[ Expert - 3 - 05:08:28 ]
RE: [Alicia] In you all's opinions, do you think that you best serve the community by woking for Nasa? What made you choose to come to America, and join the melting pot? Was it the opportunities at Nasa?
r: One way to help the community is to be productive employer in every task that one can do. Other activities that I do to serve the community: Engineering week, Day of caring, participate in PTA for elementary and middle schools, food for the needy drives, and teach and produce good children. Coming to the State was an opportunity for my education and exploration. After finishing school, NASA was my first opportunity. NASA was

[ Expert - 4 - 05:18:47 ]
RE: [Alicia] Hello Foum Experts, Im glad to honor this week's "Global Science and Technology Week" by asking you all questions. I am a student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and I am looking for a little encouragement from women who have paved the way. I have many goals and aspirations, and am tying to follow through on them. All the way so far, I have been told (typically) that "I am following a very difficult road, and shouldn't I do something else" from my friends and family. However this is not true of all people, and I have recieved some good advice. I counter this by being organized and also by being plain stubborn. In my efforts to keep up my track record, sometimes I get a little discouraged. I look for your advice eagerly, as I realize that all of you had to deal with such things in one way or another.
My advice to you is step that I follow myself, which are: -Have vision of your goal (like 3-D Picture in your mind) -Identify and Focus in the steps to that goal -Believe in yourself and seek help when need, don't be stubborn. -Adjust and change do to circumstances -Enjoy what you do

[ Expert - 5 - 08:43:42 ]
RE: [Expert] r: One way to help the community is to be productive employer in every task that one can do. Other activities that I do to serve the community: Engineering week, Day of caring, participate in PTA for elementary and middle schools, food for the needy drives, and teach and produce good children. Coming to the State was an opportunity for my education and exploration. After finishing school, NASA was my first opportunity. NASA was
Alicia: my opportunity to work for NASA was like serendipity. I believe that there are opportunities everywhere and you just have to seize the moment. My husband chose to come to Silicon Valley in its infancy, and I found a NASA center in my backyard. I sought a job that suited my background (a Math degree and Computer Science) and I am still here after a long and rewarding career.

[ Kimberly - 14 - 20:34:10 ]
What is a typical evening like in your home?

[ Expert - 18 - 08:34:27 ]
RE: [Lori] Did you work in Singapore for NASA? Which countries does NASA do business with?
Lori: I didn't work for NASA in Singapore. I spent half my week in the Computer Science department at Nanyang University (that was a Chinese speaking university at the time) and also some time at Singapore University. I had a wonderful time there. BTW: NASA centers are only in the USA.

[ Expert - 19 - 08:37:26 ]
RE: [Alison] Carol - What do you see as the major changes in the field of work you do in the last 30 years?
Alison: the major changes have been computers, computers, .....! Experimental wind tunnels were the only way to get data for new flight vehicles, and there was no way to really replicate the flight conditions of a space-craft in a wind tunnel. Today we use computers to solve the flow equations that represent high speed flight.

[ Expert - 20 - 08:40:58 ]
RE: [Alison] Do you think you'll do any more work overseas? Does NASA offer you that opportunity? Would you work for another company so you coudl travel more?
Alison: I have traveled around the USA and Canada for NASA going to meetings to give presentations. As you know, I love to travel and when I retire that is what I shall do. I have been at NASA since 1968 so you can imagine, that time will come soon!

[ Expert - 21 - 08:44:09 ]
RE: [Kimberly] Ms. Davies- Why did you take up Spanish? Do youuse it in your work?
Kimberley: When I was in school in England I learned French and really enjoyed it. Later my parents decided to move to Spain, taking my much younger sister with them. She is now a Spanish citizen with Spanish children, so I want to speak with them. It helped having learned one language, and so I just took Spanish classes at the local junior college while I was working.

[ Expert - 22 - 08:47:30 ]
RE: [Kimberly] Ms. Davies- Why did you move to Singapore and work there? Did you have to speak the language?
Kimberly: I moved to Singapore because my husband was offered a temporary expatriate job there. We decided it would be a great opportunity to see other parts of the world. It was also an opportunity for me to experience different work environments. It was there that I did some lecturing which gave me more confidence to present papers after I returned to NASA.

[ Expert - 23 - 08:52:10 ]
RE: [Kimberly] Ms. Davies- Why did you move to Singapore and work there? Did you have to speak the language?
Kimberley: I forgot to answer the part about the language in Singapore. As you can tell from my other reply, I enjoy languages. In Singapore, there are 4 main languages. Most people today speak English, but 20 years ago it was definitely helpful to learn some Chinese. I had a hard time eating in the University cafeteria! I must also confess, that after studying Chinese for 2 years, I still had a hard time reading the menu! However, everyone appreciated my efforts, and even today I find my small knowledge fun when working with Chinese colleagues.

[ Expert - 24 - 08:55:54 ]
RE: [Sarah] Was it just oversight when you were making less that your male counterparts or was it just the way business was then? Was this different because you were in England?
Sarah: that is a good question. Of course, when I brought it up they said it was an oversight, but who knows? I do know one of the problems that we have today in terms of ensuring equal pay is that no-one knows how much any one else earns. So, how can we tell? At least government pay structures are published, so it is possible to get a good estimate, but in industry? I know my daughter is still facing the problem today. She doesn't really know if she is being paid fairly or not.

[ Expert - 25 - 08:57:44 ]
RE: [Sarah] Was it just oversight when you were making less that your male counterparts or was it just the way business was then? Was this different because you were in England?
Sarah: to answer the last part of your question. I think that in England we were less secretive about our pay (at that time anyway) so it was easier for me to find out that I was being underpaid. I don't know what the situation is today.

[ Expert - 26 - 04:06:57 ]
RE: [Sarah] Is this unusual that your husband is so supportive of your work and balancing a large family? How do you manage it all?
Sarah, when there is respect and understanding in a marriage, one spouse can do anything to make the other spouse success. About the large family, every member of my family has task and responsibility even my 4 * years old. (She has to organize the shoes cloths and water the houseplants every weekend.) It is not easy to manage, but it is not impossible either. If you love what you do you can fit everything to a schedule. In the same time, I give up most of my fun activity to meet the family goals.

[ Expert - 27 - 04:15:54 ]
RE: [Sarah] Do you ever wish you were back in Egypt? Have you encouraged your friends or family to come here as well?
we go to Egypt every two year as a faimly, my older childern go every summer for 4 weeks. Yes, there are a few of my friends went to Egypt with us. They loved over there.

[ Expert - 28 - 04:19:40 ]
RE: [Pam] Ms. Amer - I am wondering if you ever go back to Egyt and what the reaction of your working in America is from your family and friends in Egypt?
Pam,My family and friend are not surprise at my accomplishments because they know me and they are proud of all my accomplishments

[ Expert - 29 - 04:31:00 ]
RE: [Pam] Ms. Amer- Do you think it would be any easier or harder to do what you did when you came to America at 17? Would you encourage your daughters to marry so young?
Pam, It was not that hard to come to America and pursue career like mine, it takes time and determination. About my daughters, this is very difficult question because no body knows the future, except God. My advice to all my children is that finish your education (Stand in solid ground), find career path that you love, and then get a marry. By the time, they have everything to make a right decision.

[ Expert - 30 - 04:41:42 ]
RE: [Lori/CHS] Was it difficult for you when you came to NASA as a MiddleEastern? Do you think there are any problems now that did not exist when you first came or is it easier now?
Pam, Yes, It was kind different feeling and understanding not because I am from the Middle East, but because I am Muslim. The way that I dress is different and my values are different, too. When people do not know you, they evaluate you base in your look. Now, it is much easier because we developed the understanding and the respect for each other.