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I
am an oral deaf professional with a doctorate. Since
I did my graduate work at the University of Illinois,
I was able to develop extensive experience in research
and writing. While I was working on my dissertation,
I worked on various projects for my professor. I gave
slide and poster presentations to share research findings
at numerous scientific meetings and conferences. I also
wrote some articles for publication in scientific journals
and displayed informational materials during exhibitions.
If it weren't for the above, as well as my deep
interest in robotic space exploration, my work as a
JPL Solar System Ambassador would not have been possible.
Let
me share a bit of my "ambassador history".
While I was following the Galileo mission in 1997, I
found out that the mission had its own outreach program
called the Galileo Ambassadors Program. Since I wanted
to share the excitement of the mission with the public,
as well as with those from the space community, I decided
to sign up for the program. I was elated when my application
was accepted, and I was officially one of the Galileo
Ambassadors in January of 1998. Providing interesting
information on Galileo's findings of the Jovian
system (Jupiter and its most unique Galilean satellites)
via my presentations could not have been more rewarding
for me. While I performed my outreach, I enjoyed learning
new things about the mission by following updates from
the Galileo website.
While
I was keeping up with Galileo, I followed numerous solar
system, Earth/Moon, and deep sky missions that JPL managed
or had some involvement with. Since I realized how enriching
it would be for me to increase my repertoire by covering
not only Galileo, but the other missions in my presentations,
I asked David Schranck, the program coordinator, if
the existing program could be expanded to include many
of the JPL missions. I mentioned to Mr. Schranck that
the public, as well as those from the space community,
would want to know what was happening not only with
Galileo, but with the other missions. I also indicated
that many would appreciate what had been involved in
robotic space exploration. Not too long after my inquiry,
Mr. Schranck gave us, Galileo Ambassadors, the "green
light" to cover any of the missions we wished
to share while our program was undergoing expansion.
I
am now in my 10th year doing my outreach work in the
already-expanded program called JPL Solar System Ambassadors
Program. As one of the JPL Solar System Ambassadors
(SSAs), I do feel quite privileged sharing exactly what's
been happening in space and what's new with the
missions. I take great pleasure in those that show interest
in my presentations and that take the time to ask questions
and engage in lively discussions with me. If it weren't
for these individuals, the joy of sharing robotic space
exploration would not have been possible. I do look
forward to continuing my ambassadorship, as well as
keeping up with the news of various missions, while
enjoying giving my presentations at numerous astronomy-
and space-related events. While I share the excitement
of robotic space exploration, I enjoy providing information
on the following which interest me deeply: spacecraft
subsystems and functions; rocket subsystems and functions;
launch phases; and the execution of communications,
navigation, and remote sensing in various missions.
This
biography would not be complete without my explaining
how I, as a deaf SSA, communicate with people during
my outreach. Even though I speak and lipread 100 percent
of the time (my primary means of communication), I try
to be as flexible as possible by communicating orally
with hearing individuals and using sign language when
speaking with the deaf that cannot communicate orally.
Whenever I give slide presentations, I always have someone
read my notes aloud to the audience while I work on
the slides. While the reader mentions certain things
about the slide, I use my laser pointer to point them
out. I occasionally show videos in my slide presentations,
and most are self-explanatory. Whenever I give my poster
presentations, I would have all the printed information
posted on the wall or placed on easels for everyone
to see. I always provide handouts as a supplement to
my presentations. I usually get into lively one-on-one
discussions with individuals and answer their questions
during my presentations. To provide written information
on the missions, I write articles for a few astronomy
and space-related newsletters.
If
it weren't for my oralism, my giving presentations
would be quite difficult. I do feel quite fortunate,
for robotic space exploration, including planetary science,
never ceases to amaze me with all the new happenings!
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