several years, Laurie Marshall has been involved in projects studying aircraft performance. Her work has included measuring and collecting data using a single probe substituting for many different pieces of equipment. Her investigations have focused on collecting information on aircraft altitude, airspeed, pitch angle.

[ LaurieMarshall/DFRC - 11 - 13:00:05 ]
RE: [Oran/NASAChatHost] Hello and welcome to today's Black History Month chat with Laurie Marshall from NASA Dryden Flight Research Center!
Good Afternoon everyone!! Thanks for joining in!

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 12 - 13:00:19 ]
And now, here is Laurie Marshall to answer your questions.

[ LaurieMarshall/DFRC - 15 - 13:01:43 ]
RE: [Dawn] What is the environment in the workplace for a female engineer?
Hi Dawn, the environment in the workplace is really good for women at NASA. We have a lot of female managers here at Dryden who are well respected.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 17 - 13:05:45 ]
RE: [Florencia] Hello an argentinean student is here to chat with you
Welcome, Florencia. We're very glad you could join us today. Laurie Marshall is online and ready to take your questions!

[ LaurieMarshall/DFRC - 18 - 13:06:27 ]
RE: [Dawn] Is there room for advancement in the working engineering populaton for a women?
Hi Dawn, I sort of answered this question with the other one, but I think that there is room for advancement of women in most fields, especially engineering. I know that my female friends are all well respected in their jobs and are continually advancing.

[ LaurieMarshall/DFRC - 19 - 13:07:16 ]
RE: [Florencia] Hello an argentinean student is here to chat with you
Hi Florencia! What is your question?

[ LaurieMarshall/DFRC - 21 - 13:09:53 ]
RE: [Florencia] Is there any special requierements to become a member of NASA Dryden?
Well, there are several different jobs available at Dryden. We have engineers, meteorologists, technicians, mechanics, computer/technical support, mathematicians, and lawyers too. It just depends on what you are interested in and that you are good at it.

[ LaurieMarshall/DFRC - 22 - 13:11:34 ]
RE: [Florencia] Is there any special requierements to become a member of NASA Dryden?
Florencia, I think there is also a citizenship requirement at least for civil servants.

[ LaurieMarshall/DFRC - 25 - 13:19:23 ]
RE: [Dawn] Being an engineering student my self I've foud that A lot of the male instructors favor the male students more. have you ever had a similar experience?
Interesting question Dawn, I didn't have any of those experiences myself, except in my Machine Design Class formerly known as SHOP. There were only two women in the class and I don't think that the "instructors" were quite ready for "our invasion". But all my professors answered all my questions with no "attitude" and called on me and my chemical engineering student roommate often.

[ LaurieMarshall/DFRC - 27 - 13:22:47 ]
RE: [Florencia] How did you start to work for NASA?
Florencia, I outlined it pretty well in my profile, but basically I got started in my NASA career with a summer job. I worked at a different engineering company every summer while in college. I started working at Dryden, during the last summer before I graduated and was hired in the Aerodynamics branch after I graduated.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 28 - 13:23:09 ]
We would like to remind you to share your thoughts about today's chat with us by visiting our QuestChat Information Center, at http://quest.nasa.gov/qchats. You can also learn about our upcoming Black History Month chats with NASA experts on that page.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 30 - 13:24:04 ]
RE: [Azetecs] Hello, were from Montgomery High school, in San Diego Ca. and It's a privelege to be here with you. We would like it if we could ask you a few questions.
Welcome, Aztecs! Please send in your questions for Laurie Marshall!

[ LaurieMarshall/DFRC - 32 - 13:24:14 ]
RE: [Azetecs] Hello, were from Montgomery High school, in San Diego Ca. and It's a privelege to be here with you. We would like it if we could ask you a few questions.
Hi Students, Ask away!!!

[ LaurieMarshall/DFRC - 35 - 13:26:42 ]
RE: [Dawn] Have you ever been looked over for a position you knew you were qualified?
Not yet, Dawn! I've only worked for Dryden for 6 years, but I've received all my promotions when I expected to and even received one before a man who was hired two months before me and had more co-op time here (3 semesters more)!! We work in the same area, for the same boss, on the same projects. So no, I think things are going well, but I'm up for another promotion, so we'll see how I do.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 36 - 13:27:02 ]
For those of you just joining us, Laurie Marshall from NASA Dryden Flight Research Center is online with us today. You can view her profile at http://quest.nasa.gov/women/bios/lm.html

[ LaurieMarshall/DFRC - 38 - 13:29:35 ]
RE: [Azetecs] When did you decied to become an Aerospace Engineer?
As long as I can remember I have been interested in Airplanes. My father got his private pilot's license the year that I was born, so I spent a lot of time in them. I then got my private pilot's license while I was still in high school. My love of airplanes, branched into a love of Space. Since I also, enjoy finding out how things work, I decided that Aerospace Engineering would be a good career that would interest me as well.

[ LaurieMarshall/DFRC - 40 - 13:30:37 ]
RE: [Azetecs] Who inspired you or motivated you to become an Aerospace Engeneer?
MY DAD!!! But my mother and brother are great supporters as well!

[ LaurieMarshall/DFRC - 42 - 13:33:23 ]
RE: [Florencia] How you ever had a male-mate that understimate your work at university or now at NASA?
No, I seem pretty well respected, but maybe I'd be the last to know. : ) I've been the principal investigator (leader in my area of research) for various projects and have proven myself, so perhaps that is why I seem to be well respected by men and women alike. I'm also a non-confrontational, people person that others seem to get along with well.

[ LaurieMarshall/DFRC - 43 - 13:34:24 ]
RE: [Dawn] Do your male counterparts accept your ideas?
Well Dawn, I think I just answered your question in my answer to Florencia.

[ LaurieMarshall/DFRC - 47 - 13:39:30 ]
RE: [Azetecs] What reauirements is there to become an aerospace engineer?
In order to become an Aerospace Engineer, you need to do well in Math and Science (learn to love them, in fact), successfully complete the general coursework in college (chemistry, physics, calculus, ...), and do very well in the Aerospace Engineer specific coursework too (propulsion, structures, aerodynamics, and controls).

[ LaurieMarshall/DFRC - 49 - 13:41:38 ]
RE: [Dawn] Was there ever a time you became discouraged?
Dawn, as with anything there are times when I have been discouraged. But I have set lofty goals for myself that I still would like to achieve, so that helps me to push past any discouragement and continue on.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 52 - 13:45:39 ]
RE: [Florencia] What are the requierements to become an astronaut?
Florencia, the best way to learn about the requirements for becoming an astronaut is to visit the Astronaut Biographies on the NASA Johnson Space Center web site. You can reach the biographies at http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios .

[ LaurieMarshall/DFRC - 53 - 13:45:43 ]
RE: [Azetecs] What advice can yuou give high school students that are planning to follow your footsteps?
Here's my advice. You do have to study and work hard, but you should also have other hobbies and interests to help you relieve stress. For example, I was on the basketball and track teams while in high school. Just recently (this past summer), I started SCUBA diving. I still haven't made it down to San Diego to go diving, but hopefully I will this summer (I heard the water is even colder there, than it is in Los Angeles).

[ LaurieMarshall/DFRC - 55 - 13:48:38 ]
RE: [Azetecs] What education was needed to become an arrodynamics engineer?
Continuing on with the Aerospace Engineering question. The requirements are the same, but now there is a specific interest. For Aerodynamics, you would need to focus on "What makes things fly". Most of the research that I do relates to that question or "How would things fly better". This includes, fluid dynamics and some mechanical engineering as well.

[ LaurieMarshall/DFRC - 57 - 13:52:19 ]
RE: [Azetecs] How would you describe a normal work day for you?
I described an average work day in my profile, but I can give you another example. These days, I'm arriving at 7 AM, I usually have several meetings throughout the course of the day. But when I'm at my desk, I'm analyzing data from previous experiments on my computer and documenting the results for publication. I also do a lot of outreach with students. As far as working with the airplanes, I spend a fair amount of time down in the hanger interfacing with the crew and the rest of the project team to get the vehicle ready for flight test.

[ LaurieMarshall/DFRC - 59 - 13:54:00 ]
RE: [Dawn] where do you see yourself (in your job) five years from now?
Dawn, in five years I hope to be an Astronaut. But if that doesn't work out, I'll still have a job that I love and would continue doing for many years to come.

[ LaurieMarshall/DFRC - 61 - 13:55:25 ]
RE: [Azetecs] Did you ever think you'd make it this far?
Like I said, I have pretty high goals, and always see myself achieving them. I'm very proud of the accomplishments that I have made and hope that I will continue to be proud of myself and those around me.

[ LaurieMarshall/DFRC - 62 - 13:57:01 ]
RE: [Azetecs] Is there any other goal you wish to achieve becides to become an astronaut?
My other goal is to become an airline pilot. I continue you to pursue my flying career and hope that I could do that sometime in the future.

[ LaurieMarshall/DFRC - 63 - 13:58:11 ]
RE: [Azetecs] If you became an astronanut, what planet would you like to explore?
Just going into space would be enough for me. But if I also got lucky enough to visit a planet, I think Mars would be it for me in my lifetime.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 64 - 13:59:48 ]
This concludes today's Black History Month chat with Laurie Marshall from NASA Dryden Flight Research Center. We would like to thank everyone for joining us today, and offer our very special thanks to Laurie Marshall for her thoughtful responses to our questions, and sharing her time and expertise with us today. THANK YOU, Laurie!

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 65 - 14:00:23 ]
As a reminder, please share your thoughts about today's chat with us at http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/qchats.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 66 - 14:02:06 ]
We invite you to join us for our next Black History forum and chat with Julie Williams-Byrd from Langley research Center, and Kim Hubbard from Ames Research Center. These events will occur on Tuesday, February 8. Check our Black History Month event schedule at http://quest.nasa.gov/qchats/special/mlk00 for more information about these and other events.

[ LaurieMarshall/DFRC - 68 - 14:03:25 ]
RE: [Azetecs] we really enjoyed spending this time with you. Thank you for answering our questions.
Thanks for having such good questions!!!

[ Florencia - 69 - 14:03:44 ]
THank you!!!

[ Florencia - 70 - 14:03:44 ]
It's been very nice to chat with you.

[ Dawn - 71 - 14:10:07 ]
Thank You for your time.

[ Dawn - 72 - 14:10:15 ]
You've made me feel better about my career choice!