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Hey everyone! So for those that don& #39;t know me, my name is Ashley Walker. I& #39;ll be discussing different pathways into space sciences and space science careers. @STEMiAfrica #GAM2020 #BridgingAfrica #STEM #InspiringtheFuture
Growing up, I was always interested in space! As silly as it sounds, I wanted to be a moon and then I wanted my parents to buy me star out of the sky. My uncle brought me a telescope. I spoke with @AdlerPlanet here in the US about it: https://soundcloud.com/storiesfromtheyouniverse/episode-2-ashley-walker">https://soundcloud.com/storiesfr...
I& #39;m considered a nontraditional student. This would mean I didn& #39;t take the traditional route of college. I went to junior college (a 2 year institution)....and honestly, it took me longer than two years in addition to working and taking care of ill loved ones. @STEMiAfrica
I honestly didn& #39;t know what I wanted to do. I was watching a TV show and BAM! I wanted to become a forensic chemist! Now, I was REALLY sold on becoming a forensic scientist so much that I would try to get an internship at my local morgue.
Shortly after, I was awarded at scholarship at @ChicagoState! I FINALLY transferred out of the junior college and was more interested in my African heritage and the nights sky! #GAM2020 #BridgingAfrica #STEM #InspiringtheFuture
These two intersections helped me become who I am today! I had NO CLUE about astrochemistry until I took a basic astronomy course and inquired about it. I even wrote an english paper on Black holes and Astronomy& #39;s history from the Africa Diaspora.
I have had the amazing experience to use my knowledge as a chemist in astronomy. https://www.vice.com/amp/en_us/article/g5xjax/nasa-might-have-found-exotic-organic-molecules-on-ancient-space-object-arrokoth?__twitter_impression=true&fbclid=IwAR2GxaneHk5CgtvM8AsAPbHYKRYwX6oQ0-wVKOyw01bpo3IwLZxGlInNHcY">https://www.vice.com/amp/en_us...
There& #39;s different pathways that you can take to do space sciences. You can be an artist and become an astronomer. This is what makes us ALL unique. @STEMiAfrica #GAM2020 #BridgingAfrica #STEM #InspiringtheFuture
You can also use your expertise to become a science communicator as well! Science communication is AMAZING! As of right now, science and the WORLD needs us! #GAM2020 #BridgingAfrica #STEM #InspiringtheFuture
When I first started giving talks, I was extremely nervous but I had the help of @JedidahIslerPhD and @shaka_lulu guiding me.
Science communication can come in SO MANY different forms. I do science communication for those that look like me!
My science communication LEAD me to give the commencement speech for my graduation! @STEMiAfrica
But there are other careers too! Space sciences are so broad that you cam also go into industry and become a data scientist! @STEMiAfrica #GAM2020 #BridgingAfrica #STEM #InspiringtheFuture
Most people assume because you are a space scientist that you want to work at a space agency. Yes, that& #39;s partially true but there A LOT of transferrable skills that you can use in other careers as well. You can also work at a planetarium. @STEMiAfrica
Working at a planetarium is cool because you get a chance to be apart of a lot of amazing projects and shows!!! I typically partner with America& #39;s first planetarium @AdlerPlanet! @STEMiAfrica #GAM2020 #BridgingAfrica #STEM #InspiringtheFuture
As I& #39;m closing out this thread and opening up for questions, there& #39;s so many different ways to get into space sciences. All you have to do is believe in YOU! @STEMiAfrica #GAM2020 #BridgingAfrica #STEM #InspiringtheFuture
